HMNZS Phyllis – In 1942 Phyllis was one of four vessels purchased by the Navy for use as a dan layer. Dan layers were used by the Navy for marking channels cleared by the minesweepers with buoys. Phyllis was given the Pennant No. T22, and operated out of Auckland until 1942.483

 

Unverified photo of HMNZS Phyllis

Bow of Phyllis (T22) seen just astern of the Fairmiles

The steel hulled single-screw steam trawler Phyllis was built at the Framnaes Mechanical Workshops, Sandefjord, Norway and assembled at the Seattle Construction and Dry Dock Co, Washington, USA in 1912. The vessel was constructed as Star III for the Alaskan Star Whaling Company, Seattle and between 1912 and 1923 fished off the western coast of North America. Between 1923 and 1929 Star III was part of the whaling fleet of Rosshavet A/S. of Sandefjord, Norway, operating in the Ross Dependency, and was based at Kaipipi Shipyard, Stewart Island. The vessel was laid up from 1927, and in 1929 was sold to the Canterbury Steam Trawling Co. Ltd and renamed Phyllis. In 1942 Phyllis was one of four vessels purchased by the Navy for use as a dan layer. Dan layers were used by the Navy for marking channels cleared by the minesweepers with buoys. Phyllis was given the Pennant No. T22, and operated out of Auckland until 1942.43 After the war the Phyllis was purchased by Cook Strait Fisheries Ltd and returned to civilian duties as a trawler. The wreck of Phyllis occurred at night on 7-8 June 1954. The vessel had been trawling in heavy seas and blinding rain when it ventured too close to the shore and went aground at 12.40 am.484 At first light a rescue party arrived on the beach. A line was floated across to those waiting on the shore, and the crew were able to make it safely off the stricken vessel. By midday the tide had receded and Phyllis was stuck fast in the sandy beach. Hopes of refloating the vessel were abandoned two days later. The inquiry into the wreck held the master accountable for not being sufficiently aware of his position to ensure its safety

Details of Phyllis wreck here on Page 235  http://pnrp.gw.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/HS6-Technical-Report-1-Coastal-and-underwater-archaelogical-sites-of-the-Wellington-Region.pdfHMNZS Phyllis

Built: Seattle Construction Co., USA 1912

Type: Danlayer

Pennant No.: T22

Displacement: 148 tons gross, 67 tons net

Length: 96.1 ft./29.3 m Beam: 19.5 ft./ 5.9 m Draft: 2.8 ft./0.8 m

Propulsion: Steam recip., ihp 350, single screw coal fired

Speed: 9 knots.

Armament: 2 x light MG

Complement: 14

Phyllis was built as a whale chaser built for the Norwegians named Star III, and worked from Stewart Island. She was laid up there in 1929, sold to a NZ buyer, renamed Phyllis and used as a trawler.

The ship was purchased from the Canterbury Steam Trawling Co. Ltd.of Christchurch on 3 September 1942 and fitted out at Lyttelton as a danlayer, the intention being to employ her at Auckland. A danlayer is a small vessel employed in minesweeping operations to lay dan-buoys to mark the limits of the channels swept through a minefield.

She was commissioned on 11 January 1943 as HMNZS Phyllis and sailed for Auckland but was delayed by engine trouble in Wellington. Inspection at Auckland rvealed numerpous defects and she prove unsatisfactory as a danlayer. Repairs were not completed and little or no use was made of Phyllis: she paid off in 28 February 1944 and was sold.

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