NT 113 copy - RNZN - Royal New Zealand Navy in Bamyan.‘The Campaign’: an overview of the...

1N T 1 1 3 A U G U S T 0 6 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

INDIAN NAVY VISITS

OUR TASK GROUP DEPLOYS

THUMBS UPFOR TE KAHA!

AFGHANISTANSPECIAL FEATURE

N T 1 1 3 A U G U S T 0 62 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

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C O N T E N T S

TODAY

FEATURES:

04 : AFGHANISTAN SPECIAL FEATURE ‘Just like a ship,’ Captain Ross Smith RNZN is the fi rst naval offi cer to command the NZ-PRT in Bamyan.‘The Campaign’: an overview of the coalition strategy in Afghanistan. ‘Winter’ LT Paula McKenzie RNZN looks back at winter with the NZPRT

10: INTERVIEW WITH VA MEHTA INNavy Today’s interview with VA Sureesh Mehta, Flag Offi cer Commanding in Chief of India’s Eastern Naval Command

20: BUILDING THE IPVSThe Editor reports on the New Zealand shipyard building the Navy’s new Inshore Patrol Vessels. Plus, a report on the Builder’s sea trials for CANTERBURY.

REGULARS:

03 Yours Aye

12 TE MANA’s Deployment

15 Sealink

16 Marketing the Navy

24 Our People

26 Fleet Progress

36 Around the Fleet

37 Galley Slide

40 Year of the Veteran

44 SportDEFENCEA publication of

PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

AUGU

ST C

OVE

RCadets from Te Kaha (Bay of Plenty) visit HMNZS TE KAHA on 24 June and give the frigate a ‘thumbs up’ (l to r): Waimarino Wairua, Billy Moka & Ashley Insley

PHOTO: CPL CHRIS WEISSENBORN RNZAF, NAVAL PHOTO UNIT

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Y O U R S A Y E

AYE“”

Much has happened in the time that I have been CDF. It has been enlightening to be ex-

posed to the diff erent elements that make up the NZDF. It is my intention to visit camps, ships and bases as soon as I can.

The Service Chiefs and I share the view that although the NZDF is a small De-fence Force, it is eff ective and delivers what we say we will do, and more, to the best of our ability. Some of those who I have met overseas are also enthusiastic about the level of our performance, and the impact we are making, and they were surprised that we are from a country of just 4 million people.

On my recent visit to Europe, to meet with senior NATO and European Union offi cers and the CDFs of Australia and UK, I was heartened by the comments made regarding the work by NZDF per-sonnel in many parts of the world. The eff orts of our servicemen and women in their primary roles, or as ambassadors for NZ, is widely appreciated by our col-leagues in those countries.

My visit to the UK followed my at-tendance at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, which involved Defence Ministers and senior defence offi cials from many countries. It was an oppor-tunity for me, as the representative for the NZDF, to meet some of my Chief of Defence counterparts and discuss issues of mutual interest. It was also an opportunity to reinforce NZ’s mili-tary contributions at an international forum.

THIS MONTH CN INVITED CDF, LTGEN JERRY MATEPARAE, TO REFLECT ON HIS FIRST THREE MONTHS IN COMMAND OF THE NZDF.

Our international role has been rein-forced by RA David Ledson, who visited India and joined TE MANA during her visit there. He too came away with an appreciation of the high regard in which the NZDF is held. He commented to the ship’s company that our reputa-tion was built by each and everyone who serves or works within the NZDF - in their case, the Navy.

At the senior leadership level of the NZDF, the Executive Leadership Team, or ELT, is working to set a new com-mand environment. The ELT has held two significant meetings about the strategic direction for the NZDF. The ELT is developing a strategic management approach to map and direct our future course, through a strategic plan and vision for the NZDF covering the next fi ve plus years.

For the ELT, the task is to shed light on all the issues, challenges and op-portunities for the NZDF; to assess their impact; and to assist me in making deci-sions on the way ahead. I am aware that your input is also important, to ensure we get a broad grasp on everything that may impact on our performance. Accordingly, consultation within the NZDF will be undertaken once the general themes are developed.

The NZDF is playing its part on the world stage, where we are not just measured by the size of our force or budget. We have quality people who represent New Zealand with credit around the world even in the most dif-fi cult conditions.

[ G U E S T E D I T O R I A L ]

WE HAVE QUALITY PEOPLE WHO

REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND WITH

CREDIT AROUND THE WORLD EVEN IN

THE MOST DIFFICULT CONDITIONS.

The New Zealand MRV, to be called CANTERBURY, sailing under the Dutch fl ag for its builder’s sea trial on 20 July. See story on page 23.


He may be land-locked, but CAPT Ross Smith RNZN is running his latest mission very much the same as he’d command a ship. Ross is senior national offi cer

with the New Zealand Provincial Recon-struction Team in Afghanistan. The PRT’s mission is to enhance the security environ-ment in the formerly war-torn province, and promote reconstruction eff ort in the province’s myriad of small towns and vil-lages. At the same time it is monitoring and assessing military, civil and political reforms by establishing relationships and links throughout the wider community.

While each of the seven PRT rotations have included Navy personnel, the latest rotation is the fi rst to be commanded by a Naval offi cer.

“In many ways the PRT is like a ship. We have section heads who take care of various aspects of the mission, and the contingent is a very tight-knit community, much the same as on a ship. I’m also very lucky in that I’ve got an incredibly enthu-siastic and hard-working team who want to achieve as much as possible in our short construction season.”

COMMANDING THE NZ PRT

BY JUDITH MARTIN, STRATEGIC PROJECTS EDITOR, DPRU

The type of patrolling the PRT’s four pa-trol units do is diff erent from that of other PRTs – there are 24 of them in Afghanistan – in that patrols are away from main base for up to three weeks at a time, maintain-ing a presence in their district. With their vehicles loaded with fresh rations, and accompanied by a medic, they look after themselves in small makeshift bases. In daylight they patrol. Their duties vary: they constantly watch for combatants or suspi-cious activity, but also deliver aid, such as clothing, school equipment and food, and meet with the local “sub-governors“ and chiefs of police to drink tea and hear what’s going on.

Sometimes pleas for assistance are made, and if the patrol can’t help immediately, the request is relayed back to the team headquarters for further consideration. It may be that a water pump needs repairing, a cache of weapons needs to be destroyed, or part of a local classroom rebuilt. The patrols, says Ross, are as much about estab-lishing relationships as anything else.

“The Afghanis in the villages see the same (PRT) faces all the time, and know they will be listened to and their requests taken seriously. It’s about trust-building, and the

BLOOD FRIDGE SAVES LIVES

Bamyan Hospital’s maternity unit recently re-ceived a new blood fridge as a result of NZAID funding. Improving maternity services has been a focus for NZAID funding; the past year has seen the completion of a new maternity ward, the fi rst graduates from a new initiative in midwifery training, as well as ongoing funding into further equipment and education in these areas. Before the arrival of the new blood fridge, a fi eld blood fridge loaned by the NZPRT “kept our blood bank running, saving many lives,” said Dr Santanu Sanyal, the Bamyan Hospital Director.


‘JUST LIKE A SHIP’“IN MANY WAYS THE PRT IS LIKE A

SHIP. WE HAVE SECTION HEADS WHO

TAKE CARE OF VARIOUS ASPECTS OF

THE MISSION, AND THE CONTINGENT

IS A VERY TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY,

MUCH THE SAME AS ON A SHIP.”

IN THIS SPECIAL FEATURE, NAVY

TODAY LOOKS AT THE NZPRT

- PRESENTLY COMMANDED BY A

NAVAL OFFICER - AND AT THE WIDER

CAMPAIGN IN AFGHANISTAN.


BY MAJ SHAUN BROOKES

Ranging from delivering school supplies, assisting local governance, and conducting security patrols, the tasks we do provide a secure environment for the Afghan people. Our reward for successfully completing our tasks comes in the form of a smiling Afghan face, a ‘Tashacor’ (thank you in Dari), or just knowing you’ve made a diffi cult life a little bit easier.

“The long working hours and the diffi cult driving conditions are the biggest challenges we have had here so far” says LCPL Jonno Torkington. As the senior Patrol Driver, he drives the lead vehicle, fi nding the most accessible route through the mountainous terrain. When we arrived back in April, we faced crisp mornings, snow-covered mountains and chilly evenings. Within two months the snow had all but gone, fl ooding the river systems and giving life to the valley fl oors.

Based in the district of Yakawlang, Kiwi Team One enjoys some of the most breathtaking views Afghanistan has to off er, from the deep blue waters of the Band-e-Amir Lakes, to the spectacular site of ‘forty castles’. Yakawlang is the jewel of the central highlands. Our presence in Yakawlang is welcomed by the locals, who have suff ered through the occupation of the Russians, soon followed by the brutal regime of the Taliban. “We are fellow travellers; you must sit with us and drink tea” one nomad, told us.

Kiwi Team One’s Patrol Base is located above ‘Widows Alley’, a constant reminder of the Taliban’s ruthlessness. The Taliban massacred nearly 350 men in the main bazaar of Nayak, the hub of the Yakawlang Province, leaving children without fathers, and wives without husbands.

