Royal New Zealand Navy

This article is about the Royal Navy of New Zealand. For other Royal Navies, see Royal Navy (disambiguation).

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. In April 2006 the fleet consists of ten ships, with the combat force consisting of two frigates.

History

Main article: History of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Pre-World War I

The New Zealand Navy did not exist as a separate military force until 1941.

The first maritime combat activities in New Zealand began with the arrival of the Māori in waka around one thousand years ago. One of the first recorded contacts with the Māori was by Dutchman Abel Tasman, when he was attacked by Māori in war waka off the northern tip of the South Island in December 1642.

The association of the Royal Navy with New Zealand began with the arrival of Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook in 1769, who completed two subsequent journeys to New Zealand in 1773 and 1777. For the remainder of the 18th century and the early 19th century, the Royal Navy frequently sent warships to New Zealand to maintain law and order amongst British subjects who were resident in the islands, and to prevent violence between the British and the Māori. William Hobson, a crucial player in the drafting of the Treaty of Waitangi, was in New Zealand as a captain in the Royal Navy. The signing of the Treaty of Waitangi made New Zealand a colony in the British Empire, so the defence of the coastline became the responsibility of the Royal Navy. That role was fulfilled until World War I, and the Royal Navy also played a part in the New Zealand Wars: for example, a gunboat shelled fortified Māori pā from the Waikato River in order to defeat the Māori King Movement.

World War I and the Inter-War period

In 1909, the New Zealand government decided to fund the purchase of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand for the Royal Navy, which saw action throughout World War I in Europe. The passing of the Naval Defence Act 1913 created the New Zealand Naval Forces, still as a part of the Royal Navy, and from 1921 to 1941 the force was known as the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The first purchase by the New Zealand government for the New Zealand Naval Forces was the cruiser HMS Philomel, which escorted New Zealand land forces to occupy the German colony of Samoa in 1914. Philomel saw further action under the command of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf.

Between World War I and World War II, the New Zealand Division consisted of the two cruisers HMS Achilles and HMS Leander, and a minesweeper, HMS Wakakura.

World War II

File:Admiral Graf Spee Scuttled.jpg

The Admiral Graf Spee scuttled, following the Battle of the River Plate, in which she was engaged by New Zealand cruiser HMS Achilles.

When Britain went to war against Germany in 1939, New Zealand immediately also declared war. In 1941, the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy became the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), in recognition of the fact that the naval force was now largely self-sufficient and independent of the Royal Navy. Ships thereafter were prefixed HMNZS (His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship).

HMS Achilles participated in the first major naval battle of World War II, the Battle of the River Plate off the River Plate estuary between Argentina and Uruguay, in December 1939. Achilles and two other cruisers, HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter, were in an operation that forced the crew of the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee to scuttle her rather than face the loss of many more German seamen's lives. This decision apparently infuriated Hitler. The Achilles moved to the Pacific, and was working with the US Navy when damaged by a Japanese bomb off New Georgia. Following repair she served alongside the British Pacific Fleet until the war's end.

HMNZS Leander and USS St. Louis fire on the Jintsu.

HMS Leander escorted the New Zealand Expeditionary Force to the Middle East in 1940, and was then deployed in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean, where she was subjected to air and naval attack from Axis forces, conducted bombardments and escorted convoys, and sank the Italian "auxilary cruiser" Ramb I. After serving in the Mediterranean she returned to the Pacific in 1943, assisting in the destruction of the Japanese cruiser Jintsu and being seriously damaged by torpedos during the Battle of Kolombangara.

As the war progressed, the size of the RNZN greatly increased, and by the end of WWII there were over 60 ships in commission. These ships participated as part of the British and Commonwealth effort against the Axis in Europe, and against the Japanese in the Pacific. They also played an important role in the defence of New Zealand, from German raiders, and especially when the threat of invasion from Japan appeared imminent in 1942. Many merchant boats were requisitioned and armed for help in defence. One of these was HMNZS Monowai, which saw action against a Japanese submarine off Fiji in 1942. In 1941-1942, it was decided in an agreement between the New Zealand and United States government that the best role for the RNZN in the Pacific was as part of the United States Navy, so operational control of the RNZN was transferred to the South West Pacific Area command, and its ships joined United States 7th Fleet taskforces.

