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Anzac Class

Former St Peters College (Gore) student to command HMNZS Te Mana

It’s not often a Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) engineer is told, “you have the ship”, but it’s a role Commander Chris Bone is more than ready to take on.

Commander Bone, who grew up in Gore, recently assumed command of RNZN frigate HMNZS Te Mana, and will lead the ship through an extended maintenance period at Devonport Naval Base to prepare it for future deployments.

It’s relatively familiar ground for Commander Bone, who was the Marine Engineering Officer (MEO) for HMNZS Te Mana between 2020-2023, leading the engineering department through the ship’s regeneration following the Frigate Systems Upgrade in Canada.

HMNZS Te Mana. Photo: NZDF

He was also the Assistant MEO on HMNZS Te Kaha following its Platform System upgrade in 2013-2015.

These experiences have set him up well for this command.

“This posting for me is an opportunity to put the knowledge I’ve gained through being part of two regeneration cycles across both frigates to the best use for the organisation” Commander Bone said.

HMNZS Te Mana is normally crewed by up to 178 sailors that are trained in operating in peacetime environments and conflict. Commander Bone says frigate time and culture definitely make an impression.

“The culture, team environment and camaraderie that comes with a frigate – whether it be within your messdeck, department, mess or across the whole ship – cannot be understated.”

“Every ship in our Navy develops this, but on a frigate you live and work together in such close confines, deploy for longer periods, and train for operations where the possibility of damage is that much more real – that team environment is amplified, and the satisfaction and sense of achievement from your time on the ship, as well as the friendships you make, stays with you for life.”

Commander Chris Bone (right) holds his Command Directive, presented by Acting Chief of Navy Commodore Andrew Brown. Photo: NZDF

Commander Bone joined the Navy straight from finishing at St Peter’s College.

He attended the University of Auckland, obtaining a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours), before undertaking the Systems Engineering Management Course (Marine Engineering) at HMS Sultan in the United Kingdom.

Commander Bone has served on HMNZ Ships Te Kaha, Te Mana, Endeavour, and Aotearoa, as well as the Royal Navy’s HMS Illustrious.

Highlights of his career have included the centenary celebrations of Anzac Day aboard HMNZS Te Kaha during the multi-national sailpast of Anzac Cove, sailing up the Thames in London aboard HMS Illustrious, and his time in Canada with HMNZS Te Mana which enabled him to get some great North American skiing in during his downtime from ship.

“I am looking forward to ensuring that the Ship’s Company of Te Mana are able to enjoy their work and workplace, and to take their ship from maintenance in drydock, and through a regeneration cycle, ready to deliver on whatever tasking the government and NZDF leadership put in front of them – and in achieving this I hope that all of the team on the ship can feel the sense of accomplishment that will come with it.”

Jumper Co ISA 1
Dwains ISA 1

Wellington man keeps RNZN frigate on course

A former Onslow College student is showing the way to go as Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) frigate HMNZS Te Kaha builds up capability for future missions.

LT Julian Grimmett

25 JUNE, 2024

Lieutenant Julian Grimmett, from Khandallah in Wellington, is the navigating officer on board Te Kaha, which visited Wellington recently.

The navigating officer is a warfare officer of four to seven years’ experience who specialises in navigation. They are responsible for the safe passage and navigation of the ship at sea. 

Lieutenant Grimmett studied Information Technology at Weltec in Petone but realised it wasn’t for him. 

“It wasn’t what I was passionate about. I looked at the police and looked at the Defence Force and applied for both. To coin a phrase, I was looking for better work stories, I wanted something active.”

 He joined the Navy in 2013 and found he really enjoyed the 22-week officer training course.

“You might not appreciate it at the time, but it was really cool.”

Part of the training included a stint aboard training ship Spirit of New Zealand, taking the vessel to Sydney for the Royal Australian Navy’s 100th anniversary.

“It was 10 days over there, in tough seas. It was also my 21st birthday when I was there, so there was a 100-gun salute at the same time, which was pretty nice.”

As Te Kaha’s navigating officer he’s not on bridge ‘watches’, but supervises a small team of bridge watchkeepers.

HMNZ Te Kaha in Wellington

“I work pretty consistently from 8am to 8pm. There’s supervision and a lot of planning in my job. When you come in and out of a harbour like Wellington, you have to plan it out.”

For the Wellington visit, Te Kaha took aboard a CentrePort Wellington pilot to guide the ship to its berth at Queen’s Wharf.

“If a pilot comes on board, we don’t switch off. We have to be trained to fight regardless of circumstances. In a wartime situation a pilot may not be available. We train for visual navigation, and we need to be able do it anywhere in the world.”

He likes the mathematics side of the job.

“I know it’s a bit nerdy to say, but I’ve got a maths brain. Navigation is about triangulation, trigonometry and problem solving. There’s environmental factors, movement of the sun, the stars, the seasons.

 “The other thing I like is the personal skills. I’m the oversight for a small team, as the most experienced watchkeeper on board. I give coaching and advice to younger ones. I’ve previously been an instructor at the navigation training school in Australia.”

Next year Lieutenant Grimmett will further his warfare officer training in the United Kingdom, to qualify as a ship’s Principal Warfare Officer.

“My advice to people thinking about this career is to be open to experiences. I’ve been all around the Pacific and Asia, and made some amazing friends in New Zealand and other countries.

“I did a lot of growing up in my first years in the Navy. It gives you some pretty good life skills.”

Royal New Zealand Navy Frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha Returns To The Capital In Less Challenging Times

Monday, 17 June 2024, 9:19 am
Press Release: New Zealand Defence Force

Photo/Supplied

One of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Anzac-class frigates, HMNZS Te Kaha, will this week be making its first port visit to Wellington since 2016.

Te Kaha was last in the capital following the humanitarian assistance and disaster response it provided during the Kaikōura earthquake.

Since then, the ship has undergone a significant upgrade to its combat, surveillance and counter measures capability in Canada and has recently returned to sea after a period of extended maintenance.

Te Kaha is now in the process of conducting sea trials to ensure equipment and systems are fully functional, as well as enhancing the crew’s core mariner skills.

The ship will be berthing at Queen’s Wharf on Wednesday 19 June, and an Open Day for the public will be held on Saturday 22 June between 10am and 4pm.