LCPL Cheryl Ward, the team medic and only female in Kiwi Team One remarks, “A women’s lot here is primitive and hard work. They spend their days washing dishes and clothes in the streams, fully covered. They don’t know how to take me as a female dressed in military uniform; however, it’s pleasing to see the girls going to school now” Bamyan Province is the fi rst to have a female Governor, a sign attitudes are shifting. Defi antly young women lower their scarves, smile and wave as we pass.

Afghanistan relies heavily on the continued support of international governments and aid organisations. Inshalar [god willing] Kiwi Team One will make a diff erence in our seven months here in Yakawlang.

patrols also provide feedback.”“In an ideal world you’d help everybody

who asked for it but that just isn’t realistic. We document requests, and then discuss them with local councils, and let them establish priorities. If we can’t help people with the funding streams we have available to us, I pass their requests on to other agen-cies providing assistance in the area.”

He is proud of the Navy personnel in the PRT, who range from patrol commanders, a logistician and communicator, to chefs, a medic, and electronics technician.

“We’re outnumbered a bit by Army, as is


the Air Force, but the Navy personnel are doing a great job. We’re very much a joint mission, and after a while no-one notices the Service someone comes from – we’re all just part of the team.”

The PRT accommodation consists of series of light timber rooms. “One thing we’ve done here which is very “ship-like” is to increase our fi re-fi ghting drills, as our buildings become very dry in summer, making them quite a fire risk. We have upgraded our fi re fi ghting equipment to ensure we’re ready and have hoses that can reach all parts of the camp.”

PATROL KIWI ONE - YAKAWLANG

A F G H A N I S T A N

The most gratifying part of being in Af-ghanistan and part of the reconstruction team is “seeing the fruits of your labour”, says Ross.

“You can go and see where a bridge has been repaired, see the children at school using the gear they have been given, the boys’ school being built. I think that might be part of the reason why the team here is so enthusiastic – they can see where they’ve been, and know they’re leaving something behind that is going to help these people.”

Judith Martin visited the NZPRT in June

The Navy component in Bamyan (back row l to r): CAPT Ross Smith, LMT(L) Tawhai Banks, POSEA John Burridge, POET

Craig Flintoff , LT Warren Dohnt. (Front row l to r): LCH Peter Kidson, LT Tim Gore, ACH Alexis Dow, LCA Korin Kopua.

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MEDCAP Operations in Bamyan Province bringing medical, dental and vetinarian assistance to villagers and their animals.

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RA Jack Steer (l) hongis with CAPT Ross Smith (r) on arrival at Bamyan.

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The goal of the campaign, which is shared with the people of Afghan-istan, is a country at peace with its neighbors with a representative government, and security forces

sufficient to maintain domestic order and deny safe haven for terrorists and an ally in the broader war against terror. The NATO alliance (26 countries) is committed to Afghanistan’s future; in total 36 nations have armed forces in Afghanistan. At the London Conference in January this year the international community pledged $10.5 billion to Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

Deepening international commitment to Afghanistan’s future will do much to assist the emerging Afghan government and diminish al Qaida’s attractiveness to people in Central and South Asia. In recent opinion polling, 67% of Afghans want the international forces to stay (or increase) over the next 6 months

COALITION FORCESThere are approximately 20,000 U.S. and 4,500 coalition forces deployed in Af-ghanistan as part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. These forces are controlled by Combined Forces Command – Afghani-stan (CFC-A), headquartered in Kabul, so as to achieve unity of eff ort with UN and

THIS OVERVIEW OF THE CAMPAIGN IN

AFGHANISTAN IS COMPILED PRIMARILY

FROM GENERAL JOHN ABIZAID’S

STATEMENT TO THE US SENATE ARMED

FORCES COMMITTEE IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

GEN ABIZAID IS THE COMMANDER OF US

CENTRAL COMMAND AND NZDF UNITS

DEPLOYED TO OPERATION ENDURING

FREEDOM COME UNDER CENTCOM CONTROL.

THE CAMPAIGN IN CAMPAIGN

AFGHANISTAN

diplomatic initiatives as well as with the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) contributes approximately 8,500 troops located primarily in Kabul and northern and western Afghanistan. UNSC Resolution 1623 authorises the NATO ISAF mission.

CENTCOM is continuing to transition conventional stability operations in Af-ghanistan to NATO. Stage III of the ISAF transition took place this (Afghan) sum-mer when Regional Command South (RC South) transferred to NATO command. NATO forces in RC South (which remains a high threat area) are primarily British, Canadian, and Dutch.

The UK has approximately 2,400 Service personnel in Afghanistan, both as part of the NATO-led International Security As-sistance Force (ISAF) and the International Coalition. In RC South there are about 2,500 Canadian troops, 1,400 Dutch troops, several hundred Australians, Estonians and troops from the Afghan National Army, for a total of some 9,000.

A signifi cant US conventional presence remains in the eastern part of the country, together with an American counterterror-ism capability along with the development of Provincial Reconstruction Teams.

THE ENEMY Al Qaida senior leaders operate in Pakistan’s rugged and isolated Federally Admin-istered Tribal Area (FATA) that borders eastern Afghanistan. In addition three insurgent groups – all with al Qaida links – constitute the main enemy threat in


MAIN IMAGE TOP: LCPL Mahabub, 3rd US Marine Division at border station of Torkhem, Afghanistan on 25 March 2006. The fuel truck exploded (without causing injuries) after Afghani border police found the explosive device during routine checks. US Marines provide security for international police advisors who are training the Afghani Border Police.

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THE CAMPAIGN IN

Afghanistan: The Taliban operates primarily in the

southern and eastern provinces and Ka-bul. Its core supporters, mostly Pashtun, seek its return to power and they have demonstrated an increased willingness to use suicide bomber and IED tactics. While the Taliban remain very unpopular in most parts of the country, pockets of hard-core support remain.

Haqqani Tribal Network operates primar-ily in eastern Afghanistan and the FATA re-gion of Pakistan. Haqqani goals are limited primarily to obtaining autonomy in eastern Afghanistan and the FATA region.

Hezb-i-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) operates primarily in eastern Afghanistan and is heavily involved in illicit activities such as narcotics and smuggling, resembling a Mafi a-like organization more than an insur-gent movement with national goals.

OPERATIONSCombined Forces Command-Afghanistan is focused on:

neutralizing the insurgency; providing the shield for economic and

political progress so legitimate govern-ment institutions can develop; and

training capable Afghan security forc-es.

Additionally, CFC-A is ensuring a smooth transition as NATO troops assume addi-tional responsibilities and support counter-narcotics eff orts throughout the country.

Combined Joint Task Force–76 (CJTF-76) is a division-level subordinate command

which directs major and routine combat operations throughout Afghanistan, in-cluding Special Operations capabilities from Coalition nations.

US and Coalition forces dominate the battlespace and are increasingly involv-ing Afghan National Army units in military operations. Off ensive military operations continue, to kill or capture insurgents and to shut down the sanctuaries in which they operate. The important work to de-legitimize Afghan warlords and disarm and demobilize irregular Afghan militias also continues.

PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAMSThe center of gravity of the campaign is the domain of governance and economic

The enemy in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, targets political will, using asymmetric means. The battle is about perceptions, public and political will, and intelligence-driven counter-terrorism. To fi ght an ideologically-driven, borderless network requires new thinking on how to organize and fi ght. To defeat extremism, non-military measures will be decisive - all elements of international and national power: diplomatic, political, economic, fi nancial, the private sector; must be used to bring pressure to bear over time.

The militarily can kill or capture extremist leaders, shut down training camps, de-stroy operational cells, and prevent those movements from exploiting ungoverned areas. This requires precision targeting and highly sophisticated intelligence, but the classical military measures of fi repower, mass, maneuver, and territory gained, are not the measures of victory in this campaign.

CENTCOM’S APPROACH TO COUNTER-TERRORISM IS: to help allies in the region to develop their own capabilities to defeat terrorists

and extremiststo make clear to the people of the region that nations are fi ghting together out

of respect and mutual self-benefi t

to expose the enemy’s fanatical ideology and dangerous designsto provide a protective shield for political and economic reform and progressto prevent al Qaida and associated movements from obtaining weapons of

mass destructionto target, shut down, and hold liable those who fi nance extremist organiza-

tions and operations to evolve the Coalition to more readily share intelligence and conduct military

operationsto develop regional security forces, border security and counterterrorist unitsto improve networks among agencies, allies, and partner governments to

coordinate and integrate all instruments of national power to invest in intelligence capabilities, focusing on linguists, regional specialists,

and HUMINT resources

There are 200,000 American servicemen and women deployed into the CENTCOM region. Coalition countries contribute an additional 28,000 troops throughout the theater. Counting Afghan and Iraqi forces, which operate alongside the Coalition, and Pakistani, Saudi, and other regional forces, there are over 600,000 troops under arms engaged in combat operations in the whole CENTCOM region.

