HMNZS Achilles (70)

HMNZS Achilles (70)

HMNZS Achilles was a Leander-class light cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy in the Second World War. She became famous for her part in the Battle of the River Plate, alongside Ajax and 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 could carry an aircraft and the first ship to carry a Supermarine Walrus, although both Walruses were lost before the Second World War began. At one time she carried the unusual DH.82 Queen Bee which was a radio-controlled unmanned aircraft, normally used as a drone.

After the Second World War service in the Atlantic and Pacific, she was sold to the Indian Navy in 1948 and recommissioned as INS Delhi. She was scrapped in 1978.