HMNZS Awatere

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HMNZS Awatere on a slipway (cropped).png
HMNZS Awatere on a slipway.
History
Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svgFlag of New Zealand.svgNew Zealand
NameAwatere
BuilderPatent Slip, Wellington
Laid down14 March 1942
Launched26 September 1942
Commissioned26 June 1943
Decommissioned1945
Identification Pennant number: T25/T397
FateSold to Arthur. A. Murrell of Sydney
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
NameAwatere
OwnerArthur. A. Murrell
Acquired1946
In service1946
Out of serviceOctober 1946
FatePurchased by the Australian Commonwealth Government, allocated to the UNRRA.
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
NameAwatere
OwnerUnited Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
In service1946
FateLast seen fishing October 1949
General characteristics
Class & type Castle-class minesweeper
Displacement625 tons
Length135 ft (41 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
PropulsionSingle screw, triple reciprocating engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		1
Complement12 (after conversion to a fishing trawler)

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.

Contents

Background

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

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). [3]

References

  1. ↑ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. 1 2 "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. ISBN   0-477-01399-6.
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