In Picton 2005 being restored to wartime configuration by private owner. Purchased by Keith and Heather in 2008 and brought to Auckland. Now moored at Kauri Point in Auckland and used regularly for pleasure.
Paea in her new life.
HMNZS Q1186, HMNZS Paea Ex Q1184, HMNZS Tarapunga Ex Q1187 alongside HMS Philomel – the original Philomel – HDMLs1184 and Q1187 and Q1186 alongside Philomel
From the archive: Image taken at Devonport Naval Base during WW2 shows a group of Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDML) with HMNZS Philomel she was used as a patrol launch base from late 1942 to 1945. L-R: Q1184 – HMNZS Paea, Q1194 – HMNZS Ngapona, Q1192 – HMNZS Maroro, Q1193 – HMNZS Tamure, HMNZS Philomel Image: ABF 0015
HMNZS Paea P3552 with HMNZS Mako P 3551 and HMNZS Manga P3567 off North Head
HDML – Q1184 – Paea (P3552) HMNZS Paea Auckland 6/8/1983 Keeping anti nuclear protest boats away from USS Texas
Harbour Defence Motor Launch later reclassed in 1948 as a Seaward Defence Motor Launch
Completed 1943 as HMNZS Q1184 She was built at San Francisco and arrived Wellington onboard Liberty ship Frank Joseph
HMNZS Paea on rocks at Great Barrier
The old and the new… one of the new patrol boats – photo taken from the front deck of Paea.
Fairly heavily rebuilt after collision with Admiralty Steps in mid 80’s. Ended service 1989. Mothballed for museum but not used and sold by RNZN in 2002. Has been rescued from her previous sorry state, extensively renovated and rebuilt and is now back at sea as ML KUPARU.
HDML-Pontoon -Dockyard Q1190 Parore (P3562) – Q1185 Manga (P3567) – Q1188 Takapu I (P3556) – Q1187 Tarapunga I (P3566) – Q1348 Kuparu (P3563) – Q1184 Paea (P3552)
Laid up 1945. Fishery protection 1964-72. Survey 1973, Canterbury. Sold 1982. Left RNZN on charter 1947. Became Black Watch, used for charity excursions. Reclaimed by RNZN 1952. Tamaki Tram duties. Left RNZN again 1980.
HMNZS Haku – Thanks to Bruce Gordon – Haku (P3565) 1944-1964 Laid up 1945. Fishery protection 1964-72. Survey 1973, Canterbury. Sold 1982. Left RNZN on charter 1947. Became Black Watch, used for charity excursions. Reclaimed by RNZN 1952. Tamaki Tram duties. Left RNZN again 1980. Fitted with mast and ketch rig and became Black Watch again. In Auckland 2004Ex RNZN ML HMNZS Haku (P3565).now: HDML Blackwatch. (circa 2004)
Fitted with mast and ketch rig and became Black Watch again. In Auckland 2004. Sank at moorings 2018 and broken up.
Q1187 – Q1190 via SS Kootenay Park arrived Wellington 30 April 1943
125th Motor Launch Flotilla
Based: Wellington from May 1943 – disbanded September 1945
HDMLs 1187 transferred from 124th ML Flotilla 1 November
1188
1189
1190
1191 transferred from 124th Flotilla 22 May 1944
1349 recommissioned November 1944 to replace other HDMLs
Patrol Area: Approaches to Wellington Harbour and Cook Strait.
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.
Q1188 was commissioned on the 22 May 1943.
Q1189 was commissioned on the 25th May 1943
Q1190 was commissioned on the 28th May 1943
Sixteen Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDMLs) purchased in the United States were commissioned between March 1943 and March 1944. The launches were 72 feet (22 m) long, displaced 54 tons, and had a complement of 10. Twin Diesels generated 270 hp (200 kW) on each of two shafts for a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h). They were armed with one 20mm Oerlikon, three Vickers GO machine guns and six depth charges.
They operated as the 124th and 125th Motor Launch Flotillas, based on Auckland and Wellington respectively. They maintained anti-submarine patrols inside indicator loops. Though they were not tested by enemy action, the anti-submarine fixed defences at Wellington and Auckland attained a high degree of efficiency.[13]
After the war, twelve were retained, three were sold and one was transferred to the Army. The remaining boats were refitted and re-engined with Foden diesels. These were subsequently used as fishery protection, survey and reserve training boats. All remaining boats were named and given new pendant numbers in 1950.
WII HDML Alert – with modified superstructure — at Waitemata Harbour
AUCKLAND STEAM FERRIES WITH HDML ALERT -waitematawoodys.com
ALERT LYTTLETON 2017 -waitematawoodys.com
ALERT 2018 WAITEMATA waitematawoodys.com
Q1189 – Q1189??1943-1945?Laid up 1945. Sold 1946.?Left RNZN 1946. Became Sea Scout vessel Alert in Dunedin . Known to be in Milford Sound 1980 on deer recovery
