| Navy | The Royal New Zealand Navy |
| Type | Light cruiser |
| Class | Leander |
| Pennant | 75 |
| Built by | Devonport Dockyard (Plymouth, U.K.) : Vickers Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 1 Aug 1928 |
| Launched | 13 Jul 1929 |
| Commissioned | 23 Jul 1931 |
| End service | 8 May 1944 |
| Loss position | |
| History | The Royal Navy light-cruiser HMS Leander was loaned to the New Zealand Division from 30 April 1937 until 8 May 1944. At this time she was repairing and refitting at Boston in the USA. HMS Leander returned to service on 27 August 1945. Decommissioned by the Royal Navy in February 1948. Commanding Officers: Capt. Henry Edward Horan, DSC, RN Capt. Robert Hesketh Bevan, RN Capt. Cecil Aubrey Lawson Mansergh, DSC, RN A/Cdr. Leslie Palmer Brindley, RN Cdr. Harold Brittan Clifford Gill, DSO, RN Capt. Robert Jocelyn Oliver Otway-Ruthven, DSO, RN |
| Career notes | Returned to the Royal Navy as HMS Leander |
Commands listed for HMNZS Leander (75)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Capt. James William Rivett-Carnac, DSC, RN | 14 Nov 1936 | 1 Jan 1940 |
| 2 | Henry Edward Horan, RN | 1 Jan 1940 | 28 Nov 1940 |
| 3 | Capt. Robert Hesketh Bevan, RN | 28 Nov 1940 | Feb 1943 |
| 4 | Capt. Cecil Aubrey Lawson Mansergh, RN | Feb 1943 | Feb 1944 |
| 5 | Leslie Palmer Brindley, RN | Feb 1944 | Dec 1944 |
You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.
Noteable events involving Leander include:
27 Feb 1941
HMNZS Leander (Capt. R.H. Bevan, RN) sinks the Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb I (3667 GRT, Lt.Cdr. Bonezzi) west of the Maledive Islands in position 01º00'N, 68º30'E after a short gun duell. 103 men were captured. (see map)
23 Mar 1941
HMNZS Leander (Capt. R.H. Bevan, RN) intercepts and captures the Vichy-French merchant Charles L.D. (5267 GRT) in the Indian Ocean between Mauritius and Madagascar.
13 Jul 1943
During the Battle of Kula Gulf, HMNZS Leander (Capt. C.A.L. Mansergh, DSC, RN) is torpedoed by Japanese warships. Leander is severely damaged with an engine room, a boiler room and a 4-inch gun destroyed. After making temporary repairs Leander proceeded to Boston, USA for major restoration and a refit.