Castle Class NZ – HMNZS Awatere (T25/T397)

HMNZS Awatere on a slipway in Wellington

HMNZS Awatere (T 397) Only photo I can find

MS Trawler of the Manuka class
Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy
Type MS Trawler
Class Manuka
Pennant T 397
Built by Parten Slip (Wellington, New Zealand)
Ordered Aug 1941
Laid down
Launched 26 Sep 1942
Commissioned 26 Jun 1943
End service
History
Sold in 1946

Commands listed for HMNZS Awatere (T 397)

Commander From To
1 Lt. Eric Mortimer Conrad Stevens, RNZNR 26 Jun 1943 25 Mar 1944
2 Lt. David Lennox Millar, RNZNVR 25 Mar 1944
Notable events involving Awatere include:

8 Aug 1945
HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)

9 Aug 1945
HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)

13 Aug 1945
HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR), HMNZS Hautapu (T/Lt. W. Strong, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)

Sources

ADM 173/20355
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.

Castle Class at HMNZS Cook, Shelly Bay, Wellington

HMNZS Awatere was one of eight steel New Zealand-built Castle-class ships built and commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Background[edit]

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country’s limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]

Operational history[edit]

Awatere was the second of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 28 July 1943. the others being Aroha, Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau, Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Wellington.[2] On 27 July 1945, Awatere would ram the Maimai stern-to-stern at Shelly Bay, with minor damage.[3] In March 1946, Awatere would be sold to Arthur. A. Murrel of Sydney along with Pahau. [3][2] In October 1946, Awatere was brought by the Australian Commonwealth Government and was allocated to the UNNRA to rebuild the decimated Chinese fishing industry.[3] She was last seen with the Pahau and Tawhai fishing at Formosa (now Taiwan)

Castle Class NZ – HMNZS Aroha (T24/T396)

Awaiting a sale – HMNZS Aroha at the Viaduct basin

Aroha is now named Maldanna and is a fishing trawler in Sydney – Courtesy of Sydney Heritage Fleet

HMNZS Aroha was one of eight steel New Zealand-built Castle-class ships built and commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. She was the first steel Castle-class trawler launched for the Royal New Zealand Navy.[1]

Background[edit]

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country’s limited ship construction facilities at the time.[2]

Operational history[edit]

Aroha was the first of nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 17 November 1943. the others being Awatere, Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau, Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 97th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Auckland.[3] Aroha ran aground twice during her career, first on 28 August 1943 off North Head and then three days later near the entrance to Whangārei Harbour, damaging her rudder and stern post.[4] Repairs took two months.[4]

In October 1944, Aroha towed the badly damaged Flower-class corvette Arbutus from Fiji to Auckland after she suffered damage to her rudder, propeller, and hull.[4][3][5] In 1945, Aroha was offered on loan to the British Pacific Fleet, along with Waipu, Arabis, Kiwi, and Tui.[4] Only Aroha was required, and she sailed from Wellington to Sydney, serving there for six weeks.[4] After the six weeks ended, she sailed to Auckland to be paid off.[4]

In 1946, along with Waiho and Waima, Aroha was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers, and began fishing the same year.[4][3] She was laid up in 1958 and sold for scrap in 1963

Castle Class HMNZS Manuka (T19) Composite NZ Built

HMNZS Manuka was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class trawlers commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Background[edit]

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country’s limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]

Construction[edit]

Manuka was laid down on 21 October 1940 and was of a composite design, using Kauri wood due to a shortage of steel at the time. [2] Manuka was launched on 23 September 1941, being built by Mason Bros Engineering Co, located at Auckland.[3] Being the third naval ship launched in New Zealand for the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Operational history[edit]

Manuka was the third of four composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 30 March 1942. The others were Hinau, Rimu, and Tawhai. Manuka served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Division)[4] which was located at Auckland.

Post-war[edit]

In 1946, Manuka was leased to the Chatham Island Fishing Company, under the condition that she would only be used in New Zealand waters, and that she would be given back to the navy in case of an emergency.[5] Manuka would follow fishing fleets, working the coast that was sheltered.[6] At the end of the day the fishing trawlers would discharge their catches onto Manuka, where they would weigh, clean and process the fish. When she was full, she would sail to Wellington, often carrying radios for repair, and mail.[6] When the vessel returned it would carry supplies for the Chatham islanders.[6] As time went by while in service, there would be more and more problems no with the boiler on Manuka. to the point where she would need a replacement.[6] Over the course of her career she would also run aground multiple times while fishing.[7] In 1950, Manuka was moored in Port Hutt, acting as a floating freezer, with local trawlers storing their catches onboard. [6] On 4 October 1952, while anchored in Port Hutt, Manuka sunk at her moorings. There was nobody aboard when she sank.

