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HMNZS Q1189 – Laid up 1945. Left RNZN 1946. Became Sea Scout vessel Alert in Dunedin . Known to be in Milford Sound 1980 on deer recovery. Now located at a marine yard in Kopu, Thames

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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

Wellington Harbour Q1189 with Q1188 top

Wellington Harbour

Mor information here including her time at Kopu – https://classicyacht.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Issue-127.pdf

HMNZS Taupo, originally HMS Loch Shin, was a Loch-class frigate which served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and then in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) from 1948 to 1961. She was scrapped in 1962.

HMNZS Taupo – Taupo in Malta
In April 1950 Taupo and her sister ship HMNZS Hawea went to serve with the Mediterranean Fleet at Malta. The RN sent two Bay-class frigates HMS St Austell Bay and HMS Veryan Bay to New Zealand. Taupo and Hawea returned to New Zealand in November 1950.

Royal Navy service

On Commissioning in October 1944 Loch Shin was allocated for service in the Western Approaches.[1] On 4 February 1945 she participated in attacks on the German submarine U-1014, which was sunk. The following month she was allocated for escorting Russian convoys. At the end of the war and during 1946 she was employed on Operation Deadlight to sink captured German U-Boats.

She was paid off from Royal Navy service in June 1947 and was reduced to reserve status.

Royal New Zealand Navy service

HMNZS Taupo on winter patrol in Korea

n early 1948 Loch Shin‘s sale to New Zealand was negotiated and she was re-fitted at Chatham before sale. Her name was changed to HMNZS Taupo and her pennant number was changed to F421.

During her service with the RNZN she served in the Pacific and Mediterranean and in 1951 and 1952 was deployed for service in the Korean War. Her service included shore bombardment operations. She paid off at the end of 1952 and was held in reserve status at Auckland.

HMNZS Taupo – Yang Do action – 20 February 1952.

HMNZS Taupo Ex Loch Shin

She was sold for scrapping on 15 December 1961.

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) crew from inshore patrol vessel HMNZS Taupo and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have boarded and inspected fishing vessels along the South Island’s east coast this month.

18 JUNE, 2024

After departing Lyttelton on 4 June with two MPI fishery officers aboard, RNZN personnel from Taupo made seven boardings over three days.

The fishery officers would observe vessels before hailing them to ask questions about their catch. A five-person boarding team would then use Taupo’s seaboat for a visual inspection.

While six vessels were found to be compliant, a seventh vessel was observed fishing overnight where a suspected breach was identified. The vessel was boarded the following day and will be subject to further enquiries.

Op Kauwae 1
Op Kauwae 5
Op Kauwae 4

INSHORE PATROL VESSEL HMNZS TAUPO CREW MEMBERS AND MPI STAFF HAVE MONITORED FISHING BOATS OF THE SOUTH ISLAND’S EAST COAST THIS MONTH

Fisheries Officer Gareth Manson says all vessels inspected will undergo further inspection of their digital catch records.

“Working with HMNZS Taupo has been a smooth and enjoyable experience. We are very appreciative of the team’s flexibility, and for the opportunity to work alongside the Navy to extend our capabilities.”

Op Kauwae 2
Op Kauwae 3

Taupo’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Samara Mankelow, says the fishery inspection period took place while the ship was in the South Island conducting Officer of the Watch training for the RNZN’s new cohort of junior warfare officers.

“For many of our sailors, it was their first exposure to boarding operations. Operation Kauwae provides a great opportunity for the Navy to work with other government agencies and build connections and experience.

“The boarding team of Taupo look forward to future opportunities to protect New Zealand’s maritime resources.”

HMS Loch Morlich/HMNZS Tutira was a Loch-class frigate that never saw service with the Royal Navy. Ordered during World War II, she saw service instead with the Royal Canadian Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Loch Morlich in Scotland. After the war she was returned to the Royal Navy and she was sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy and renamed Tutira.

Loch Morlich was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy on 1 April 1949.[3] Renamed Tutira, she was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 19 April 1949.[1] In 1950, along with HMNZS Pukaki, she sailed for Korea, taking part in the United Nations naval blockade during the Korean War, serving mainly as an escort. She took part in the Battle of Inchon serving as part of the screening force.[4] After returning from Korean waters she was placed in reserve in September 1951. She sat laid up in Auckland from 1952 until sold for scrap in 1961[1] and was broken up in 1966 at Hong Kong.

Loch Morlich which was ordered from Swan Hunter on 13 February 1943. She was laid down 15 July 1943 and launched 25 January 1944. Upon completion she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned on 17 July 1944, at Wallsend-on-Tyne.[2][3]

War service[edit]

After commissioning Loch Morlich joined convoy escort group EG 6 based in Derry after working up at Tobermory. She patrolled the waters around the United Kingdom until April 1945 when the group was transferred across the Atlantic to Halifax. She remained on the Canadian side of the Atlantic until the end of May when she returned to the United Kingdom. She was decommissioned and returned to the United Kingdom 20 June 1945 at Sheerness alongside HMCS Loch Achanalt, another Loch-class loaner to the Royal Canadian Navy.[2] She was reduced to reserve status and laid up in Sheerness, eventually being sold with six other Loch-class frigates in 1948.

Postwar service

Loch Morlich was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy on 1 April 1949.[3] Renamed Tutira, she was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 19 April 1949.[1] In 1950, along with HMNZS Pukaki, she sailed for Korea, taking part in the United Nations naval blockade during the Korean War, serving mainly as an escort. She took part in the Battle of Inchon serving as part of the screening force.[4] After returning from Korean waters she was placed in reserve in September 1951. She sat laid up in Auckland from 1952 until sold for scrap in 1961[1] and was broken up in 1966 at Hong Kong.