HMNZS Rimu

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HMNZS Rimu (cropped).jpg
HMNZS Rimu In the Hauraki gulf.
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgNew Zealand
NameRimu
BuilderSeagar Bros. Ltd. Auckland
Launched9 September 1941
Commissioned15 July 1942
Decommissioned1945
Identification Pennant numbers: T18, T402
FateHulk sunk by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1958
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 Rimu 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

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

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

In September 1945, she would be paid off and placed into reserve. [5] In 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. Rimu at the Viaduct Basin (cropped).png
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. [9]

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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. ↑ "RIMU LAUNCHED". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  5. 1 2 Minesweeping operations: HMNZS Rimu. Archives New Zealand.
  6. 1 2 3 "R.N.Z.A.F. WILL SINK HULK". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Three Navy Craft Scrapped". The Press. 2 February 1955. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. ↑ McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. GP Books, Informing New Zealanders. ISBN   0-477-01399-6.
  9. 1 2 "HULK SUNK TOO SOON". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
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