HMNZS Waipu

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HMNZS Waipu.jpg
HMNZS Waipu
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgFlag of New Zealand.svgNew Zealand
NameWaipu
BuilderStevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers
Launched1 August 1943
Commissioned17 November 1943
Decommissioned1946
Identification Pennant number: T32/T357
FateSold to Red Funnel Trawlers in 1954
Flag of Australia (converted).svgAustralia
NameMulloka
OwnerRed Funnel Trawlers
Acquired1954
In service1955
Out of service1958
FateScrapped in 1963
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 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.

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

Waipu was the sixth of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 17 November 1943. the others being Aroha, Awatere , Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau , Waiho, Waima , and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 97th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Auckland. [2] In June 1944, she was involved with the salvage of the beached Panamanian freighter Kator. [3] [4] In December 1944, she pulled a United States Army oil barge off Ripiro Beach, 32 km (20 mi) north of Kaipara Heads. With the United States Army tug, Culverden, towing it to Auckland for repairs, arriving two days later. [3] In 1945, she would be converted into a danlayer, with operations ceasing due to coal shortages. [3] After the war, Waipu was sold to Sanford Ltd of Auckland, for use as a fishing trawler. [2] In 1954, she was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers Pty Ltd. and began trawling from Sydney in 1955, being laid up in 1958. [3] In 1963 she was sold to Robin & Co Ltd, located in Singapore for breaking up. [3]

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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 2023-12-29.
  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. ↑ "Fine Salvage Feat Saves Ship Ashore Near North Cape". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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