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HMNZS Aotearoa arrives at RIMPAC 2024

The Royal New Zealand Navy maritime sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa is in Pearl Harbor, readying to be a major part of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) contribution to Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024 (RIMPAC 24).

02 July, 2024

RIMPAC is a biennial multi-national combined exercise, hosted by the United States Navy, focused on all aspects of maritime-based warfare disciplines. It is the largest maritime exercise in the world, involving approximately 29 nations, 40 surface ships, 3 submarines, 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel.

The harbour phase of the exercise is currently underway which involves HMNZS Aotearoa’s crew attending planning meetings, symposiums, sports competitions and cultural exchanges.

HMNZS Aotearoa, which arrived in Pearl Harbor last week, will sail in company with the other participating ships on Monday 8 July 2024 for the sea phase of the exercise.

This will include a range of maritime warfare focused scenarios such as amphibious operations, gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air defence exercises, as well as military medicine, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, counter-piracy, mine clearance operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and diving and salvage operations.

During this phase of the exercise, HMNZS Aotearoa will play a large part in sustaining the coalition force by resupplying other ships with fuel, food, spare parts and ammunition.

Speaking to a delegation of international visitors to the ship, HMNZS Aotearoa’s Commanding Officer, Commander Rob Welford, quoted an excerpt from the Navy haka explaining “this means we stand strong, we stand staunch, we stand together as sailors. This call aligns with the key theme of RIMPAC 24: partners integrated and prepared”.

The NZDF is contributing around 250 personnel to the exercise including the ship’s crew,  operational divers from HMNZS Matataua, a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft and air  detachment, medical personnel, a dental team and other New Zealand Defence Force personnel operating in various headquarters and supporting units.

Photo by Seaman Juan Cordova, U.S. Navy  

HMS Wellington launches fundraiser for essential repairs as she wards off being scrapped

Alex Walters – 30th June 2024 at 12:06pm

HMS Wellington has been at her current berth on Victoria Embankment since 1948 (Picture: The Wellington Trust)

HMS Wellington, the last surviving Royal Navy vessel from the Battle of the Atlantic – the longest continuous military campaign of the Second World War – requires essential repairs or risks being scrapped.

To avoid the 1,200-ton ship potentially being broken up, the Wellington Trust has launched a fundraising campaign to save the well-known landmark on the River Thames.

HMS Wellington was built in 1934 and served as a convoy escort ship during the Second World War, guarding more than 100 convoys of merchant ships.

The Wellington Trust says it is “determined that, unlike many other historic vessels and heritage sites, this unique ship will not be permitted to fall into any kind of disrepair”.

It aims to continue the restoration and maintenance to preserve the ship as well as fund its mission to educate and celebrate the history and traditions of the British Merchant Navy.

The Wellington Trust also aims to welcome more people on board to enjoy the legacy and soak up the atmosphere of the past, learning from guides and browsing through its history.

The Wellington Trust said: “All funds raised will both support Wellington’s conservation and preservation and develop a new business plan to make her more accessible to the public as a visitor attraction.”

You can donate by either contributing to the GoFundMe campaign here or by visiting the website by clicking here.

HQS/HMS Wellington (launched Devonport, 1934) is a Grimsby-class sloop, formerly of the Royal Navy. Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS Wellington served in the Pacific mainly on station in New Zealand and China before the Second World War.

During the Second World War, she served as a convoy escort ship in the North Atlantic. She is now moored alongside the Victoria Embankment, at Temple Pier, on the River Thames in London, England. From 1948 to 2023 she was the headquarters ship of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, known as HQS Wellington.

Royal Navy service

Wellington in April 1942.

Built at Devonport in 1934, HMS Wellington served in the Pacific mainly on station in New Zealand and China before the Second World War. As built, Wellington mounted two 4.7-inch guns and one 3-inch gun. Additionally, anti-aircraft guns were fitted for self-defence. Depth charges for use against submarines were carried. Wellington served primarily in the North Atlantic on convoy escort duties. She shared in the destruction of one enemy U-boat and was involved in Operation Cycle, the evacuation of Allied troops from Le Havre. During 1943 she was briefly commanded by Captain John Treasure Jones, at that time a lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy Reserve, who would later be the last captain of RMS Queen Mary.

