French Pass , Reserve M C M fleet VR IPC’s MOA, KIWI, WAKAKURA and HINAU and KAHU transiting French Pass.
It was commissioned in 1985 for the Naval Volunteer Reserve and decommissioned in 2007. Hinau is the second ship with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy. The name comes from the forest tree Elaeocarpus dentatus which is native to New Zealand.
In the early 1970s the Royal New Zealand Navy sought a replacement for its ageing SMDL patrol craft, which dated back to World War II. These vessels would be used for fisheries patrols as well as for territorial surveillance, complimenting the existing capability provided by P-3 Orion aircraft and frigates. Tenders for construction of the Lake-class was awarded to the UK based Brooke Marine, with an initial order of six ships. This order was subsequently reduced to four. The names of the four ships were based on the previous Loch-class frigates that had previously served in the RNZN. The names chosen for the Lake class vessels were Hawea, Pukaki, Rotoiti and Taupo.[2]
Taupo was laid down in July 1974, and was built by Brooke Marine at their shipyard in Lowestoft, in the United Kingdom. Construction was completed by November 1974, with the ship being delivered and commissioned into the RNZN by July 1975.[3] Taupo was commissioned on 29 July 1975.
Taupo began her shakedown cruise on 5 August 1975. By August 1975, she took up fisheries and territorial patrol duties. Over the course of her service life, Taupo additionally took part in fleet exercises, as well as use with the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve.
During their initial service life the ship was beset with engine vibration problems. The Lake class gained a reputation for poor performance in heavy seas, with a number of sailors injured. Taupo would be regularly refit in order to attempt to resolve these issues. In addition, all patrol craft were subject to a number of fuel shortages throughout the 70s and 80s, resulting in significant time spent laid up at Devonport Naval Base.
Taupo was one of a number of ships that came to the assistance of the sinking Sovietcruise linerMikhail Lermontov on 16 February 1986.[4] Commander by Lt. Batcheler, Taupo assisted in both the recovery of passengers, as well as helping to coordinate rescue efforts.
Taupo served with the RNZN until 1990 when she and her sister ships were decommissioned and sold off. The ship was replaced by the Moa class, and later Lake-class inshore patrol vessels. HMNZS Taupo, commissioned in 2009, carries the same namesake and pennant of Taupo.
Rotoiti was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after either Lake Rotoiti in North Island, or Lake Rototi in South Island (or perhaps both).
HMNZS Rotoiti was a Lake-class patrol vessel of the Royal New Zealand Navy. It was commissioned in 1975 and deleted in 1991. Rotoiti was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after either Lake Rotoiti in North Island, or Lake Rototi in South Island (or perhaps both). New Zealand Builder: Brooke Marine, Britain Commissioned: 1975 Decommissioned: 1991 Identification: Pennant number: P3569 Fate: deleted General characteristics Class and type: Lake-class patrol vessel Displacement: 105 tons standard 135 tons full load Length: 107.8 ft (32.9 m) Beam: 20 ft (6.1 m) Draught: 11.1 ft (3.4 m) Propulsion: 2 × Paxman 12Y JCM diesels 3000 hp, 2 shafts Speed: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Range: 3,000 nmi (5,600 km; 3,500 mi) Complement: 21 Sensors and processing systems: Navigation radar: Racal Decca 916 I band Armament: 2 × 12.7mm machine guns 1 × 81mm mortar
The class was intended to comprise 6 vessels to replace the wartime harbour protection boats and old converted minesweepers HMNZS Kiama and Inverell used for fishery protection in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Lake class were politically justified as a means of enhancing New Zealand’s capability for patrolling the 200-nautical-mile (370 km) exclusive economic zone, established by the new Law of the Sea of 1977. However they were too small for the task, and gave the crews a roller-coaster ride, resulting in extensive injury and sea sickness. Originally the RNZN had requested slightly larger 37-metre (121 ft) boats from Brooke Marine, but the experience of the over-extended Lake class turned the navy strongly against this type of mini warship. Opposition politicians condemned their introduction as ridiculously expensive and militaristic for fisheries protection. On calm days and in protected waters they could be comfortable and they gave useful early command experience for officers. Pukaki and its class were used to escort the US Navy nuclear submarines Haddo and Pintado into Auckland Harbour in 1978 and 1979 .
Pukaki was one of three ships of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Pukaki.
