HMNZS Pahau

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HMNZS Pahau.jpg
HMNZS Pahau
History
Naval ensign of the United Kingdom.svgNew Zealand
NamePahau
BuilderStevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers
Launched3 April 1943
Commissioned12 February 1944
Decommissioned1945
Identification Pennant number: T28/T351
FateSold to Arthur. A. Murrell of Sydney
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
NamePahau
OwnerA. A. Murrell
Acquired1946
In service1946
Out of serviceOctober 1946
FatePurchased by the Australian Commonwealth Government, allocated to the UNRRA.
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
NamePahau
OwnerUnited Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration
In service1946
FateLast seen fishing October 1949
General characteristics
Class & type Castle-class minesweeper
Tonnage290 GRT
Displacement625 tons
Length135 ft (41 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
Depth13 feet (4.0 m)
PropulsionSingle screw, triple reciprocating engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)

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.

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

Pahau was the fifth of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 12 February 1944. the others being Aroha, Awatere Hautapu, Maimai , Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Wellington. [2] In March 1946, Pahau would be sold to Arthur. A. Murrel of Sydney along with Awatere. [3] [4] On 22 May, 1946, while being towed to Australia by the Matai , Pahau would break free from the Matai, becoming adrift. [5] She would be located a few days later and would arrive at Sydney on 28 May 1946. [6] [7] In October 1946, Pahau 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 Awatere 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. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. GP Books, Informing New Zealanders. ISBN   0-477-01399-6.
  4. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  5. ↑ "Search Wide Area For Trawler Pahau". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "ADVENTOROUS TASMAN CROSSING ENDS.—The New Zealand Government steamer Matai towing the 500-ton trawler Pahau up Sydney Harbour last Tuesday after a fortnight's crossing from Auckland, The Pahau broke adrift when the ships were about 200 miles off the New South Wales coast, and was recovered after a search lasting six days and a half". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Trawler Pahau Taken In Tow". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
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