PRINCIPLES OF COUNTER-TERRORISMGEN ABIZAID OUTLINED CENTCOM’S APPROACH TO THE COUNTER-TERRORISM CAMPAIGN IN THE REGION:

development. Reconstruction can deprive extremists of support and give Afghans hope for a better future. Provincial Recon-struction Teams (PRTs), small civil-military aff airs teams with civilian and interagency expertise, are an important tool for this, by enhancing local security and extend-ing the authority and visibility of the Afghan government into the provinces. [New Zealand’s PRT was the third to be established and has served as a model to subsequent PRTs. Ed]

Over the past year, CFC-A and its NATO-ISAF partners increased the number of PRTs to 24. Of these, 15 were directed by CFC-A, and nine others operate under the authority of NATO-ISAF. Over time, these Afghan PRTs will transform from military to civilian-led organizations, and ultimately


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US Marines photographed in 2004 near the village of Siah Chub Kalay engaging Taliban snipers.


become provincial development authori-ties of the Afghan government. The PRTs also play a critical role developing viable economic alternatives to opium poppy production.

Training, building, and mentoring the Af-ghan National Army (ANA) is a central pil-lar of the strategy to stabilize Afghanistan. The ANA comprises over 26,000 trained and equipped troops. The focus has been on quality – building from the ground up – not on quantity. US and Coalition forces also support the training of fi elded ANA battalions with Embedded Training Teams totalling 650 coalition military personnel, to provide training, combat support and logistics support to ANA units. While the

progress with the Army is remarkable, problems with recruiting, infrastructure, and organizational reach need continued attention.

The Afghan National Police (ANP) force totaling 58,000 staff , requires consider-able work. In conjunction with Germany and other international partners, build-ing a professional and competent ANP remains a top priority. The Government of Afghanistan and the Ministry of Interior have begun reforms, including those that cover pay, rank structure, and curbing corruption.

Afghanistan is intensely tribal and lacks modern infrastructure. Loyal and compe-tent police are essential to spreading the

rule of law and good governance. The production and traffi cking of illegal nar-cotics remain a signifi cant threat The dif-ferent elements of this campaign include law enforcement, judicial reform, poppy eradication, and alternative livelihood

and public information programs. The United Kingdom has the overall lead, and a Counter Narcotics Branch is established in CENTCOM’s Joint Interagency Coordi-nation Group. The UK alone is spending £270m over three years to support Afghan counter-narcotic efforts. A recent UN report shows a 21% reduction in poppy cultivation across the country.

CAMPAIGN ACHIEVEMENTSSince September 2001, the al Qaida safe haven in Afghanistan has been eliminated and the Taliban removed from power. Security was established for a political pro-cess in which the people of the country have freely elected a president and parlia-

ment. Coalition military units spearheaded the effort to bring the resources and expertise of the international community to help Afghanistan with its longstanding problems.

The coalition nations are helping the Afghan people build the institutions and infrastructure that are the key to the future of their country. Three examples: 2,000 new schools have been built and over 5 million children are in school (a third of these, girls). There are now 60% more health clinics than in 2001 and over 3.5 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan.

CENTCOM and the Coalition are fi ghting an insurgency that remains patient, hid-den, and dangerous. Helping Afghans to build infrastructure (which in many regions is nonexistent) to reduce endemic cor-ruption, to address narco-traffi cking, and train their Army and police, are tasks that will require years. An essential element for overall success will be the leadership, character, and vision of Afghanistan’s elected leaders.

The citizens of Afghanistan went to the polls in September 2005 to elect a Parlia-ment, which was seated on December 19. Voter turnout was over 53%, with 6.2 mil-lion Afghans voting for over 5,800 national and provincial candidates.

The extremists failed to make good on their threats of murder to disrupt the elec-tions, while Afghan security forces played their most visible and eff ective role to date in providing essential security to enable the elections to take place.

“AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR OVERALL SUCCESS WILL BE THE LEADERSHIP, CHARACTER, AND VISION OF AFGHANISTAN’S ELECTED LEADERS.”


NZAID VEHICLES FOR AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE. Superintendent Dave Lawry (assisting in police capacity-building in Bamyan Province) handed the keys for seven Toyota Hilux 2.6 diesel King Cab vehicles to the Provincial Police Commander. Bamyan Governor Habiba Sarabi, along with CAPT Ross Smith (SNO of the NZPRT) were also present at the ceremony at the Regional Police Training Centre. This project had required a great deal of work by the PRT Project Manager, SQN LDR Shane Meighan, and NZAID.

Children receiving new stationary at Nayak Girl’s School

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I have recently returned from Afghanistan where I was posted for the winter-over rotation of the NZPRT, the NZDF’s main contri-bution to Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. It was a rewarding experience.

One thing that really aff ected me while I was there was the brightly coloured strips of material fl ying from sticks of wood and poles. You see them everywhere, particularly on the sides of roads and in cemeter-ies. I asked one of our interpreters what they were and he explained their signifi cance: each one represents either where someone has been killed, or where somebody who was murdered has been buried. The red ones signify if the person was killed by the Russians, the blue ones if they were killed by the Mujahadeen and the green (by far the most prevalent in the Bamyan Province) if they were killed by the Taliban.

Poverty is rife in the area, with numerous refugees recently returned over the borders from Pakistan or Iran. We try to help wherever we can, for instance our Chefs save the cardboard boxes for our Locally Employed Civilians (LECs) to take home as fuel for their fi res. The woman who works in the kitchen, Sakina, brings her brother’s donkey in every few days to collect her share. The donkey then starts his hour-long journey home with the huge pile on his back. A number of our LECs are supporting members of their extended families – mainly nieces and nephews who were made orphans by the Taliban. The LEC known to all in Kiwi base as ‘Old Man River’ - one of our favourite LECs - has six of his own children. He told us that the people of Afghanistan have to have large families to make up for the people killed by the Taliban.

Shopping at the local bazaar was a bit of an eye-opener, there are no set prices and bartering is expected. The local shop owners know when a new rotation of Kiwis is due in so they put up their prices knowing people will get all of their last minute purchases no matter what the price, and they also know the new people in are a soft target for overcharging. Trying to buy anything takes a very long time. We had to buy two tonnes of fi rewood to burn off some seized narcotics.

BY LT PAULA MCKENZIE RNZN


IN AFGHANISTAN

This took about two hours of negotiations one day and then another two hours to get the fi rewood as it all had to be weighed in small loads on a set of scales using rocks as the weights.

It’s quite diff erent from being a Supply Offi cer at sea where we just turn up at a port and the Providore is waiting there with everything we need. There are a number of the local businessmen who are more than happy to provide us with all we need, although it’s often not really what we need at all. Some saws were ordered from a local sup-plier for our Chippie [carpenter]. When they turned up they were tiny, like ones that you’d fi nd in a kid’s toybox, so no Kiwi bloke would be able to get his hand anywhere near them. However, in other ways it was also like being a Pusser in a ship - with people constantly turning

up at the gate with deliveries or problems, just like the usual fi rst day back in harbour.

The people in Bamyan were amazing, they have so little and yet they want to share what they do have with you. They’re always inviting you in for a cup of tea, and if you go to the bazaar around lunchtime they off er to share the family’s lunch. The children follow you everywhere and take every opportunity to practice their Eng-lish, usually asking me how many children I had. They were shocked when I told them none - local women usually start families at the

age of 14 or 15. The older women would stare at us from under their burkhas, and would try to overcome the language barrier by holding my hand or touching my arm. It was as if they wanted to thank us for being there, but had no other way of doing it.

My posting to the PRT proved to be a good chance to consolidate my time working at HQ JFNZ as one of the Current Logistics Operations desk offi cers. Back at Trentham now, I support deployed operations including the contingent in Afghanistan. I was replaced by another Pusser, LT Tim Gore, who’s doing the slightly longer summer rotation. Tim’s managed to grow a truly spectacular beard since he’s been there. Temperatures for him are already in the mid 30s; our winter rotation got down to around -25ºC at night so a beard would have been much more useful for me!

LOOKING BACK ATWINTERWINTERWINTERLOOKING BACK ATWINTERLOOKING BACK ATLOOKING BACK ATWINTERLOOKING BACK AT


Sakina’s brother’s donkey laden with packaging for home fi res.Photos: via LT Paula McKenzie


“The Eastern Naval Command is responsible for India’s EEZ along the eastern coast of India and for India’s maritime interests in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal;

the command boundaries extend across the equator to 16ºS. That means my neighbours are Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malyasia, Singapore and Indonesia.

“My charter is to ‘build bridges’, to ‘look east’. India has a national policy to ‘Look east’ because we see that East Asia is an area that will infl uence the near future, and it is an area where we can help to ensure peace and tranquility, and to help stabilise trouble spots, for example: Timor Leste, Fiji, The Solomons, as well as to reduce terrorism and fundamentalism

MARITIME INTERESTS – THE ENC PERSPECTIVE:“India’s Eastern Coastline is 1450 nm long, the associated EEZ cov-ers 330,000 nm2 which is 30% of India’s total EEZ.

“Approximately 180-200 ships per day use the Malacca Straits, while 60-70 ships per day heading east or west pass south of India and Sri Lanka. Our part of the Indian Ocean is an oil ‘expressway’ with ships carrying 25% of China’s oil, and 95 % of Japan’s oil.

interview withVICE ADMIRAL SUREESH MEHTAFLAG OFFICER COMMANDING IN CHIEF, INDIA’S EASTERN NAVAL COMMAND

“In the current period, what we perceive as ‘normal’ military threats, [ie from conventionally structured forces] are on the wane; instead non-state actors are taking prominence – activities such as gun running, terrorism, etc. States need to be willing to cooperate to solve these problems.

