Author Archives: Currin Family

HMNZS Wakakura (T00) was originally a First World War Castle-class naval trawler built in Canada. Ordered by the Admiralty, the vessel, named TR 1, was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy for use on the East Coast of Canada. She was purchased by New Zealand in 1926 and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy when it was established in 1941.

HMNZS Wakakura,  Lyttleton, NZ Wakakura remained in commission throughout the Second World War and was sold to Tasman Steamship Co and converted to a refrigerated cargo vessel in 1947. “A little trawler paid a big part in the lives of New Zealand’s pre-war and wartime naval reservists. Her Majesty’s Trawler (later HMNZS) Wakakura, purchased fromContinue reading “HMNZS Wakakura (T00) was originally a First World War Castle-class naval trawler built in Canada. Ordered by the Admiralty, the vessel, named TR 1, was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy for use on the East Coast of Canada. She was purchased by New Zealand in 1926 and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy when it was established in 1941.”

HMS/HMNZS Janie Seddon – another story of one of the early naval vessels in New Zealand

  HMS/HMNZS Janie Seddon Built in Scotland 1901 for NZ Government with a sister Lady Roberts. She is reported to have laid a minefield at Wellington in WW1 and was used as an examination vessel in WW2. She was HMS Janie Seddon 1939-1941 and HMNZS Janie Seddon 1941-1944 She is a twin screw submarine miningContinue reading “HMS/HMNZS Janie Seddon – another story of one of the early naval vessels in New Zealand”

HMNZS[ Monowai (F59) was a former Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) merchant vessel. At the outbreak of World War II she became an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She subsequently became HMS Monowai, a Landing Ship, Infantry and mostly operated as a troopship. In 1946 she returned to her old trade as a passenger ship.

Pennant photo courtesy of Chis Northcott who had both his grandfather and great uncle serving on her together  SS Razmak was built at Greenock yard for P&O by Harland and Wolff, launched in 1924 and completed on 26 February 1925.[1] She was designed for service between Bombay and Aden and spent several years in the Mediterranean Sea. When demand on her original route dried up,Continue reading “HMNZS[ Monowai (F59) was a former Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) merchant vessel. At the outbreak of World War II she became an armed merchant cruiser of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She subsequently became HMS Monowai, a Landing Ship, Infantry and mostly operated as a troopship. In 1946 she returned to her old trade as a passenger ship.”

HMS AUCKLAND -EGRET-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1936 Estimates on 5th March 1937. This ship was laid down on 16th June 1937 and intended to be named HERON but when selected for use as an unarmed Survey Ship in New Zealand waters the name was changed to one more suitable for this duty. She was launched as HMS AUCKLAND by Mrs W Denny on 30th June 1938 as the second RN ship to carry the name, previously borne by a frigate built at Bombay in 1840. However because of the deterioration of the international situation it was necessary to change this requirement and she was completed as a fully armed EGRET Class Sloop on 16th November 1938 and sailed to relieve HM Sloop LONDONDERRY at Simonstown in January 1939.

HMS AUCKLAND EGRET-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1936 Estimates on 5th March 1937. This ship was laid down on 16th June 1937 and intended to be named HERON but when selected for use as an unarmed Survey Ship in New Zealand waters the name was changed to one more suitable for thisContinue reading “HMS AUCKLAND -EGRET-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1936 Estimates on 5th March 1937. This ship was laid down on 16th June 1937 and intended to be named HERON but when selected for use as an unarmed Survey Ship in New Zealand waters the name was changed to one more suitable for this duty. She was launched as HMS AUCKLAND by Mrs W Denny on 30th June 1938 as the second RN ship to carry the name, previously borne by a frigate built at Bombay in 1840. However because of the deterioration of the international situation it was necessary to change this requirement and she was completed as a fully armed EGRET Class Sloop on 16th November 1938 and sailed to relieve HM Sloop LONDONDERRY at Simonstown in January 1939.”