by Angela Thomas
Published November 27, 2020 1:57PM
Navy ship crew now ‘part of Turanga/Gisborne’.
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The HMNZS Manawanui commanded attention as crew were welcomed for the first time at her home port of Gisborne yesterday. Mayor Rhette Stoltz, district councillors and Gisborne District Council staff were joined by tangata whenua and other members of the community to welcome the dive and hydrographic vessel at Eastland Port. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern dedicated Gisborne as the home port for the ship in 2018 when it was purchased. Sir Derek Lardelli spoke as whai korero, welcoming the ship and her crew “home as part of Turanga/Gisborne”. Manawanui Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Andrew Mahoney said the ship was the fourth to carry the name Manawanui. She is the third to share Gisborne as a home port. Tangata whenua had previously visited the vessel at the commissioning when a mauri kohatu (stone) was gifted in June 2019. Lieutenant Commander Mahoney carried a toki (adze) he said was gifted to the Manawanui at the time. “The key material is the stone. The stone was used for the cenotaph of the 28th Maori Battallon. “Part of the stone used for the toki lays in the heart of the ship.” The taonga had served them well on their missions, including an operation taking stores to the Kingdom of Tonga, he said. “I firmly believe that we have lived up to the motto of the Royal New Zealand Navy and have kept busy since the commission in June last year,” said Lieutenant Commander Mahoney. “The key to our success is the cultural importance that exists deep in the heart of the taonga that stays with us. It feels good to bring the taonga back home to Gisborne.” Watching from the shore was former seaman Ray Mihaka, who served in the the Navy aboard previous hydrographic vessels. Mr Mihaka spent a number of years in the Navy during the 1970s and 80s. He was a radarman, air controller and finally a master-at-arms (or naval police officer). “I just wanted to come and see the ship up close. “It could be twice the size of the ships that I served on,” he said. He served aboard one of the previous three vessels named Manawanui. Mr Mihaka left the Navy in 1991, just as tensions were boiling over in the Middle East, he said. His days in the navy took him around the world to various countries — through Asia, Africa, Canada and the United States and the Pacific, and even to Moscow. He had a few close calls during his service but managed to avoid engaging in any conflict. “The closest we got was during the nuclear testing at Mururoa Atoll back in 1973.” A charter parade and civic reception, which Prime Minister Ardern attended, was held this morning, Members of the public have the opportunity to get up close to the ship at an open day tomorrow from 9am to 1pm. via JC's Naval, Maritime and Military News https://ift.tt/3fL6BuB
HMS Loch Achanalt was a Loch-class frigate of the Royal Navy that was loaned to and served with the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Ordered from Henry Robb, Leith, on 24 July 1942 as a River-class frigate, the order was changed, and ship laid down on 14 September 1943, and launched by Mrs. A.V. Alexander, wife of the First Lord of the Admiralty on 23 March 1944 and completed on 11 August 1944.[1] After the war she was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy and renamed HMNZS Pukaki.
As Pukaki (F424)
On 15 October 1948 Pukaki sailed from Portland with three other Loch-class frigates, arriving at Auckland in January 1949 to join the 11th Frigate Flotilla for patrols and exercises.[1]
On 25 June 1950 Pukaki was placed at the disposal of the UN Forces in Korea. In August Pukaki and sister-ship Tutira arrived at Sasebo to join the UN naval command. Initially attached to Task Group 96.5 for escort duties between Japan and Korea, in September she was transferred to Task Group 90.7 to support of landings by the US 1st Marine Division at Inchon, rejoining Task Group 96.5 in October to protect minesweeping operations prior to the landings at Wonsan. In November she was relieved by the frigate Rotoiti and returned to Auckland to refit, after which she was placed in reserve.[1]
Recommissioned in December 1952 for service in the 11th Frigate Flotilla, Pukaki was assigned to detached service with the Royal Navy's Far East Fleet 4th Frigate Squadron based at Singapore in September 1953. In January 1954 the frigate was deployed in the Yellow Sea for trade protection and as back-up to UN forces in Korea if required. In May she was transferred to Singapore for anti-terrorist operations in the Malayan Emergency, returning to Auckland in September.[1]
She rejoined the 4th Frigate Squadron in the Far East Fleet in June 1955, for trade protection and Korean coast guard ship duties, while also carrying out joint exercises with United States Navy ships, returning to Auckland in May 1956. In December she escorted the supply vessel Endeavour during the initial stage of the journey to McMurdo Sound in Antarctica.[1]
In 1957 and 1958 the ship was deployed as a weather reporting ship during the "Operation Grapple" nuclear tests at Christmas Island. Between 1959 and 1962 she once more joined the Far East Fleet for SEATO exercises and patrols. From 1963-1965 she supported the United States "Operation Deep Freeze" Antarctic operations.[1] Pukaki alternated with an American Edsall-class DER picket frigate operating from Dunedin in summer months to track United States Navy Lockheed C-130 Hercules deployments and other flights from Harewood airport in Christchurch to McMurdo Base in the Ross Dependency, offering the potential for search and rescue in the Southern Ocean and service to the weather station on Campbell Island. Sea conditions probably shortened by two years the service life of Pukaki and the other surviving Loch-class frigate, Rotoiti. This forced the United States Navy to deploy two Edsall-class DERs to Dunedin for the final three deployments in 1966-68.[citation needed]
Put into reserve in May 1965 Pukaki was sold in October. The ship was towed to Hong Kong and scrapped in January 1966.
Mar. 15, 1950; HMAS SYDNEY [III] leads 11 RAN and RNZN ships into Waitemata Harbour, Auckland - Whites Aviation, ATL.
6870. Seven of the 11 ships involved in the Mar. 1950 Fleet Entry at Auckland are seen here itself, with HMAS SYDNEY with the Modified Dido Class cruiser HMNZS BELLONA astern, with heavy cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA [II] fourth in line amidst two RAN destroyers, WARRAMUNGA [I] AND BATAAAN, and two RNZN frigates following, with the remaining vessels out of the image.
via JC's Naval, Maritime and Military News https://ift.tt/2JlLjHW Published November 26, 2020 11:48AM The HMNZS Manawanui dive and hydrographic ship arrived at Eastland Port at around 9am today for a four-day stay. An official powhiri/welcome was held at the wharf next to the ship this morning to welcome the 65 crew members. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named Gisborne as the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel's home port after the ship was bought in 2018. There will be a parade through the city tomorrow at 11am starting at Fitzherbert Street, and doing a loop back through Gladstone Road and Lowe Street. The public can go on board the ship from 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Parking may be limited during the public events, so visitors are asked to consider leaving cars at home or in town and walking to the wharf. via JC's Naval, Maritime and Military News https://ift.tt/366A6UC |
AuthorJohn Currin served 15 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy and has retained an interest in naval, marine, military and happenings around the world. Archives
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