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HDML

HDML – Q1191 – Kahawai 1 – P3553

The Royal New Zealand Naval vessel KAHAWAI makes her way into Greymouth on the west coast of the South Island of NZ. Built in the USA as a HDML in 1943 and served in the Royal NZ Navy during WW2. She is seen here while on Fisheries Patrol during the late 1960’s.

Gray Harbour Ship Building Co – Aberdeen, Grays Harbour – Washington – (Contract Number D.A.N.O.B.S. 587)

The four built by this Company were shipped to Auckland N.Z. from Vancouver on the Mt Robson Park. They were Q1191, Q1192, Q1193, Q1194. They arrived in Auckland on the 25th August 1843, all these craft were commissioned together on the 28th September 1943

124th FLOTILLA AUCKLAND AREA

Because of the late commissioning of the Anti-Submarine Fixed Defenses at Worser Bay, the following H.D.M.L. were sailed to Auckland from Wellington on the 16th May 1943 via Gisborne, arriving in Auckland on the 20th May 1943.

Q1183, Q1184, Q1185, Q1186, Q1187 were the Five designated and they joined up with Q1191, Q1192, Q1193, Q1194, thus collectively making up the 124th Flotilla.

By December 1945 all 16 H.D.M.L. were in Auckland paying off and were subsequently laid up at the Greenhithe Trot, until the Lend Lease transactions were settled.

Ten H.D.M.L. retained by the R.N.Z.N. were,

          Q1183, Q1184, Q1188, Q1190, Q1191, Q1192, Q1193, Q1194, Q1348, Q1350

These ten  H.D,M.L. were reclassified as S.D.M.L. (Seaward Defense Motor Launch) in the mid 1950’s and were used in various roles.

Q1191        P3553    was laid up in Auckland as a spare launch

Q1191 Kahawai I (P3553) – Q1192 Maroro (P3554) – Q1349 Haku (P3565) – Q1183 Mako (P3551)

In 1966 Q1191, P3553 was refitted and converted into a Fisheries Protection vessel and commissioned as H.M.N.Z.S. KAHAWAI. 

Left RNZN 1976. Said to be ashore at Kopu in 1984 for refitting

HDML – Q1188 – Takapu I (P3556)

HMNZS Takapu

HMNZS Takapu (Q1188/P3556)
Commissioned 22 May 1943 as Q1188
Survey Equipment: Fitted to Q1188 when rebuilt 1946-50
The USN supervised the construction and then took charge of the finished HDML for allocation to the Allied navy. Both Q1187(Tarapunga) & Q1188(Takapu) were shipped as deck cargo from Vancouver aboard SS Kootenay Park and arrived at Wellington on 30 April 1943. There they were unloaded by floating crane and underwent full commissioning trials.

HDMLQ1188 joined the 125th Motor Launch Flotilla based in Wellington. They then carried out routine patrols in their respective areas through to 1945. As the war came to an end in 1945 the launches were concentrated at Auckland to pay off.
Q1188 had been cannibalised for parts to keep the other HDMLs that were in service so she had to be rebuilt. This was completed in February 1950 and she was commissioned as SML 1188 and was sent to Wellington in March. After arriving in Wellington, she began a survey of Cook Strait. In April she was given the pennant number P3556.

HMNZS Takapu – taken during Queens Visit, Waitangi Day 1963


From then until 1979 both vessels carried out surveys right across the New Zealand coastline mostly by themselves or as a pair. They would also work with HMNZS Lachlan & Monowai.
In November 1979 Takapu arrived at Auckland for paying off and was decommissioned in December.
Renamed: Takapu as Kahawai 1980

Q1191 Kahawai I (P3553) – Q1192 Maroro (P3554) – Q1349 Haku (P3565) – Q1183 Mako (P3551)

HMNZS Kahawai, ex HMNZS Takapu looking forlorn – Philomel in the background – Oct 30, 1982

Ex HMNZS Kahawai/ Takapu and being refitted for civilian use

Ex HMNZS Kahawai/ Takapu comes to an ignominious end in Cook Strait

HDML – Q1187 – Tarapunga I (P3566)

HMNZS Tarapunga Ex Q1187 – arrives in New Zealand

Everett Marine Ways Inc. Everett, Washington. (Contract Number: D.A.N.O.B. 586)

This Company also built four craft. They were Q1187, Q1188, Q1189, Q1190. They were shipped to Wellington, N.Z. from Vancouver as deck cargo on the ship Kootenay Park arriving Wellington on the 30th April 1943.

          Q1187 was commissioned on the 13th May 1943.

124th FLOTILLA AUCKLAND AREA

Because of the late commissioning of the Anti-Submarine Fixed Defenses at Worser Bay, the following H.D.M.L. were sailed to Auckland from Wellington on the 16th May 1943 via Gisborne, arriving in Auckland on the 20th May 1943.