In 1943, the light cruiser HMS Gambia was transferred to the RNZN as HMNZS Gambia. In November 1944, the British Pacific Fleet, a joint British Commonwealth taskforce, was formed, based in Sydney, Australia. Most RNZN ships were transferred to BPF, including Gambia and Achilles. They took part in the Battle of Okinawa and operations in the Sakishima Islands, near Japan. In August 1945,Gambia was New Zealand's representative at Japan's surrender.

Post-War

RNZN ships participated in the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation and the Vietnam War. In the past three decades, the RNZN has operated in the Middle East a number of times. RNZN ships played a role in the Iran-Iraq War, aiding the Royal Navy in protecting neutral shipping in the Indian Ocean. Frigates were also sent to participate in the first Gulf War, and more recently Operation Enduring Freedom. The RNZN has played an important part in conflicts in the Pacific as well. Naval forces were utilised in the Bougainville, Solomon Islands and East Timor conflicts of the 1990s. The RNZN often participates in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

RNZN frigates HMNZS Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki, & Waikato, on exercise in Wellington Harbour 1980.

The RNZN has played a much broader role than just conflict-related activities. Since 1946, it has policed New Zealand's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone for fisheries protection. It also aids New Zealand's deployment in Antarctica, at Scott Base.

One of the best-known roles that the RNZN played on the world stage was when the frigates Canterbury and the Otago were sent by the Labour Government of Norman Kirk to Moruroa Atoll in 1973 to protest against French nuclear testing there. The frigates were sent into the potential blast zone of the weapon, which forced France to postpone the tests.

The Modern RNZN

Current Fleet

Main article: Current Royal New Zealand Navy ships

The RNZN is currently in a transitional period where its role is being broadened into a navy that is more versatile than in the more recent past. It used to be combat orientated, based on the frigate, but a number of new ships are soon to be incorporated into the fleet that will give the RNZN a much broader platform to work from. These ships will not be operational until 2007, so are not part of the current fleet.

The categorisations of the ships used here are taken from the RNZN website.

Naval Combat Force

HMNZS Te Mana.

File:NZ MRV (NZDF).jpg

RNZN new MRV

File:Otago.jpg

New RNZN OPV 2 will delivered in 2007

File:HMNZS Endeavour.jpg

Endeavour

The naval combat force currently consists of two Anzac Class frigates: HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana. Both ships are based at the Devonport Naval Base on Auckland's North Shore. Te Kaha was commissioned on July 26 1997 and Te Mana on December 10 1999.

The specifications and armaments of the two ships are identical.

Logistics Support

HMNZS Endeavour (A11) is the fleet tanker. She provides fuel and other supplies for the frigates when they are on international operations, and for allied ships should this be required. Endeavour takes her name from the Royal Navy ship that carried James Cook to New Zealand on his first voyage, in 1769. The home port of Endeavour is the city of New Plymouth.

Hydrographic Force

The hydrographic ship is HMNZS Resolution. Resolution is used to survey and chart the sea around New Zealand and her inshore waters, and was formerly the United States Navy USS Tenacious, used to tow sonar arrays to detect enemy submarines. A small motor boat, Adventure, is operated from Resolution. The home port of Resolution is the city of Gisborne.

Diving Support

The diving support vessel is HMNZS Manawanui (A09). Manawanui is provided for the use of the Operational Dive Team (ODT), which is trained for deep sea diving, underwater demolition and explosives disposal. Manawanui also has limited carriage capacity.

Inshore Patrol Craft

The RNZN has five Moa class patrol boats, which are used for a range of activities such as training and resource protection; these vessels were operated by the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, but more recently have been employed directly by the regular navy. These vessels are:

• HMNZS Moa (P3553)
• HMNZS Kiwi (P3554)
• HMNZS Wakakura (P3555)
• HMNZS Hinau (P3556)
• HMNZS Kahu (A 04)

Aircraft

Main article: No. 6 Squadron RNZAF

The RNZN operates five Kaman SH-2G Seasprite helicopters for use on the two frigates, and for future use on the new multi-role vessel and two offshore patrol craft that will be incorporated into the fleet in 2007 and 2008. These five aircraft are part of No. 6 Squadron of the RNZAF. The squadron is based at Whenuapai Air Base in Auckland, and helicopters are assigned to the ships as they are sent on deployments across the globe. The roles of the helicopters include:

• surface warfare missions and surveillance operations
• under water warfare
• helicopter delivery services/logistics
• search and rescue
• medical evacuation
• training
• assistance to other Government agencies

Role of the RNZN

Purpose of the New Zealand Defence Force

See also: New Zealand Defence Force

In its Statement of Intent, the NZDF states its primary mission as:

to secure New Zealand from external threat, to protect our sovereign interests, including in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and to be able to take action to meet likely contingencies in our strategic area of interest.

