HMNZS Maimai with HMS Indefatigable in the Marlborough Sounds – 1945
HMS Indefatigable with HMNZS Maimai alongside her, Maimai was acting as a store ship for Indefatigable. Photo from Auckland Libraries heritage image collection (PHOTO ID:370_0299_07)
HMNZS Maimai & her crew
Castle Class at HMNZS Cook, Shelly Bay, Wellington
ST Maimai Steaming up Wellington Harbour, 1960s
HMNZS Maimai (T27) (T338)
Maimai being tended to by the Fire Brigade after waste oil in her bilges caught fire.
Maimai being broken up on the Evans bay slipway in 1966, she was broken up in 6 weeks.
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]
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]
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 scrapped in Wellington by Pacific Scrap Ltd
HMNZS Hautapu NZ Castle class trawler, Pennant T 340 Built by Stevenson & Cook (Port Chalmers, New Zealand) Ordered 1941 Laid down Jul 1942 Launched 18 Nov 1942 Commissioned 28 Jul 1943
Hautapu docked at Lyttleton, HMNZS Tasman, either 1946 or 1947
HMNZS Hautapu (T26)(T340) at Wellington
Mutiny at HMNZS Tasman concerning crew of HMNZS Hautapu
In April 1947, the Naval Board’s response to the Philomel mutiny prompted further problems in the South Island. On the morning of 8 April seven ratings at Tasman, the naval base in Lyttelton, refused to go on duty and demanded that they be discharged on the same basis as the Philomel strikers.[9] . Eleven members of the HMNZS Hautapu’s crew then walked off the ship. These men were still absent when the ship sailed for Lyttelton later in the day.[10] There is clear evidence that the ratings at Tasman and Hautapu had acted in concert.[11] The Naval Board responded firmly to this unrest. Commander Davis-Goff, who was responsible for personnel matters, was sent to Lyttelton to deal with the disorder. He warned all the ratings at Tasman that men “committing mutinous conduct at this late stage, having had time to think things over, would be dealt with severely” and reminded them of their obligations under the oath of allegiance. Davis-Goff spoke to the men who were refusing to work and six of them then returned to duty. One of the ratings who had left the Hautapu re-joined her in Lyttelton, and arrest warrants were issued for the other ten men.[12]
Hautapu after being salvaged byTuatea
The seven men involved in the disturbances at Tasman were convicted of taking part in a mutiny not accompanied by violence and were sentenced to 60 days detention with all but fourteen days of that term suspended. Ratings under 21 years of age only had to serve ten days. The majority of the mutineers from Hautapu were arrested by the police within a few days and were later convicted of taking part in a mutiny not accompanied by violence and of desertion. They were also sentenced to 60 days detention, but were required to serve on average about 24 days. Ratings under 21 years of age only had to serve eighteen days. Some men may also have lost good conduct badges. https://navymuseum.co.nz/explore/by-collections/places/hmnzs-tasman/
EX – HMNZS Hautapu ashore
HMNZS Hautapu at Shelly Bay before she was sunk
HMNZS Hautapu our history is who blew up a 41m steam trawler alongside a wharf in Wellington’s Shelly Bay on 2 June 1966? Maritime SHIPWRECK SAGA- the sinking of the HAUTAPU | HAUTAPU shortly after she was sunk by an explosion at a Shelly Bay, Wellington, wharf: Picture IAIN LOVIE COLLECTION SHIPWRECK SAGA Sinking of the Hautapu Lynton Diggle is co-author of the 8th edition of the New Zealand Shipwreck’s book, recently released. He is working on the supplement. One of the great mysteries of our maritime history, is who blew up the Hautapu, on the 2nd of June
Lynton is anxious to contact anyone who was crew on HMNZS Inverell, at that time, particularly the armourers, the ‘cracker stackers’. Anyone who can help, phone Lynton on 09-
Write to 3 Ngaio Rd. Titirangi, or email: diggle@words-worth.co.nz After her rudder was badly damaged by striking an unidentified object off the northern Kaikoura Coast on the night of November 2, 1963, the Hautapu, a 41m. steam trawler, ex minesweeper, was beached in Ward Bay, between Chancet Rocks and Long Point, seven and a half miles south of Cape Campbell. With heavy seas pounding her, she listed heavily to starboard and quickly filled with water. The eight-man crew got ashore through heavy surf. The Hautapu lay on the beach for several months, at the mercy of the sea and vandals, both causing extensive damage. Salvage efforts were slow, but during April 1964 several attempts were made. These culminated in her being towed off the beach by the Perano’s whaling tender Tuatea on April 29,
The Hautapu was towed into Wellington next day where, on slipping and inspection, was found to be a constructive total loss and was laid up. For two years she lay there, until May 1966 when her owners gave her to the Royal New Zealand Air Force for use as a target. May 31 was set for the exercise in which she was to be sunk 20 miles south of Cape Palliser by Air Force Vampires, Canberras and a Sunderland. However, the ship that was to tow the Hautapu to sea, H.M.N.Z.S. Inverell, was diverted to search for the collier Kaitawa sunk off Cape Reinga, on the 23rd May, and so the exercise was postponed and the Hautapu remained at the Air Force base at Shelly Bay. In the early hours of Thursday June 2, 1966, a scuttling charge placed in the Hautapu’s engine room by Navy, ‘cracker stackers,’ exploded and she sank stern first at her berth, bow still afloat. The charge was designed to be remotely fired in case the Air Force missed their target. The Air Force would have still looked good. No one has ever been charged with the sinking. More here -https://rnzncomms.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/hautapu-story.pdf
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]
Hautapu was the third of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and was commissioned on 28 July 1943. the others being Aroha, Awatere, Maimai, Pahau, Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 96th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Lyttleton.[2] In 1945 Hautapu was assigned to the Canterbury project to improve radar and meteorological observations but was not actively involved until 1946.[3][4] In 1947, Hautapu was involved in the 1947 Royal New Zealand Navy mutinies, with a party of sailors giving a note to the captain stating that they were dissatisfied with the handling of lower-deck committees and that that they would not work until their issues were resolved. Eleven sailors subsequently left the ship, but one later changed his mind and returned.[5] Despite this, Hautapu still continued to Lyttleton, without the crew.
