HMNZS Hinau (T17)

Last updated

HMNZSHinau (cropped).jpg
HMNZS Hinau with Auckland central visible in the background.
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgNew Zealand
NameHinau
BuilderSenior Foundry Ltd. Auckland
Launched28 August 1941
Commissioned23 July 1942
Decommissioned1945
Identification Pennant number: T17/T399
FateHulk ran aground for use as a breakwater and shingle bin in 1958
General characteristics
Class and type Castle-class minesweeper
Displacement625 tons
Length136 ft (41 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Height13.5 ft (4.1 m)
PropulsionSingle screw, triple reciprocating engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Crew25
Armament2 Lewis machine guns

HMNZS Hinau was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class trawlers 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]

Construction

Hinau was laid down in 1940 and was of a composite design, using Kauri wood due to a shortage of steel at the time. [2] Hinau was launched on 28 August 1941 at Senior Foundry Ltd, located at Auckland. [3] Being the first naval ship built in New Zealand for the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Hinau on launch day, Rimu is seen on the left. HMNZS Hinau on launch day.png
Hinau on launch day, Rimu is seen on the left.

Hinau would be completed in early 1942, with trials being held in April 1942. [4] [5] It was noted that the steering gear was stiff, needing 2 men for manoeuvring, and her boiler room was full of problems, 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. [4] [5] With it being noted in another steam trial in June 1942 that the ship would be unworkable in hot weather. [4] [5] 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 their engine & boiler rooms throughout their careers. [5] [6]

Operational history

Hinau was the first of four composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 23 July 1942. The others were Manuka, Rimu and Tawhai . She served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary minesweeping division) [7] which was located at Auckland. but would occasionally visit Wellington and the South Island. She would have refits in March 1943, August 1943, and October 1944. [8] On 18 August 1943, Hinau had a small fire in the forward mess while at Lyttelton, with some damage. [8] [9] After the war she was laid up at Devonport Naval Base. [8] [10]

Post RNZN history

Hinau in 2023 HMNZS Hinau.jpg
Hinau in 2023

In 1954, Hinau along with Rimu , and the tug Toia were sold to F. Appleton of Penrose to be scrapped at the Viaduct Basin. [9] [11] In 1958, the hulk of Hinau would be towed and ran aground for use as a breakwater and shingle bin in Whakatīwai, where she remains today. [9] In 1998, she featured on the cover of the Dave Dobbyn album, The Islander.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand Navy</span>

Coastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established during World War II. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launches, submarine chasers, air-sea rescue launches, motor gun boats and motor torpedo boats. It did not include minesweepers, naval trawlers or landing craft. This article is about the equivalent boats used in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danlayer</span> Ship for marking areas swept for mines

A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans. A dan is a marker buoy which consists of a long pole moored to the seabed and fitted to float vertically, usually with a coded flag at the top.

HMNZS Kiwi (T102) was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

HMNZS <i>Tui</i> (T234)

HMNZS Tui (T234) was a Bird-class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles. Tui was the first of two ships with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and was named after a native bird from New Zealand.

HMNZS Moa (T233) was a Bird-class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) that served during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy</span>

Commissioned minesweepers and danlayers of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present. The RNZN was created two years into World War II. For coherence this article covers the war years from the start, and thus includes also the New Zealand minesweepers operating from the beginning of the war.

HMNZS <i>Breeze</i> (T02)

HMNZS Breeze (T02) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper.

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.

HMNZS <i>Rimu</i> A Castle-class minesweeper of the RNZN

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

HMNZS <i>Manuka</i> A Castle-class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy

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

HMNZS <i>Hautapu</i> Castle class minesweeper

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

HMNZS <i>Maimai</i> A castle class minesweeper built for the navy

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

HMNZS <i>Waipu</i> Castle-class trawler built for the RNZN

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

HMNZS <i>Aroha</i>

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.

HMNZS <i>Waiho</i>

HMNZS Waiho 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 last Castle-class trawler built for any navy.

HMNZS <i>Awatere</i>

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.

HMNZS <i>Pahau</i>

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

HMNZS <i>Tawhai</i> World War II battleship

HMNZS Tawhai was a New Zealand-built composite Castle-class trawler built for the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II for the intention for use as a minesweeper, later being converted into a fishing trawler.

SS <i>James Cosgrove</i> Minesweeper and fishing trawler, 1918–1952

SS James Cosgrove was a Castle-class trawler built for the United Kingdom for use as a minesweeper. She was purchased by Sanford Ltd in 1920 for use in New Zealand as a fishing trawler, being used as a minesweeper again during World War II. She was scrapped at the Western Viaduct in the 1950s, with her hulk being sunk in 1952.

HMNZS <i>Waima</i>

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

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. ↑ "CHAPTER 12 — Minesweeping in New Zealand Waters | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "MINE SWEEPER LAUNCHED". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "B" Class Composite Minesweepers. Archives New Zealand.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Minesweeper Initial Correspondence Hinau and Rimu. Archives New Zealand.
  6. ↑ Makarios, Emmanuel (1996). Nets, Lines and Pots: A history of New Zealand fishing vessels (2nd ed.). New Zealand: IPL Books. ISBN   9780908876013.
  7. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Minesweeping operations:HMNZS Hinau. Archives New Zealand.
  9. 1 2 3 McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. GP Books, Informing New Zealanders. ISBN   0-477-01399-6.
  10. ↑ "HMNZS Hinau Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Three Navy Craft Scrapped". The Press. 2 February 1955. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Launch of Hinau, New Zealand National Film Unit footage.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.