The armoured cruiser USS Seattle at Pipitea Wharf during a 1925 visit to Wellington, New Zealand.

The armoured cruiser USS Seattle at Pipitea Wharf during a 1925 visit to Wellington, New Zealand.The seventh USS Washington (ACR-11/CA-11/IX-39), also referred to as “Armored Cruiser No. 11”, and later renamed Seattle and reclassified CA-11 and IX-39, was a United States Navy Tennessee-class armored cruiser. She was laid down on 23 September 1903 at Camden, New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, launched on 18 March 1905, sponsored by Miss Helen Stewart Wilson, daughter of United States Senator John L. Wilson of Washington state, and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 7 August 1906, Captain James D. Adams in command.https://www.wikiwand.com/en/USS_Washington_(ACR-11)

Bird Class, Minesweeper -HMNZS Moa (T233)

HMNZS Moa
The remains of the Japanese Submarine I-1 sunk off Guadalcanal by New Zealand Minesweepers/Corvettes, HMNZS Moa and Tui

HMNZS Kiwi (T102)

HMNZS Kiwi
HMNZS Kiwi
WW 2 – HMNZS Phyllis (T22) at the Devonport Naval Base, HMNZS Kiwi (T102) inboard
HMNZS Kiwi

HMNZS Kiwi – Bird Class
was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles. From 1948 to 1956 she functioned as a training ship.

On 29 January 1943, with her sister ship Moa, Kiwi rammed and wrecked[1] the Japanese submarine I-1. At the time Kiwi was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson who was awarded the DSC and the United States Navy Cross[2] for this action.

Kiwi was the first vessel with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after the national bird of New Zealand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMNZS_Kiwi_(T102)

NZ navy ship shadowed by seven Chinese warships

5:08 pm on 8 December 2025 

A Cheng Kung-class frigate of the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) can be seen monitoring HMNZS Aotearoa’s actions while on patrol.

HMNZS Aotearoa was sent to the East China and Yellow Seas last month in an effort to bolster United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

A New Zealand navy ship sailing in East Asia was shadowed by seven Chinese warships, the Defence Force has confirmed.

HMNZS Aotearoa was sent to the East China and Yellow Seas last month, to carry out surveillance and deterrence activities in an effort to bolster United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.

Bridge watchkeepers aboard HMNZS Aotearoa keep a constant 24 hour watch during patrols

Bridge watchkeepers aboard HMNZS Aotearoa keep a constant 24 hour watch during patrols. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

The vessel was accompanied by a P-8A Poseidon, as part of Operation Whio, with the intention of curbing North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

RNZ previously reported the vessel travelled through the Taiwan Strait, and that it was shadowed.

The Seasprite helicopter embarked on HMNZS Aotearoa provides enhanced force projection and surveillance of suspicious vessels

The Seasprite helicopter embarked on HMNZS Aotearoa provides enhanced force projection and surveillance of suspicious vessels. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

The Defence Force has now confirmed the ship was shadowed by seven different People’s Liberation Army (Navy) warships, which kept a “safe and professional distance” throughout.

Patrolling an area of 410,000 square kilometres, the Aotearoa and its SH-2G Seasprite helicopter interrupted two “possibly illicit” ship-to-ship transfers, identified seven vessels of interest, hailed 49 merchant vessels, and broadcast 79 deterrence messages.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Poseidon P8-A, works in partnership with HMNZS Aotearoa during Op Whio.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Poseidon P8-A, works in partnership with HMNZS Aotearoa during Op Whio. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

The Poseidon witnessed five ship-to-ship transfers, observed 59 vessels of interest, and issued 19 deterrence messages.

The crew of the Aotearoa worked alongside ships from Canada, France, and Japan. Acting as a replenishment vessel, the Aotearoa also carried out replenishments at sea for Australian and US vessels.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Poseidon P8-A on patrol during Op Whio

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Poseidon P8-A on patrol during Op Whio. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

“Through maritime patrol, airborne surveillance and international cooperation, we delivered tangible impact – from deterring illicit activity to supporting allied ships at sea. The professionalism of our own crews, and those of our partner nations, was evident throughout,” said HMNZS Aotearoa Commanding Officer Rob Welford.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.New Zealand’s biggest navy ship made transit through sensitive Taiwan Strait this monthChina condemns sailing of US, British warships through Taiwan StraitNZ naval vessel sailing through Taiwan Strait ‘routine movement’ – Defence MinisterNew Zealand naval vessel sails through Taiwan Strait for first time since 2017Two US warships sail through Taiwan StraitAustralia joins defence exercise in contested South China Sea

HMAS ANZAC Lyttleton 1974

HMAS ANZAC Lyttleton 1974 – HMAS Anzac (D59) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the destroyer was commissioned in 1951. The ship served on two tours of duty during the Korean War, and attempts to distinguish herself from British ships led to the practice of red kangaroo symbols on Australian warships. During 1956, Anzac served during the Malayan Emergency. In 1960, a malfunction in the destroyer’s gun direction equipment caused Anzac to fire directly on sister ship HMAS Tobruk during a gunnery exercise, with Tobruk left unrepairable. In 1961, the destroyer was reclassified as a training vessel. Anzac remained in service until 1974, and was sold for breaking a year later.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Anzac_(D59)

JCs Royal New Zealand Navy Ships and New Zealand Defence, Also other World Defence Updates

Ships and Defence News Past and Present

Skip to content ↓