Later in 1947, Hautapu was put up for sale and sold to New Zealand Fisheries Ltd. (which was located in Wellington) to serve as a fishing trawler. In 1963, Hautapu was laid up, due to high operating costs, and poor results with fishing,[6] later being put back into service.
Hautapu shortly after she ran aground.
On 4 November 1963, Hautapu struck an unidentified object and was run aground off the Marlborough east coast, damaging the rudder, and was pulled towards the beach despite her being in full astern.[7] All eight crew members onboard survived. Following this there were attempts to salvage the Hautapu, but none would succeed. Hautapu was eventually salvaged on 29 April 1964, and was towed to Wellington. Once salvaged it was found vandals had stripped the vessel of most of her gear.[8] When Hautapu reached Wellington, she would be taken on to a slipway for inspection, to determine the fate of the ship. After the inspection she was declared a total loss as it was found the waves had damaged her structurally, with repair being considered futile.[4] As they owned the trawler Taiaroa (formerly HMNZS Waikato) New Zealand fisheries decided to keep Hautapu for spare parts for Taiaroa.[4] After two years Hautapu was offered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) to be sunk, which they accepted.[4] She was to be towed by HMNZS Inverell, and attacked by de Havilland Vampire and English Electric Canberra jets.[9] Plans of sinking her were postponed after the MV Kaitawa sank with all hands lost, with the Inverell being sent to locate her wreck.[4] However, on 2 June 1966, Hautapu sank at Shelly Bay after a stern charge was detonated, which was placed there in case the RNZAF could not sink the Hautapu.[10] After the sinking, there was a legal dispute on who owned the wreck, with the RNZAF claiming that the New Zealand Fisheries Ltd still owned the wreck, and the New Zealand Fisheries Ltd claiming the RNZAF owned the wreck, resulting in a six-year legal battle.[11][10] In July 1972, after another gathering of officials, the Secretary of Defence would assist in removing the wreck of Hautapu, while denying ownership of her.[10] She was cut up in 1972–1973 by divers of the Royal New Zealand Navy, with the floating crane Hikitia raising the sections ashore to be scrapped
MS Trawler of the Manuka class Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy Type MS Trawler Class Manuka Pennant T 397 Built by Parten Slip (Wellington, New Zealand) Ordered Aug 1941 Laid down Launched 26 Sep 1942 Commissioned 26 Jun 1943 End service History Sold in 1946
Commands listed for HMNZS Awatere (T 397)
Commander From To 1 Lt. Eric Mortimer Conrad Stevens, RNZNR 26 Jun 1943 25 Mar 1944 2 Lt. David Lennox Millar, RNZNVR 25 Mar 1944 Notable events involving Awatere include:
8 Aug 1945 HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)
9 Aug 1945 HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)
13 Aug 1945 HMS Vox (Lt. W.E.I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR) conducted A/S exercises off Wellington with HMNZS Awatere (Lt. D.L. Millar, RNZNVR), HMNZS Maimai (T/Lt. W.W. Gunson, RNZNVR), HMNZS Hautapu (T/Lt. W. Strong, RNZNVR) and HMNZS Pahau (T/Lt. W.H.K. Mollard, RNZNVR). (1)
Sources
ADM 173/20355 ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
Castle Class at HMNZS Cook, Shelly Bay, Wellington
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]
Awatere was the second of the nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 28 July 1943. the others being Aroha, Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau, Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Wellington.[2] On 27 July 1945, Awatere would ram the Maimai stern-to-stern at Shelly Bay, with minor damage.[3] In March 1946, Awatere would be sold to Arthur. A. Murrel of Sydney along with Pahau. [3][2] In October 1946, Awatere 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 Pahau and Tawhai fishing at Formosa (now Taiwan)
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.[2]
Aroha was the first of nine steel minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 17 November 1943. the others being Awatere, Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau, Waiho, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 97th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Auckland.[3]Aroha ran aground twice during her career, first on 28 August 1943 off North Head and then three days later near the entrance to Whangārei Harbour, damaging her rudder and stern post.[4] Repairs took two months.[4]
In October 1944, Aroha towed the badly damaged Flower-classcorvetteArbutus from Fiji to Auckland after she suffered damage to her rudder, propeller, and hull.[4][3][5] In 1945, Aroha was offered on loan to the British Pacific Fleet, along with Waipu, Arabis, Kiwi, and Tui.[4] Only Aroha was required, and she sailed from Wellington to Sydney, serving there for six weeks.[4] After the six weeks ended, she sailed to Auckland to be paid off.[4]
In 1946, along with Waiho and Waima, Aroha was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers, and began fishing the same year.[4][3] She was laid up in 1958 and sold for scrap in 1963
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]
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.
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]
In September 1945, she would be paid off and placed into reserve.[5] 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.
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