Castle Class HMNZS Hinau (T17) Composite NZ Built

HMNZS Hinau ( T17/T399) launch
HMNZS Hinau (T17) (left) and HMNZS Rimu (T18) (right)
HMNZS Hinau ( T17/T399) the Western Viaduct 1955, probably after being purchased by F. Appleton for scrapping
(C)DABULLEN 096365829NZ
(C)DABULLEN 096365829NZ

HMNZS Hinau ( T17/T399) 1942
Hinau was laid down in late 1940, shortly after Manuka was laid down. Along with Rimu, and Manuka, Hinau would be of a composite design, (Kauri wood on steel frame) due to an urgency for minesweepers. All 3 composite trawlers would use boilers and engines from ships in the rotten row, with Hinau getting an engine and boiler from Rarawa, which was laid up in 1929. Their designs were not of traditional Castle-Class trawlers, being modified to be able to fit the boiler and engine into the ship. Hinau and her sisters would use magnetic minesweeping gear along with acoustic sweep “Kango Hammers” for acoustic mines.
Hinau was launched on 28 August 1941. Being the first ship ever launched for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Hinau was completed in early 1942, with trials being held in April 1942. It was noted that the steering gear was stiff, needing 2 men for manoeuvring, and her boiler room was full of problems, due to how old her engine and boiler were, with the report stating at the end “It is apparent that “HINAU” will not be able to operate effectively as a L.L. sweeper without further modification to her boiler room.” With it being noted in another steam trial in June 1942, that the ship would be unworkable in hot weather. The RNZN would try to combat these issues the best they could, though Hinau and her sisters’ engine rooms would be hot and uncomfortable for those who worked in them throughout the war.

Hinau was commissioned on 23 July 1942, and would serve out of Auckland along with the Rimu, and Manuka, forming the LL Group (which was later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary minesweeping division) She and her sisters would occasionally visit the South Island and other North Island ports. While in Lyttelton on 18 August 1943, Hinau would suffer a small fire in her forward mess, quickly being extinguished, there would be minor damage. Hinau would have refits in March 1943, August 1943, and October 1944. With her pennant number being changed from T17 to T399 in her last refit.

 Once World War II ended, she would be paid off on September 6, 1945 and put in reserve along with the Manuka, and Rimu at the Devonport Naval Base, and would be used to supply steam to heat other ships alongside her.  In 1954, as she was becoming too costly to maintain, she was declared surplus and sold for £274.10 ($17,937 NZD today)  to F. Appleton of Penrose to be scrapped at the Viaduct Basin along with Rimu, and the tug Toia, being hulked along with Rimu. In either 1956, 1957, or 1958, Hinau would be towed to the Parry Bros Ltd shingle quarry in Whakatīwai, and run aground at high tide to be used as a shingle bin and breakwater. In 1987 preservationists from the HMNZS Ngapona base salvaged the propeller of Hinau, and placed it at the base. It would stand there as a memorial for the minesweeper and men of the naval reserve. After the base closed, it would be moved to the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, where it remains today as a playground fixture. 

Sources:
Emmanuel Makarios. Nets Lines and Pots: a history of NZ Fishing Volume 2
Former Stevensons Quarry workers
HMNZS Hinau Minesweeper. Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Website
HMNZS Waiho Minesweeper. Torpedo Bay Navy Museum Website
McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels.

Minesweeping operations: HMNZS Hinau (Archives NZ)

Minesweeping operations: HMNZS Rimu (Archives NZ)Minesweeping operations: HMNZS Manuka (Archives NZ)
Ships – Minesweeper Initial Correspondence Hinau and Rimu (Archives NZ)
Ships – “B” Class Composite Minesweeper (Archives NZ)
Trawler- “Manuka” (Ship)  (Archives NZ)

Castle Class HMNZS Rimu (T18/T402)Composite NZ Made

Rimu’s launch

HMNZS Manuka (T19), HMNZS Rimu (T 402) is the ship on the left

HMNZS Hinau (T17) and HMNZS Rimu (T18)

HMNZS Rimu was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class trawlers commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Background[edit]

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country’s limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]

Construction[edit]

Rimu was laid down in 1940 and was of a composite design, using Kauri wood due to a shortage of steel at the time. [2] [3] Rimu was launched on 9 September 1941, being built by Seagar Bros. Ltd, located at Auckland. Being the second naval ship launched in New Zealand for the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Operational history[edit]

Rimu was the second of four composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 15 July 1942. The others were Hinau, Manuka, and Tawhai (never commissioned). She served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Division)[4] which was located at Auckland. She had refits in March 1943, August 1943, and October 1944.[5]

Post-war[edit]

In September 1945, she would be paid off and placed into reserve.[5] In 1954 she was sold to F. Appleton of Penrose to be scrapped at the Viaduct Basin along with the Hinau, and the tug Toia.[6][7][8]

The hulk of Rimu, shortly before she was sunk by the RNZAF.

In 1958, her hulk was offered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a target ship.[9][6] Rimu was to be hit with depth charges, machine-gunned, and rockets from four de Havilland Vampire jet fighters.[6] Rimu was machine-gunned and was struck by dropped depth charges which broke the ship in half, sinking her instantly.

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

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