“Within the ENC we are undertaking joint patrolling with the Sri Lankan Navy, because within Sri Lanka the LTT (Tamil Tigers) who number up to 50,000 personnel, are undertaking low intensity warfare. This has led to a fl ow of refugees into India, ethnic Tamils, but Sri Lankan citizens. In India we are maintaining refugee camps, but we have to fi lter out possible terrorists.

“A parallel concern at the other end of my command is Bangla-desh and the rise in that country of Islamic fundamentalism, with possible links to the Taliban/Al Qaeda. There are strong anti-India feelings and we are concerned that the country serves as a transit route for illegal arms into India.

THE INDIAN ECONOMY: GDP: $801 BILLIONGROWTH RATE: 7.7%

BILATERAL TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND IS GROWING, CURRENTLYINDIAN EXPORTS $NZ180 MILLIONINDIAN IMPORTS $NZ196 MILLION

(THERE ARE INCIDENTALLY 75,000 PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN IN NZ.)

VA Mehta inspects the Guard at PHILOMEL. CAPT Holmes accompanies him and LT ‘Dutchy’ Hollands is the Guard Commander.

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VA Mehta, CAPT Bisht, CO of INS TABAR & CAPT Shrikhande and the offi cers of TABAR in the wharenui during their powhiri.

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D E F E N C E D I P L O M A C Y

“Myanmar also poses some concerns, in part due to extensive Chinese activity in that nation. We see that Infrastructure and port development in Myanmar may lead to an ‘outlet’ for the PLA Navy into the Indian Ocean.

A CAPABILITY-DRIVEN NAVY“While I have highlighted some regional concerns, the Navy is not in fact ‘threat driven’. We cannot stay focussed on any one particular [possible] enemy; rather we are a capability-driven Navy and our growth is aimed at building our capabilities for sea control, sea denial and other naval missions. We are not building an expedition-ary force, but we have to have a capability in case any intervention proves necessary in our own far-fl ung island regions.

“The Navy’s vision is to possess a credible capability-driven force by 2035. Our role is to promote stability to ensure growth and stability for all of India’s population.

“The present defence budget totals $16.6 billion, the Navy’s share is $1.8 billion, of which 60% is spent on capital, 40% on revenue [ie operating costs]. The Navy is currently on a growth path: over the next decade we will spend about $30 bn on new capital acquisi-tions. We aim to achieve:

the right mix of advanced, technologically-superior, ships and submarines

and build a ‘wired Navy’ with network-centric operations at its core

OVERSEAS DEPLOYMENTSIn recent years ships from my command have visited Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam, The Philippines, China and Korea. They have taken part in navy-navy exercises with Thailand and also Indonesia. We also take part in joint patrols against piracy, poaching and gun-running with the Thais and the Indonesians.

During the tsunami response of 2004-05, we deployed in total 38 ships, 21 helos, 8 aircraft and 5500 personnel to disaster relief activi-ties along our own SE coast, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, the Malidives and to the Aceh area on Sumatra.

This year six of our ships have visited countries in the SE Asia region; on her current deployment, INS TABAR is visiting Perth, Sydney, Auckland and Suva [Fiji].

We host Ex MILAN every second year in the Andaman Islands, an opportunity for regional navies to come together and take part in professional and sporting interaction; I hope New Zealand may be able to come in 2008.

THE AIRCRAFT CARRIERSGORSHKOV IS UNDERGOING AN INDIAN–DEFINED REFIT IN RUSSIA,

COSTING ABOUT $700MILLION; BUILDING THE MIG 29S FOR HER AIR

GROUP IS ALSO COSTING ABOUT $700 MILLION. THE REFITTED SHIP IS TO

BE DELIVERED IN 2007 BE IN SERVICE FROM THE LATER PART OF NEXT YEAR.

SHE WILL BE NAMED VIKRAMADITYA (NAMED FOR AN EMPEROR WHO

LIVED IN AD 700). THE INDIGENOUS CARRIER IS DUE IN SERVICE IN 2012,

THEN WE WILL PHASE OUT VIRAAT.

INS TABAR’S VISITThe Indian missile frigate TABAR, one of the Indian Navy’s most mod-ern ships, arrived at Devonport on 2 July for a fi ve-day visit. The two year-old warship, which was built in Russia and commissioned in St Petersburg in 2004, has a company of 305 sailors and 34 offi cers and displaces 4250 tonnes. TABAR has an impressive range of weapons and sensors, including vertical launch surface attack missiles, sur-face-to-air missiles, anti-submarine weapons and an array of guns. The reciprocal visit indicates the potential for increasing interaction between the two Commonwealth navies.

Highlights of TABAR’s visit included the powhiri for her company; the Band session involving naval musicians from both Navies [see p xx] and a soccer match between the Indians and the RNZN.

Before arriving in New Zealand the frigate had called at Indonesia on May 27, to unload a shipment of aid for the survivors of the Yogyakarta earthquake. TABAR also visited Perth and Sydney, and went on to Fiji.

CDRE Anson (l) with VA Mehta & CAPT Shrikhande (r ) in front of the ACHILLES gun turret at the naval base. ACHILLES transferred to the IN in 1946 and served for many years as INS DELHI. On being scrapped, one of her gun turrets was given to the RNZN.

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The Kamov Ka-28 Helix A ASW helicopter carried aboard TABAR.Photo Chris Sattler, Sydney


INDIATena Kotu to all, especially the extended

TE MANA family and whanau who have supported us during our time away. At the

end of our deployment thoughts of family and friends are heightened. This is an opportunity to take a look back over the last several months - how busy our deployment was.

Right from the outset of this OP CUTLASS deployment back in January, TE MANA was engaged in a wide array of operational tasks and consistent training activity, plus several diff erent exercises:

ceremonial duties at Waitangimaritime exercises TASMANEX and TASMAN-

LINK and working with other ships, aircraft and a submarine.

port visits to Sydney and HobartMelbourne during the fi rst days of the Com-

monwealth Games was a highlight, andCairns just after Tropical Cyclones Larry and

Wati had blasted the Queensland coast.

SE ASIATE MANA sailed into Bangkok, Thailand, where we took part in signifi cant representational and professional interaction with our Royal Thai Navy colleagues. We enjoyed chances to see the sights.

ON 21 JULY TE MANA

RETURNED TO DEVONPORT

AFTER A WIDE-RANGING

VOYAGE THAT INCLUDED

FORMAL DEFENCE

DIPLOMACY VISITS TO INDIA

AND SRI LANKA – BUILDING

NEW BRIDGES AFTER A

GAP OF MANY YEARS. JUST

BEFORE THE SHIP REACHED

HOME, THE CO LOOKED BACK

ON THEIR DEPLOYMENT.

BY CDR WILSON TRUMPER RNZNIn Brunei the cultural aspects of that conser-vative Muslim nation made a signifi cant dif-ference, but many will remember fondly the huge amusement park excursion – with Kiwi sailors fi lling up the six rides (out of more than 30) that were operating!

In addition to the representational aspects of our port visits, the focus in this phase was on Exercises BERSAMA SHIELD and MALZEA. These were important multinational military interactions and demonstrate the NZDF’s commitment to our regional partners. For us, these exercises allow us to leverage off the much greater range of assets to maximise our training. During these exercise periods TE MANA also made port calls to Singapore and Kuantan in Malaysia.

TE MANA conducted a maintenance period alongside in Singapore. For some this enabled partners to fl y up to share the break; for others this meant a period of work to get TE MANA ship-shape for the remainder of the deploy-ment.

There were also a large number of people who posted to and from the ship whilst in Singapore, as this was a scheduled rotation of over 30 On Job Trainees.

TE MANA’S DEPLOYMENT

INDIAPhoto: LT Arndt

Tree planting when assisting the NZAID housing project in Cochin.

Photos: HMNZS Te Mana


D E F E N C E D I P L O M A C YINDIAINDIA AND SRI LANKA To get there we had to transit both the Singa-pore and Malacca Straits - two of the busiest waterways in the world. Every type of ship and craft can be seen plying their (global) trade, which is one of the reasons nations have na-vies, to ensure that the sea lanes are safe. Once through these straits, TE MANA was in the Bay of Bengal, on the way to India.

Our visits were a significant military and diplomatic initiative, with TE MANA support-ing the high profi le presence of the NZ High Commissioner, CN and MCC.

Cochin proved to be quite an experience for many of our younger members who had not been to an Indian city with the large numbers of street vendors, nor seen many people who live in far less fortunate circumstances than we enjoy in New Zealand. Mumbai is in some respects the ‘New York

of India’. It is a huge bustling city of between 12-18 million people (nobody knows for sure!) where the great diversity that makes India such a special country can be seen. Great wealth and poverty, Colonial and Indian history, and masses of people are readily apparent. The huge central train station, a grand Victorian building, handles the equivalent of the popula-tion of NZ every day! This is the train network that was recently bombed with devastating consequences.

We appreciated signifi cant interactions with the Indian Navy as Mumbai is the main naval base on the West coast. On leaving Mumbai we conducted exercises with an Indian Navy frigate and a submarine.