The intermediate outcomes of the NZDF are listed as:

1. Secure New Zealand, including its people, land, territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, natural resources and critical infrastructure.
2. Reduced risks to New Zealand from regional and global insecurity.
3. New Zealand values and interests advanced through participation in regional and international security systems.
4. New Zealand is able to meet future national security challenges.

The role of the navy is to fulfil the maritime elements of the missions of the NZDF.

Participation in International Security Operations

The RNZN has a role to help prevent any unrest occurring in New Zealand. This can be done by having a presence in overseas waters and assisting redevelopment in troubled countries. For example, any unrest in the Pacific Islands has the potential to spill over into New Zealand because of the large Pacific Island population. If the RNZN can help stabilise the situation in the islands, it will make New Zealand a safer place. The navy has participated in peace-keeping and peace-making in East Timor, Bougainville and the Solomon Islands.

Civilian Roles

The 2002 Maritime Forces Review identified a number of roles that other government agencies required the RNZN to undertake. Approximately 1,400 days at sea are required to fulfil these roles annually.

Roles include patrolling the Exclusive Economic Zone, transport to offshore islands, and support for the New Zealand Customs Service.

The RNZN produces hydrographic information for Land Information New Zealand under a commercial contract arrangement.

Current deployments

Since 2001, both ANZAC frigates have participated in the United States' Operation Enduring Freedom in the Persian Gulf and have conducted maritime patrol operations in support of American efforts in Afghanistan.

As of 21 June 2006, Te Mana was in South East Asia. Te Kaha was in New Zealand waters, to be deployed to South East Asia in the second half of 2006.

Personnel

Reserves

The primary reserve component of the RNZN is the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), which is organised into a number of divisions based in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

At present the RNZNVR has three branches: Administration, Sea Service, and Maritime Trade Organisation (formerly Naval Control of Shipping). Due to the Moa Class Patrol vessels being transferred to Auckland and the arrival of the new Protector vessels, the role of the RNZNVR is currently being reviewed.

Finance

Routine funding

The RNZN is funded through a "vote" appropriated by the New Zealand Parliament.

Vote New Zealand Defence Force funds personell, operating and finance costs. Funding is then allocated to specific "Output Classes", which are aligned to policy objectives.

Funding allocation in each Output Class includes consumables, personnel, depreciation and a 'capital charge'. The Capital Charge is a budgetary mechanism to reflect the cost of Crown capital and averages approximately 10% of the value of the asset it is charged against.

Large Projects

The Ministry of Defence (New Zealand) is responsible for the acquisition of significant items of military equipment needed to meet New Zealand Defence Force capability requirements. Funding for the Ministry of Defence is appropriated separately.

Onshore establishments

The Royal New Zealand Naval Museum

The Museum, adjacent to the HMNZ Naval Base, Devonport, contains important collections of naval artefacts, and extensive records. Supporters may join the Friends of the Royal New Zealand Naval Museum.

Future fleet

The shape of the future fleet was detailed by a New Zealand Government report, the 2002 Maritime Forces Review

The review determined that current fleet structure was inadequate to support ongoing patrol and response requirements within New Zealand's exclusive economic zone. Project Protector was commissioned to address some of these shortcomings.

Future Fleet (as of 2007): 2x ANZAC Frigates 1x Multi role vessel 2x Offshore Patrol Vessel 4x Inshore Patrol Vessel 1x Replenish Ship 1x Diving Support 1x Hydrographic Survey

Project Protector

The Ministry of Defence acquisition project to acquire one multi-role vessel, two offshore and four inshore patrol vessels, to be operated by the RNZN to conduct tasks for and with New Zealand Customs, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Fisheries, Maritime New Zealand & the New Zealand Police.

See Royal New Zealand Navy Future Plans

See also

• History of New Zealand
• New Zealand military ranks

External links

• Royal New Zealand Navy homepage
• The New Zealand Defence Force Website
• Google Maps Image of Devonport RNZN Base