the mutiny. In response, Bellonas captain sent the entire complement on leave for the weekend. On Monday 28 April, a letter listing the mutineers demands was presented to the captain with the intention that it be forwarded to the Naval Board. Instead of addressing the complaints, the New Zealand Naval Board declared that any sailor who did not return to duty by the morning of Tuesday 29 April would be marked as Absent Without Leave. By morning parade 52 men had failed to return. Those sailors were marked as having deserted even though naval regulations meant that they had to be absent for seven days before being considered deserters. Once marked, the sailors lost all unpaid pay and allowances. The issuing of arrest warrants for the sailors was also considered, but the cruiser's captain dismissed the suggestion. Between the date of the mutiny and 23 June, when Bellona sailed on her next deployment, another 32 men returned. Various charges were laid against them, ranging from "wilfully disobeying a legal command" to "joining a mutiny not accompanied by violence" and the sailors were sentenced to periods of imprisonment up to 92 days. In 1951 the cruiser was taking part in a multinational exercise in Australian waters. During the exercise a Hawker Sea Fury from the Australian aircraft carrier accidentally fired four practice rockets into the superstructure of the New Zealand ship. Only minor damage was caused and although an inquiry concluded that the pilot had unintentionally pressed the fire button, it was later found that certain signal frequencies transmitted by Sydney’s radios could trigger the aircraft's weapon-firing circuits. By 1952 a limited attempt at modernisation was being undertaken, with the twin Oerlikons being replaced with land Mk 3 single Bofors, which were upgraded with electric power into the RNZN unique Toadstool CIWS, also refitted to HMNZS Black Prince and intended to be controlled by six STD directors which the Government was reluctant to approve with the uncertain future of the cruiser. It was intended to refit the multiple pom pom mounts to both cruisers, and they were installed for the return voyage to the UK as the RN judged Toadstool as non-standard and not as good as the RN's new electric 40mm mounts. Bellona reverted to Royal Navy control after the transfer of the cruiser in 1956. Fate On 5 February 1959, she arrived at the Briton Ferry yard of Thos.