COLOMBO, SRI LANKAIt had been more that 20 years since an RNZN ship visited Sri Lanka, so this was quite an oc-

casion and the Sri Lankan Navy went to exten-sive eff ort to ensure our visit went smoothly. However the most signifi cant factor regarding this visit was security - Sri Lanka is in the grip of a long running confl ict with the ‘Tamil Tigers’. Whilst the focus of the fi ghting is in the North East of the country, government and military facilities in Colombo have been targeted by bomb attacks in the past. Armed security is present everywhere, even on the beach. TE MANA took signifi cant security precautions and had measures in place to ensure the safety of our people and the ship. Colombo itself

is a modern city, and everyone got out and enjoyed the sights.

RTNZOn sailing from Colombo and heading for Dar-win, we fi nally got the bad weather from the seasonal Monsoon, so that was a big change for many in our company. This was the longest passage of the deployment; Darwin provided an opportunity for a fuelling stop and shore time. Then to Cairns, for fuel and our last port call - in all, the passage home (RTNZ in Navy-speak) took less than a month.

The RNZN’s (and NZ’s) reputation have been enhanced by our support of military diplo-macy, VIP visits, sports and cultural events, from Waitangi to Australia, Malaysia, India and Sri Lanka. We achieved a signifi cant amount of training and many gained qualifi cations, which will directly result in the next generation of RNZN people being ready for all our ships in the future.

The Navy advertises ‘a life less ordinary’, and there has been plenty of variety for us in TE MANA’s deployment. It was our people who made the ship and this deployment work. They gave our ship its Mana. Thank you!

“Great wealth and poverty...and m of people are readily a arent”


TE MANA’s community volunteers in Cochin INS TALWAR, host ship in Mumbai

Rugby under towers of old Mumbai.

Congratulations to the players after a match in Mumbai

N T 1 1 3 A U G U S T 0 6

TE MANA IN SRI LANKA

14 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

BY SLT SCOTT MACGREGOR

On 19 June, thirteen hardy voyagers, in-cluding SLT Tarindu Weeramuni RNZN, a native Sri Lankan who is now in our

Navy, embarked on a project to provide aid to the Tsunami victims of Sri Lanka. The blistering temperatures and cement/dirt mixtures made this an epic undertaking…

We headed for Ahungalla - the drive there provided a fantastic look at the Sri Lankan coastline and also a sad insight into the de-struction the Tsunami had wreaked. Ahungalla is a beautiful coastal area; organisations such as Aitken-Spence are busy in the area rebuilding houses for the people.

It was interesting to note the international support in this project alone - aid money was primarily from an Israeli kibbutz organisation and the Sri Lankan-based Aitken-Spence group, while the construction group was NZ-based. We were pleased to see that the Kiwis had done a pretty good job.

Our job was to clear drains around the houses to ensure the heavy monsoon downpours would not undermine the foundations. Despite some email diffi culties during the passage to Colombo we found the site manager expected us and he had the tools for us to work with.

Under the eye of CPOCSS(A) Dean Fielding, pick axes, mattocks and shovels were swung, scraped and scooped, and a network of drains began to form around the houses.

Working in 45 minute blocks with 15 minute drink breaks ensured that the heat, humidity and hard work didn’t slow us - although we were all wishing the person responsible for leaving patches of cement where we were dig-ging could have been there to help! However ASCS Genga Lawrence made fast work of the concrete with sustained bursts.

There was certainly a lot of interest from the Sri Lankans on the site, they frequently popped up for a look and a photo of the Kiwis at work.

When the work was done it was time to enjoy the hospitality off ered by Aitken-Spence, who let us use of one of their hotels for a swim, and the NZ High Commission paid for lunch.

One of the main reasons for my joining the RNZN was the opportunity to help with aid work. When we returned to the ship, tired but all pleased with a good day’s work, the whole team expressed satisfaction at being able to of-fer a hand to the on-going Sri Lankan Tsunami recovery eff orts.

D E F E N C E D I P L O M A C Y

W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N ZW W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

Entry into Colombo, past the container wharves.

The NZ High Commissioner, His Excellency Graeme Waters signs the visitors’ book at Naval HQ in Colombo.

An armed patrol craft on patrol in Colombo harbour

in the application. They then moved up to the Naval

Base and spent the next two days, 8 – 9 August, fi nding out how well we apply all the processes and sys-tems described in the application. In particular, they were testing whether those at the sharp end know about the plans and sys-tems described, i.e. how well it has all been deployed.

For those who were ap-proached by an evaluator, we in the Nx Offi ce hope that you just answered their questions from what you know – there were no wrong answers.

The judging panel will make a decision in October and advise CN of the outcome. This will be followed by a formal presenta-tion of the Feedback Report that will be a further stepping-stone to improvements in the future.

We have already enjoyed an unsolicited comment from one outsider who saw our application: “I didn’t know Navy was so far ad-vanced in this area!” Whatever the outcome of this year’s application, we can be proud of where we have got to.

They then moved up to the Naval Base and spent the next two days, 8 – 9 August, fi nding out how well we apply all the processes and sys-tems described in the application.

proached by an evaluator, we in the Nx Offi ce hope that you just answered their questions from what you know – there were

S E A L I N K


In his editorial of the May edition of Navy Today, CN mentioned our progress towards becoming a world-class organi-

sation, and that we had made a further NZ Business Excellence Foundation award application.

The Award Application has now been printed and distributed widely throughout the fl eet. This document describes our Navy and the way things get done. It is well worth a read. 80% of the questions in the Criteria ask us “how do you …..?” The application consists of a summary of what we do and then the answers to those “how?” questions. At the end is a series of graphs giving our results. Don’t miss out on getting a read of this high-quality document!

Over the past few weeks, an NZBEF evaluation team has been examining our application. They will have identifi ed our strengths and weaknesses and where we can improve. The next stage was their “site visit”.

The fi rst day of the visit, 7 August, was spent in Wellington at Defence Headquar-ters. The team of fi ve evaluators talked to senior members of the Naval Staff to ask questions on anything that was not clear

THE NAVY’S BUSINESS EXCELLENCE EVALUATION

BY ROBIN HULFORD, NX OFFICE

“I didn’t know Navy was so far advanced in

this area!” Whatever the outcome of this

year’s a lication, we can be proud of ere

we have got to.

TE KAHA DEPLOYS

A

B C

D

E

F

A. OCSC Cameron Smith is farewelled by his family.

B. POMT(P) Nathan McNamara and his family

C. LET Rob Bexley and his partner.

D. ACSS Shane Greaves with his family

E. ACSS Pita Gibson and his parents.

F. OMT Mike Stevens and his family.

19 JULY


1 IN THE CHATHAMSI fl ew into the Chathams two days before the arrival of RESO-LUTION, and made contact

with Te One School, Joseph Thomas (the local Visits Liaison Offi cer), the Police, the fi shing fraternity (who assisted transport-ing students to RESOLUTION at anchor) and the Chatham Community Trust. The Trust provides a free e-mail network to the entire Island and they were willing to accept my recruiting material onto the local network.

RESOLUTION was forced to remain at an-chor at Owenga (19 km unsealed country road) and I lent a hand to transport the Scientifi c Party from Owenga to Waitangi. I also drove the ship’s Community Work Party and School Presentation team. (The VHF Radio on loan from TS TAMATOA proved essential to these operations.)

On Friday I gave a presentation to the entire school (approximately 60 students) who ranged from junior to senior students. I had support from POET M Anderson and LSTD K Plato. There were some very excited students, and while the direct provision of information will not provide immediate results, the Principal, teachers and many parents who turned up for the presenta-tion endorsed the positive benefi ts of the visit. This has been affi rmed by subsequent e-mails, and other remarks from the com-

THE NAVY’S IMPERATIVE TO RECRUIT SUFFICIENT PEOPLE FOR

OUR NEW SHIPS AND THE EXISTING FLEET, HAS ENCOURAGED

OUR RECRUITERS TO TAKE A NUMBER OF INITIATIVES. RECRUITING

MARKETEER WOSCS REECE GOLDING MNZM REPORTS... NAVYMARKETING THE

munity. The ship’s community project was also centred around Te One School: painting a fence, fi xing computers, and providing instruction on how to correctly raise and lower the NZ Flag. Sailors mixed and mingled with students, participated in a game of soccer and generally interacted with the community. The Navy’s visit was clearly the highlight of the year so far.

On Saturday RESOLUTION anchored at Waitangi for the sports day, during which

our people watched the students play mixed-gender rugby (hard nuts in very grubby, wet and slushy conditions, braving sporadic rain showers) before the RESOLU-TION women played Netball in the rain, loosing narrowly to the locals.

The main event was another grubby, wet, slushy hard fought game of 10-aside League. The ship lost but put up a spirited eff ort that was applauded by the locals.

N T 1 1 2 J U L Y 0 616 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

The Navy’s newly repainted Mobile Display Unit, aka the Recruiting Bus; the company who did the artwork is Visualeyes Ltd.

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Students and teachers fr om Te One School ready to embark for RESOLUTION; three more snap shot s of this mini-amphibious operation are at right.

Photos: WO Golding


M A L A Y S I A

MARKETING THE

Refreshments and fellowship was held at the local fi re station. Weather conditions were such that RESOLUTION’s team and supporters were recalled early to the ship, and during the boat transfer sea conditions deteriorated to an extent that 10 members of the ship’s company had to be left ashore overnight (all those marooned couldn’t hide their smiles of delight!)