HMNZS Q1186, HMNZS Paea Ex Q1184, HMNZS Tarapunga Ex Q1187 alongside HMS Philomel – the original Philomel

Q1183, Q1184, Q1185, Q1186, Q1187 were the Five designated and they joined up with Q1191, Q1192, Q1193, Q1194, thus collectively making up the 124th Flotilla.

Between 1947 and 1948 four were placed for tender. They were,

          Q1187 sold and renamed COAST GUARD CUTTER No 1.

At the same time Q1188 and Q1187(ex-Coast Guard Cutter No 1)  the two coastal survey launches were fitting out for their new roles . They didn’t get Radar or lattice masts, but were fitted with modern Echo Sounding equipment.

          Q1188 was given a new pennant number P3556 and was commissioned H.M.N.Z.S. TAKAPU (Gannet).

HMNZS Tarapunga and Takapu SML’s parked up alongside Mothership Monowai

          Q1187 given the pennant number P3566 and was commissioned H.M.N.Z.S TARAPUNGA (Black Backed Gull)   

COASTAL SURVEY DUTIES

Q1188        H.M.N.Z.S.  TAKAPU               P3556

Q1187        H.M.N.Z.S.  TARAPUNGA         P3566

In 1979 Q1187, P3566 H.M.N.Z.S. TARAPUNGA one of the Survey S.D.M.L. was taken off survey duties, refitted and converted, had a lattice mast and radar fitted, similar to the Fisheries vessels, recommissioned, renamed H.M.N.Z.S. MAKO and handed over to the R.N.Z.N.V.R. Division at Wellington.


HMNZS Mako Ex HMNZS Tarapunga

September 1983, Q1187, P3566, H.M.N.Z.S. MAKO ex TARAPUNGA, R.N.Z.N.V.R. Division Wellington Stripped and declared surplus.

HDML – Q1186 – In 1946 H.D.M.L. Q1186 was dismantled for spares by the R.N.Z.N.

The only photo I found of HMNZS Q1186, the other two – HMNZS Paea Ex Q1184, HMNZS Tarapunga Ex Q1187 alongside HMS Philomel – the original Philomel

Madden and Lewis Company – Sausalito – California

(Contract Number, D.A.N.O.B.S. 585)

This company built four, which were Q1183, Q1184, Q1185, Q1186. They were shipped to Wellington N.Z. from San Francisco as deck cargo on the ships Frank Joseph Irvin and the Pere Marguette, arriving in Wellington on the 16th of January 1943 and the 5th of March 1943

          Q1183, Q1184, were commissioned on the 9th of March 1943.

          Q1185, was commissioned on the 8th April 1943.

          Q1186, was commissioned on the 14th April 1943

124th FLOTILLA AUCKLAND AREA

Because of the late commissioning of the Anti-Submarine Fixed Defenses at Worser Bay, the following H.D.M.L. were sailed to Auckland from Wellington on the 16th May 1943 via Gisborne, arriving in Auckland on the 20th May 1943.

Q1183, Q1184, Q1185, Q1186, Q1187 were the Five designated and they joined up with Q1191, Q1192, Q1193, Q1194, thus collectively making up the 124th Flotilla.

The only incident recorded is on the 6th September 1943, H.D.M.L. Q1186 made an ASDIC contact while on patrol off Cape Brett, and dropped Depth Charges, but a search revealed no sign of any submarine.

By HMS Medusa / 28 October 2021

HDML 1186

Madden & Lewis, Sausalito, California, USA 5/4

Known Crew

  • TLt A R Joughin RNZNVR TLt 13/10/42 124th ML Flotilla Commanding Officer HDML 1186 22/4/43
  • TLt F A Bamford RNZNVR TSLt 30/10/42 FS Paris (Plymouth) 124th ML Flotilla HDML 1186 23/2/44 HMNZS Philomel
  • TSLt D C Oram RNZNVR 124th ML Flotilla First Lieutenant HDML 1186 14/5/43 TLt 22/8/44

Wartime Activities

  • Royal New Zealand Navy
  • 124th ML Flotilla
  • 6/9/43 Made an asdic contact while on patrol off Cape Brett and dropped depth-charges, but search revealed no sign of any submarine.
  • 7/45 Based at HMS Philomel

Post War History

  • 5/47 Sold

HDML – Q1185 – Manga (P3567) Laid up 1945. Trans’d to NZ Army as Bombardier. Returned from Army 1959. Fishery protection 1960-74. Transferred to RNZNVR 1974. Converted for Survey mid-late 1970s. Sold 1982.

Left RNZN 1980. Said to be at Kaipara for rebuilding. Owner bought boat ashore and bulldozed.

HMNZS Manga
HMNZS Paea P3552 with HMNZS Mako P 3551 and HMNZS Manga P3567 off North Head