The Grimsby-class anti-submarine sloops of 1933-36, which included HMS Wellington, were the predecessors of the Black Swan class of 1939.

Honourable Company of Master Mariners[edit]

Port quarter view of HQS Wellington

It was always the ambition of the founding members of the company to have a livery hall. Up to the outbreak of war in 1939, various proposals were examined, including the purchase of a sailing ship, Archibald Russell.[citation needed] After the Second World War, it became apparent that the possibility of building a hall in the City of London had been rendered very remote. In 1947, the Grimsby-class sloop Wellington was made available by the Admiralty. The company decided to buy her with money subscribed by the members and convert her to a floating livery hall, an appropriate home for a company of seafarers. She was converted to Headquarters Ship (HQS) Wellington at Chatham Dockyard.

The cost of this conversion was met by an appeal to which Lloyd’s, shipping companies, livery companies and other benefactors contributed. It included the installation of a grand wooden staircase taken from the 1906 Isle of Man ferry SS Viper, which was being broken up at the same time. Wellington arrived at her Victoria Embankment berth in December 1948 to continue service as the floating livery hall of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.

In 1991, HQS Wellington was dry-docked at Sheerness for three months during which, apart from extensive steelwork repairs and complete external painting, she received a major refurbishment which included the refitting of all toilet facilities, offices and accommodation areas. Wellington was fitted with carpet, and displays were installed of the Company’s marine paintings and artefacts, gold and silver plate, ship models and newly discovered very early 18th-century charts.

Since 2014, Wellington has also served as the London postal address of the Flag Institute.[1][2]

The Wellington Trust[edit]

In 2005, The Wellington Trust was set up as a registered charity under English law.[3] Ownership of the Wellington was then transferred to the Wellington Trust, while remaining the headquarters of the HCMM.[4] On 12 April 2023, due to safety concerns, the Honourable Company left the ship, though they were developing plans for a new floating livery hall.[5][6] After a period of maintenance and compliance work, the Wellington Trust announced the ship is safe for public use and meets all statutory legal requirements and licences to operate. The first phase of the reopening of the ship to the public began on 2 October 2023. Wellington will continue to be a floating classroom and venue for events

HDML – Q1192 – Maroro (3554)

HMNZS Maroro – P3554 Maroro

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

Sixteen H.D.M.L purchased in the United States on lend Lease were commissioned between the 9th March 1943 and 27 March 1944.

They were grouped and operated as the 124th and 125th Flotillas. The 124th based in Auckland and the 125th at Wellington.

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

These 72Ft craft were equipped with Depth Charges and were to maintain Anti-Submarine inside the Mine Fields and Indicator Loops

The 124th Flotilla patrolled the Anti-Submarine fixed defenses in Auckland which were commissioned as EMU and PUNA.

Emu Anti-Submarine Fixed Defence Station was situated on Motutapu Island in the approaches to Auckland and administered by the Commanding Officer H.M.N.Z. S. PHILOMEL.

PUNA Anti-Submarine Fixed Defence Station was situated at Takapuna Head, Auckland and was also administered by the Commanding Officer H.M.N.Z. S. PHILOMEL

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.

Q1192 Maroro P3554 and Q1193 Tamure P3555 in Gisborne, coming from Wellington and heading to Auckland

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

By 1964 H.M.N.Z, S. TAMAKI on Motuihe Island had closed down and relocated to Ft. CAUTLEY, Devonport. This shift made the Three Tamaki Trams surplus to requirements. Two of these S.D.M.L. were selected for fitting out as Fisheries Protection Vessels. They were Q1349, P3565 and Q1192, P3554.

 Q1192, P3554 was commissioned H.M.N.Z.S. MARORO (Flying Fish)

FISHERY PROTECTION DUTIES

          QII83          P3551        H.M.N.Z.S. MAKO

          QII84          P3552        H.M.N.Z.S. PAEA

          QII85          P3567        H.M.N.Z.S. MANGA

QI349         P3565        H.M.N.Z.S. HAKU

QII92          P3554        H.M.N.Z.S. MARORO

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

Left RNZN 1972. Went to Fiji as Viti 1972. Wrecked near Lautoka 1982

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