HMNZS Achilles was a Leander class cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy in World War II. She became famous for her part in the Battle of the River Plate, alongside HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter.
She was the second of five ships of the Leander class light cruisers, designed as effective follow-ons to the York class. Upgraded to Improved Leander class, she was capable of carrying an aircraft, becoming the first ship to carry a Supermarine Walrus although this was removed before the war.
Displacement: 7,270 tons standard
9,740 tons full load
Length: 554.9 ft (169 m)
Beam: 56 ft (17 m)
Draught: 19.1 ft (5.8 m)
Propulsion: Four Parsons geared steam turbines
Six boilers
Four shafts
72,000 shp
Speed: 32.5 knots (60 km/h)
Range: 5,730 nm at 13 knots
Complement: peacetime 550
wartime 680
Armament: Original configuration:
8 × 6 in guns
4 × 4 in guns
12 × 0.5 in machine guns
8 × 21 in torpedo tubes
Armour: 3 in magazine box
1 inch deck
1 inch turrets
Aircraft carried: One catapult-launched aircraft
Original type was a Fairey Seafox
catpult and aircraft later replaced with Supermarine Walrus
Notes: Pennant number 70