HMNZS Maimai

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HMNZS MAIMAI. 1944.jpg
HMNZS Maimai
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgFlag of New Zealand.svgNew Zealand
NameMaimai
BuilderStevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers
Launched25 February 1943
Commissioned15 September 1943
Decommissioned1945
Identification Pennant number: T338
FateScrapped in 1966
General characteristics
Class and 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)

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.

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

Maimai was the fourth of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 15 September 1943. the others being Aroha, Awatere , Hautapu, Pahau , Waiho, Waima , Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Wellington. [2] In March 1944, Maimai would accidentally fire her port depth charge thrower while berthed at Picton. [3] The unexploded depth charge was recovered four weeks later. [3] On 27 July 1945, she was rammed by Awatere stern-to-stern at Shelly Bay, with minor damage. [3] After the war, Maimai was disarmed but remained in service for ammunition dumping. [3] In 1946, Maimai was purchased by the Maimai Trawling Company Ltd. to be used as a side trawler. [3] [2]

Maimai being tended to by the Fire Brigade. ST Maimai.jpg
Maimai being tended to by the Fire Brigade.

In 1947 she caught nearly 100,000 lb (45,000 kg) of fish, being considered a record for four days of fishing at the time. [4] On 28 July 1950, waste oil in Maimai's bilges caught fire, but was quickly extinguished by the Wellington Fire Brigade. [5] [6] As the years went by, catches got smaller and smaller, with conditions onboard of Maimai deteriorating. [7] And with smaller and efficient fishing vessels being built, it became harder for Maimai to get a crew, with Maimai still sailing without a full crew. [7] At the end of 1966, Maimai was sold for scrap and was broken up in Wellington by Pacific Scrap Ltd, which would take 6 weeks. [8] [7]

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References

  1. ↑ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-06. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. 1 2 "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. GP Books, Informing New Zealanders. ISBN   0-477-01399-6.
  4. ↑ "N.Z. Record Catch Of Fish". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  5. ↑ "OIL FIRE ON TRAWLER AT WELLINGTON". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  6. ↑ "Seaman Overcome By Fumes". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  7. 1 2 3 Makarios, Emmanuel (1996). Nets, Lines and Pots: A history of New Zealand fishing vessels (1st ed.). New Zealand: IPL Books. ISBN   9780908876983.
  8. ↑ "Marine News 1980 Vol 30 Issue 03". New Zealand Ship and Marine Society. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
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