On Sunday, the ship had to move be-tween Port Hutt and Ocean Bay (34 km of unsealed roads) and shore leave was again restricted due to the weather. However the CO, Golf Team and a number of Ship’s Company who had not previously been ashore were landed.

Monday, the weather was more settled and RESOLUTION anchored at Owenga. The day was suitable to transport the entire School to the ship (approximately 2 nm off shore). TESSA II, a jet propelled Cray Boat with its skipper, Tim Gregory-Hunt (who holds a commercial passengers licence) kindly agreed to transport all the students and support staff out to RESOLUTION.

This turned out to be a memorable day for all - school buses transported the 60+ group. Of note was the exceptional Risk Analysis Management System put in place by the school to ensure safety: all civil guests had completed Indemnity Forms; lifejackets were fi tted and checked twice by adults, and were worn at all times in transit and onboard the ship. RESOLUTION provided outstanding support, through ship’s company enthusiasm, food and

R E C R U I T I N G

2 SEASPRITE @ WANGANUI CAREERS EXPO Wanganui District Rotarians sponsored a Re-gional Combined Schools Careers Expo on 19 May. Normally most exhibitors, including the

NZDF, attend and market their respective organisations by way of display stands and associated career material.

On this occasion we sought greater impact by displaying our SH-2G Super Sea Sprite helicopter. In an attempt to promote the ‘One Force, Three Services’ theme, both Army and Air were also encouraged to bring along some large pieces of kit. But these did not materialise; however, the arrival of the maritime helicopter gave excellent visibility for the Navy.

The Super Sea Sprite fl ew a male and female student back to Wanganui Collegiate which was an extension to the program and a high light for the school. This visit created further interest from high profi le students who subsequently applied for the Naval Adventure Challenge. The interest and support shown by teachers and senior managers was also very positive.

displays. The students will remember this day fondly!

That evening the BIG Sci-ence Adventure team returned aboard and RESOLUTION sailed for Auckland the following day.

The aim of this Careers Promo-tion in the Chatham Islands was to make contacts for reaching those students who have an affi nity with the sea. It was also hoped to attract Divers, as diving is also very prominent and a way of life in the Chathams. The Island’s divers, however, are hard men, per-haps set in their ways; some of the

younger ones could become valuable candidates.

Environment Canterbury (Canter-bury Regional Council) are responsible for the long term support of the Chathams and are reportedly most impressed by RESOLUTION’s support with the scientifi c group on this BIG Science Adventure. An expres-sion of interest was mentioned that they too, may wish to work with the RNZN for future Gov-ernment Agency deployments.

HMNZS RESOLUTION and the parallel Navy Careers promotion ashore left an excellent impres-sion and I am sure further visits will develop these positive rela-tionships for the benefi t of all.

“Th e Navy’s visit was clearly the highlight of the year so far.”

17N T 1 1 2 J U L Y 0 6 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

ashore left an excellent impres-sion and I am sure further visits will develop these positive rela-

those students who have an affi nity with the sea. It was also hoped to attract Divers, as diving is also very prominent and a way of life in the Chathams. The Island’s divers, however, are hard men, per-haps set in their ways; some of the

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N T 1 1 3 A U G U S T 0 618 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N ZN T 1 1 2 J U L Y 0 618 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

3 TMP WORLDWIDE WORKCHOICE DAY Over the past nine years the RNZN has been host to schools participating in Workchoice Day. Our aim by participating in Workchoice

Day is to expose Year 11 and 12 students to the Navy and provide them with a comprehensive visit to the base. The 40 students were drawn from schools within the Auckland region.

The students visited a number of the RNZN facilities, walked through two IPCs berthed alongside and learned about fi re fi ghting. They also talked to a cross-section of personnel. WOMAA McKinney and LWTR Read escorted the group and provided an insight to life in the Navy.

LCH Mike Dudson briefs the students before the fi re demonstration.

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LCH Mike Dudson ex plains the drill for

using hand-held ext inguishers.

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Visiting the IPCs

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POMT(P) Shane Wooding briefs the

Workchoice group in the fl ooding trainer.M

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Celebrating the refurbished Naval Display Unit (l to r) Rob Hood (DigitalView

Ltd), Warren Fleet (Visualeyes Ltd) , CPOSTD Anthony Green, LTCDR Sandra

Walker, Wilmason Jensen (DigitalView Ltd) and Paul Pedrotti (Visualeyes Ltd)

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Tromp l’oeil fl oor detail!


R E C R U I T I N G

19N T 1 1 2 J U L Y 0 6 W W W . N A V Y . M I L . N Z

4 JOCT 06/1 DAY AT FORMER SCHOOLS For the Midshipmen of JOCT 06/1, their Queen’s

Birthday Weekend leave was extend-ed one day so they could each return to their school to promote Offi cer Careers. Arrangements were made locally by Area Recruiters and in the main the young Offi cers returned to each school on their own, taking the recruit packs provided.

The feedback has been positive, and once again the aim was to in-form, infl uence and attract, by way of the Junior Offi cers sharing with their peers success; including the experience of winning the highly prized “WEKA” Rugby Trophy against colleagues from Army and Air Force Junior Offi cer training programs. The secondary schools were extremely helpful and delighted to see how changed ‘their’ former young men and women students were.

THE AIM OF THESE PROMOTIONS IS

TO INFORM, INFLUENCE AND ATTRACT

PEOPLE TO THE NAVY, WITHOUT

SPECIFICALLY ATTEMPTING TO RECRUIT

THEM INTO A PARTICULAR BRANCH OR

TYPE OF ENTRY SCHEME. THE PROGRAMS

ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STUDENTS

WITH A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM

TO SHARE WITH OTHERS. RECRUITING

IS A ‘WHOLE OF NAVY’ TASK AND THE

RECRUITERS ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE

SUPPORT AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF

OUR COLLEAGUES AFLOAT AND ASHORE,

TOWARDS THESE EVENTS.

5 SEA RIDING IN ENDEAVOUR Promoting the Navy at sea is always a highlight and a defi ning opportunity for potential recruits. The recent deployment around the North Island, by HMNZS ENDEAVOUR enabled students to gain an insight into life at sea, the working environment with

students embarked Auckland to New Plymouth, New Plymouth to Wellington, and Wellington to Auckland.

The volunteers were subject to a selection process, which led to two poten-tial engineers sea riding from Wanganui High School. The next leg between New Plymouth to Wellington involved one male and two female students. All students from Fielding High School, Turakina Maori Girls College and Francis Douglas Memorial College have since indicated good interest; with one at least highly motivated to join.

ENDEAVOUR had enough spare bunks to allow a larger group of students, all from Hawkes Bay, to take passage from Wellington to Auckland. By this leg, the support provided within ENDEAVOUR, thanks particularly to LT K Gill (SO), LT M J Stephens and SLT D MacKenzie, was of a high standard and the group clearly benefi ted from the programme developed for them. As a result, all but one of the student sea-riders has indicated a strong interest in joining. – in fact three have already submitted application forms!

“Th e s ondary schools were ext remely helpful and delighted to see how changed ‘their’ former young men and women students were.”

The interior has changed

with 5 touch screens and

one showing loop-video,

installed by DigitalView Ltd.

Along the tidal reaches of Whangarei Harbour, the Tenix assembly sheds stand tall and imposing, but rather anonymous within the industrial

area. Marsden Point oil refi nery is in the dis-tance; further up the harbour, past various waterfront works, the local fi shing boats and private yachts are berthed. This side of the harbour is not a scenic highlight, but it’s here that you can see how Whangarei’s economy is thriving.

And a key factor in that industrial health is Tenix Shipbuilding New Zealand Ltd (TSNZ), the company that was established in Whangarei in order to meet the NZ in-dustrial commitments to the Anzac Ship Project. Ultimately the Whangarei fi rm not only met its NZ industry quotas through building the superstructure modules for the Anzac frigates, but exceeded them.

Their Australian parent company also awarded TSNZ with contracts to build hull modules for some of the later (RAN) Anzac frigates.

Now, TSNZ is fully committed to the four Inshore Patrol Vessels of Project Protector; New Zealand-built ships to patrol New Zealand’s EEZ. Already, two-thirds of IPV1 (to be named ROTOITI) stands on the Bay One consolidation area, the paved hardstanding outside the tallest of the Tenix sheds. Even with only part of the hull assembled, the size and shape of the new ships is apparent. For this writer, well used to the Lake-class patrol craft of the ‘80s and the (now legendary) little wooden 72’ MLs, the future ROTOITI looks big, powerful, and mightily appealing. Indeed the fi nished ship will be longer than the MANAWANUI.

BUILDING THE IPVSBY RICHARD JACKSON, EDITOR


Three hull modules of the future ROTOITI consolidated at Tenix NZ yard

The bow section of IPV 1 being assembled upside down in the Assembly halls

Brett Donovan, General Manager at Donovan Group,

stands next to the Bridge mill that is used for Fric-

tion Stir Welding [ABOVE]. The Donovan Group NZ

Ltd, manufacturing engineers in Whangarei, is one

of TSNZ’s subcontractors.

