HMS Gambia in New Zealand and Pacific service

Gambia served around Madagascar and on trade-protection duties before transferring to New Zealand control. On her return toward Britain she called at the colony whose name she carried, where West African chiefs and thousands of residents visited and blessed the ship. The transfer supplied a replacement for the damaged New Zealand cruisers Leander and Achilles; HMNZS Gambia remained on loan, kept her name, and sailed with a largely New Zealand crew. Captain William Powlett commanded her, with a few New Zealand officers and about three quarters of the ratings drawn from New Zealand. During Operation Stonewall, Powlett held senior command but Gambia was too far away to join Glasgow and Enterprise's action, leaving her to follow events by radio. She operated around Okinawa and Formosa, came under Japanese air attack as the ceasefire was announced and fired some of the war's last shots, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the surrender. Back in Royal Navy service, Gambia and Bermuda delivered aid to Zakynthos after the 1953 Ionian earthquake. A later life-extension refit added wide-arc Bofors mounts and American radar fire control before her final deployments.