Heat proved to be one of the toughest challenges for crews in the wartime Pacific. War artist Russell Clarke painted crew members cleaning the boilers on HMNZS Breeze, a similar-sized vessel to the Bird-class ships Moa, Kiwi and Tui. Breeze was owned by the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company. She was taken up on 3 March 1942, under protest, to replace the Puriri whichContinue reading “HMNZS Breeze (T02) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper.”
Author Archives: Currin Family
HMNZS Gale (T04) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper. She was the first New Zealand vessel to go into action against Japan.
Gale was owned by the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company. She was one of four ships requisitioned as a consequence of the German auxiliary cruiser Orion‘s minefield and the loss of the liner Niagara, the others being Matai, Puriri and Rata. She was taken over on 10 October 1940 and handed to the dockyard for conversion. She was a sister ship to Breeze. OperationalContinue reading “HMNZS Gale (T04) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper. She was the first New Zealand vessel to go into action against Japan.”
NZ Post’s Newest Stamp Release Showcases Young Kiwi Veterans
Wednesday, 3 April 2024, 8:56 am Press Release: NZ Post NZ Post is honoured to feature six Kiwi veterans who served New Zealand on overseas deployments in the armed forces from the mid 1990s. All six profiled in the stamp series have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. The medal is given for service thatContinue reading “NZ Post’s Newest Stamp Release Showcases Young Kiwi Veterans”
HMNZS Nora Niven (T23) Converted trawler/Dan Layer 1941–1944
Nora Niven and Simplon were chartered by the Royal Navy during the First World War to be used as minesweepers and In respect of personnel it was acknowledged that the normal crews of the trawlers would have to be utilised, but that for the purposes of naval discipline, the masters should be given a temporaryContinue reading “HMNZS Nora Niven (T23) Converted trawler/Dan Layer 1941–1944”