Led by Graham Donovan, the family-owned

fi rm has been cutting steel for the OPV and IPV

modules, but their particular success story is the

successful adoption of Friction Stir Welding (FSW)

technology to manufacture aluminium panels for

the superstructures of the IPVs

FSW was invented in 1991 in Europe and patented

world wide, except in NZ where Auckland University

had already published a number of papers on the

concept. FSW is particularly relevant to aluminium

because it works at a lower temperature, thus

better preserving the quality of the metal without

distorting the welded plates. Donovans - who like

most NZ engineering fi rms are very aware of the

ease with which clients can contract jobs to Asian

companies these days – took the initiative to apply

‘They will be like a seagoing Ferrari,’ en-thuses WO Steve Bradley, who is the Project Director’s representative in Whangarei. He has watched IPV 1 grow from a pallet-full of precision cut frames and stiff eners, to the identifi able hull modules that are be-ing worked on today. There are fi ve hull modules per vessel, the after three for IPV 1 have been consolidated, one other is in the fully-enclosed painting bay ready to be painted inside and out (the quality of the surface coating is very important for corrosion prevention) and the bow module remains under construction in one of the fabrication shops. The stern module has a visible trim tab built into the hull – Tenix’s designers have applied the latest hydrody-namic theories to their ship.

in Assembly Bay 3 the bow module looks like an exotic sculpture, its carefully cut frames and stiff eners welded upside down. Even so the fi ne lines of the bow are apparent. In another bay the shiny aluminium panels that will make up the superstructure are being assembled with such precision that a theodolite is used to check the alignments.

The IPVs will have their hull assembled, then under go an internal fi t out, ‘More like a super yacht, than like a frigate,’ Steve explains. Instead of shock-mount-ing components directly to the hull and structural bulkheads, there will be lots of ‘false’ bulkheads to take the internal fi ttings. He also points out the precision of the steel framing and plating: ‘They are assembled like a Swiss watch and their COs will need to drive them with a light hand,’ Steve com-ments. [Memo to future COs: no thumping alongsides at Calliope Wharf!]

But behind the steel cutting and welding there is also a success story of Kiwi innova-tion, by Tenix and their supporting fi rms.

Allister Taylor, TSNZ’s Manager General Operations is very proud of this aspect. ‘These will look nice vessels, the advances of panel fabrication [Friction Stir Welding – see sidebar] mean the ships won’t have that dimpled eff ect you often see on alu-minium structures.

‘As well as Donovans’ friction stir welding, we at Tenix are keeping up with weld-ing technology, too. We have adopted the Lincoln Electric STT (Surface Tension Transfer) welding technology for the welding of certain areas of the vessel’s hull plating. This technology was devel-oped for the welding of pipes. We are not aware of any other shipbuilding company

FSW technology to the IPV project. They bought,

rebuilt and adapted a Japanese gantry mill for FSW

and tendered to Tenix for the welding of aluminium

extrusions to form panels for the IPV superstruc-

tures. Once Lloyds approval was gained, Donovans

began the extensive welding necessary to fabricate

the side and deck panels for the superstructure

modules. In the photo, Brett Donovan stands next

to the bed of the Bridge mill that is used for FSW,

with his hand on one of the pneumatic rams that

were developed by Donovan’s specifi cally to clamp

the weld material down.

The quality control procedures to set up each weld

take time, but with the new technology and their

adapted mill, Donovans can weld up to 200 metres

per day (in contrast, manual welding might achieve

1m per hour). The technology is relevant to truck

decks and railway wagon bodies; Donovans have

since bought the rights from the European fi rm

so they can now apply the technology to export

contracts within the region.

DONOVAN GROUP NZ LTD


ABCANZ group visiting Donovans.


Denis Crene (ex RNZAF and has served in Ships’ Flights of SOUTHLAND and ENDEAVOUR) is the manager of this electrical fi rm which is building the power distribution systems for the IPVs and OPVs. The ships’ designer provides a basic line diagram and specifi es the space envelopes for the equipment - then McKays has the responsibility to design, fi t out and install the electrical cabinets. The fi ttings are ‘marinised’ and there is commonality with the Anzac ship systems. In the photo Dennis stands at right, with Brett Cave working on the fi rst ship set for IPV 1.

currently using STT for the welding of ship hull structures. STT welding allows us to produce a full-penetration weld from one side of the plate, something that could not be achieved with older technology. ‘We have qualifi ed weld procedures with both Lloyds and Bureau Veritas classifi ca-tion societies. TSNZ fi rst used the process on a 50ft pleasure vessel built for a local Whangarei company in 2004/05. This was at a time when American industry was still coming to grips with the signifi cant gains to be made by using this process.’

Allister explains how work has also been contracted to other local engineering companies. ‘Tank sub-assemblies for IPV modules M3 and M2 are being fabricated by South Pacifi c Industries (SPI) at Ruakaka. The company has also been contracted to build Module M5 for IPVs 2, 3 and 4.’

‘SPI, along with Culham Engineering and McRae Engineering also built sub-assem-blies of the OPV modules [that recently were shipped from Whangarei to Australia, see NT 112 July - Ed]. At over 14m wide, the transportation of one section from SPI meant that there was very little clear-ance at bridges and rail crossings along the way. Traffi c (it was after midnight) was held in a passing lane while the section travelled past.’

Allister himself brings a wealth of marine and engineering experience to the fi rm; on completing his apprenticeship as a fi tter-welder he went to sea with Shaw Savill Shipping Company. Returning to NZ

he held various positions with Hellabys and McConnel Dowell, along the way partici-pating in the building of a freezing works in Taumarunui and having various roles

for the NZ Steel Stage 1 and 2 expansion projects. Following this was a role as project manager for the McConnel Dowell/WECO Joint Venture which built two tugs for the Northland Port Corporation. Later, as

MCKAYS MARINE ELECTRICAL

a manager with Marine Steel Ltd he was involved with the building of tugs for the Tauranga and Taranaki Harbour Boards and a 70m general purpose vessel which was delivered to owners in Australia.

He points out that TSNZ’s Whangarei facility ‘Has historically maintained a low profi le, yet our people here have achieved magic things.’ Allister comments that ‘Some of our people are formerly of WECO, so we embody much long-term ship building experience. The Protector contract takes us a step further, from assembling modules to being a ship builder.’

“AT OVER 14M WIDE, THE TRANSPORTATION OF ONE SECTION FROM SPI MEANT THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CLEARANCE AT BRIDGES AND RAIL CROSSINGS ALONG THE WAY. TRAFFIC WAS HELD IN A PASSING LANE WHILE THE SECTION TRAVELLED PAST.’”

The Tenix paint shop with Module 4 of ROTOITI inside

Members of ABCANZ materials group were shown the new technologies being used to construct Project Protector ships; here the ABCANZ group is briefed in Tenix’s assembly hall.


On 3 July the new MRV, known within the shipyard as NUSHIP CANTERBURY, began 48 hours of

builder’s sea trials. The ship had been in the Merwede canal alongside the builder’s facility since her launch on 11 February. CANTERBURY was towed for two hours down the river, under 4 bridges, to the North Sea for commencement of the builder’s trials. [See sidebar]

Over the 48 hours the sea-going es-sential systems such as main propulsion, bow thrusters, IPMS, radars, navigation and mission systems were progressively set to work, integrated with other systems and trialed.

Due to the complexity of the setting to work, not all the trial objectives were achieved before the ship had to return to port for a planned dry-docking for a hull underwater inspection. The ship resumed sea trials on 20-22 July after more setting to work and fi ne-tuning.

A total of ten RNZN and MoD person-nel boarded NUSHIP CANTERBURY at the Merwede shipyard in Holland. LTCDR Tim Cosgrove and LTCDR Mark Harvey, together with WO Jeff Reddecliff e, CPO Elliot Kendrick and PO Dan Johnston had been involved with setting to work of machinery and systems leading up to the trials period.

MoD were represented by the Project Director, CDRE (Rtd) Gary Collier, CDR Giles

SEA TRIALS, 3 JULY 0740: underway with tugs - destination Hook of Hol-land (by 1300)

fi rst bridge, only 30m wide; the ship has an extreme beam (including bridge wings) of 29.40m!

the Dordrecht railroad bridge opens at preset times; MRV misses the fi rst opening by only a few minutes – a two hour wait until the next opening.

pass the fourth and fi nal bridge at 1240; arrive Hook of Holland at 1330

At Hook of Holland the series of sea trials begins:adjusting the compass, testing the bow thrusters, anchoring and,test the Integrated Platform Management System

software.

1555: Safety drill for all hands in the helicopter hangar. 1800: Proceeds to the open sea for a full power trial

CANTERBURY reaches over 19½ knots.

AS THIS ISSUE OF NAVY TODAY IS

PUBLISHED, THE MULTI-ROLE VESSEL WILL

BE TRANSITING THE MEDITERRANEAN,

HEADING FOR AUSTRALIA AND THE FINAL

PART OF ITS BUILDING PROCESS (FIT OUT

OF 25MM GUN SYSTEM AND MILITARY

COMMUNICATIONS, CONTRACTOR SEA

TRIALS, FIRST CREW TRAINING AND CROWN

ACCEPTANCE ACTIVITIES). BEFORE THE NEW

SHIP COULD DEPART ROTTERDAM, THE

BUILDERS HAD TO UNDERTAKE INITIAL SEA

TRIALS, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN JULY. NUSHIP CANTERBURY in a dry dock after completing phase one of sea trials with the MoD/RNZN team in the foreground (l to r): LTCDR Tim Cosgrove, CDRE (Rtd) Gary Collier, WOWT Wayne Morris, CPOET Malcolm Weir, CPOMT(P) Elliot Kendrick, LTCDR Mark Harvey, WOMT(P) Jeff Reddecliff e, CDR Giles Rinckes, LTCDR John Deere & POMT(P) Dan Johnston

Rinckes and LTCDR John Deere. Also from the MoD Project team, CDR Dave Gibbs and LTCDR Steve Gibson had spent the previous two weeks inspecting the ship for design, introduction-into-service, and ILS issues.

Their overall impression of the ship is that she is very comfortable and spacious inside, with good-quality fittings and well-designed cabins, messes and working spaces that will make living and working comfortable, easy and effi cient. They fore-cast that she is sure to be as memorable a ship as her predecessor.


BUILDER’S SEA TRIALS FOR THE

NEW CANTERBURY

LTCDR Tim Cosgrove and WOMT(P) Jeff Reddecliff e as CANTERBURY moves down river.

CDR Giles Rinckes on the prowl for gremlins.


MCC hosted the COs of our ships and key force elements to a conference in PHILOMEL: Back Row (l to r): CDR P Kempster (MOET), LT Jon Clarkson (KAHU) CDR Andy Grant (TE KAHA) CDR Tony Millar (MRV desig) LT Carl Hey (HINAU) LT Brad King (WAKAKURA) CDR Dave McEwan (HQJFNZ) LTCDR K Gilchrist (CO No 6 Sqn RNZAF) & LT Grant Judson (KIWI). Front Row: LTCDR David Turner (ODT) LT Mike Peebles (MOA) CDR James Routledge (ENDEA-VOUR) CDRE David Anson (MCC) LTCDR Rachel Butler (DHSU) LTCDR Mark Longstaff (MANAWANUI) CDR David Mundy (RESOLTION) & WOEWS Dean

Bloor (Command Services)

ENS David Roderick was presented his ‘Wings” on 22 June, after 14 months of training with the RNZAF. The only Naval Officer to complete the 05/01 RNZAF ‘Wings’ course, Da-vid graduated with six Air Force pilots. Now a qualified pilot, he remains at Ohakea for his helicopter conversion course.

WOET Shane Menzies, serving in Naval Staff, was promoted recently

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O U R P E O P L E

SLT Patrick Baker RNZN is OOW4 aboard HMS LIVERPOOL in the South Atlantic. While in Montevideo, Uruguay he went to the memorial to the Battle of the River Plate, which features the anchor from the GRAF SPEE. Patrick will write about his South Atlantic patrol in next month’s NT.

LEFT: SLT V Martin at the controls of the HIAB crane aboard WAKAKURA dur-ing operations in the Marl-borough Sounds

ABOVE: That 70s Show! WAKAKURA had a good weekend in Tauranga with a 70’s themed night - here they are in their fanciest threads.

CPOSCS Andrew Fleck of PEGASUS with his MCC Commendation for his exemplary work during Trafalgar 200 at Nelson.

Students on the Naval Adventure Challenge hosted by our recruit-ers were given a tour of INS TABAR, where they met CAPT H C S Bisht, the Commanding Officer.

ENS Kris Herbison RNZNVR after receiving his commissioning parchment; Kris has transferred to PEGASUS from TOROA having graduated from Otago University. He is now employed as a graduate accountant at KPMG.


As you read this, TE KAHA will be one month into our five month deployment to South East Asia

and Australia. The fi rst phase of our preparations, after

being in Dry Dock, was to systematically check that personnel and equipment were ready for deploying. We started with Har-bour Safety Checks:

First, the Ship’s Safety Examination, where all members of the ship’s company are required to sit a multiple choice ex-amination on damage control, medical and safety issues. The examination is aimed at ensuring everyone has suffi cient knowledge of safety issues to proceed to sea. The pass mark is 80%, and 80% of the ship’s company are required to reach the required standard.

The second part is a Rule of the Road Examination to be completed and passed by all watch-keeping offi cers.

Then we had the Readiness Safety Check. All departments were scrutinised by a group of experts to ensure that the ship’s organisation and equipment are ready for sea.

A special mention to the Navigation Department, run by LT Ansilea Drummond and her assistant, ACSS Simon Hill. They are responsible for maintaining the charts and navigation publications - a notoriously de-manding and often hectic job. Because of

their hard work, the ship passed the check fi rst time round – which was also the fi rst time in 3 years that one of our warships has achieved this on the fi rst attempt!

Once the Harbour Safety Checks were completed, we moved onto the Sea Safety Checks. A two week program schedules all the necessary evolutions, including avia-tion, to test the equipment that needs to be certifi ed as safe. The ultimate objective is to ensure that a ship is safe and ready to conduct designated peacetime operations or undertake the next level of training.

A ship will receive one of three assess-ments: SAFE, UNSAFE, or PROVISIONAL. The

ship must receive an assessment of ‘safe’ for each department before an assessment of SAFE can be awarded to the ship to allow it to proceed.

Due to our engineering diffi culties, it took TE KAHA longer than expected to achieve a grade of SAFE for the sea trials, which has meant a lot of extra work for the Marine Engineering branch.

We fi nally sailed on 19 July for this deploy-ment, so there was a lot of pressure on the ME Department to get the propulsion plant up and running. In true stokers style, they dug out, sacrificing precious time with family and friends to get the ship

TE KAHA LEFT: Loading 127mm cartridges. ABOVE: LT Chris (Monty) Mills (l) & SLT Matt Kaio (r) check a missile canister in the VLS.

BY CDR ANDY GRANT & LT EMMA GIBBS, RNZN

ACSS Aaron MacNee explains the bridge controls to (l to r) Cadets Wiremu Satchell, Donavan Tawhai (seated) Stevie Walker, Jean Wheaton & Monte Ferguson.

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F L E E T P R O G R E S S

Our annual bilateral exercise with Singapore Ex LION ZEAL commenced on 10 July. Every year, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and RNZN hold this exercise to enhance the relationship between our two navies.

The exercise has grown in recent years to include a sea phase. This year the RSN delegation came to NZ and participated in a tactical fl oor game at the Maritime Warfare Training Centre, before embarking in TE KAHA to see fi rst hand how the RNZN operate frigates at sea.

The RSN are currently procuring six FORMIDABLE-class frigates, with Sea King helicopters as their organic aircraft. These ships are based on the French LAFAYETTE-class. RSS FORMIDABLE was built in France and is completing her ‘introduction into service’ in Singapore. The remaining 5 frigates are being constructed in Singapore and are to be delivered by 2009. These are the fi rst frigate-sized ships to be operated by the RSN and they are keen to share the experiences of the RNZN. The particular focus of this LION ZEAL was to observe our embarked helicopter operations and boarding operations.

While the FORMIDABLE-class and ANZAC-class have many similarities, the normal company for our frigates is approximately 160 personnel - the RSN intend to man RSS FORMIDABLE with only 71. Their innovative ideas to maintain capability with such a lean crew were of particular interest to the TE KAHA management team.

As well as fl ying operations and boardings, the Damage Control organisation was of interest and TE KAHA put on several simulated large fi re, fl ood and toxic gas incidents, to show them how we operate. These activities were assessed by a small MOET team that were embarked.

It was a very busy 4 days at sea with a lot accomplished and many new RSN/RNZN friendships forged. In TE KAHA we look forward to catching up with many of the RSN personnel when the ship visits Singapore in September. (The Wardroom are looking forward to a return match on the Uckers board – a subtle game that the Singaporeans mastered quickly!)

online. Although it’s all part of the job, we did extend a big thanks to them for their hard work.

With the new Project Protector ships comes the need to make the most of on-job training and job-specifi c oppor-tunities.

Because the Navy will expand with the in-troduction of the seven ships during 2007, we are faced with the challenge of training up enough experienced personnel for the new ships. Throughout our deployment, On Job Training will be a continuing focus. These 5-6 month deployments are vital in achieving that goal, and there will be

frequent crew-swaps throughout the de-ployment in order to rotate as many people through as possible. Although it can cause a short period of unsettledness after each crew change, the ship soon adapts and the training commences all over again. This has been going on for a year now, and both TE MANA and TE KAHA have it down to a fi ne art.

THE DEPLOYMENT Phase 1 (17 July – 4 August) Passage to

North Asia region. Phase 2 (4 August – 2 September). North

and South East Asia regional port visits for defence diplomacy. MCC joined the Task Group for some of this phase.

Phase 3 (2-26 Sep 06). Maintenance - then a regional warfare exercise BERSAMA PADU 06.

We are in company with ENDEAVOUR for the majority of the deployment, which has three key objectives:

Defence Diplomacy – demonstrating a cred-ible presence in areas of wider NZ interest. We aim to present our ship, the Navy, the NZDF and our country in the best light. This is accomplished by Navy to Navy contacts, and diplomatic opportunities for our Em-bassies as well as the presence of the 230 ambassadors who make up TE KAHA’s and ENDEAVOUR’s ships’ companies.

Capability Generation. As a warship we need to make sure that we are prepared for any

LION ZEAL BY LT EMMA GIBBS RNZN

contingency that may arise - to hone our combat skills we need to practice them in exercises with other countries. Exercise BERSAMA PADU will mean two weeks at sea with submarines, other ships, LRMPs and fast jets from the other FPDA navies and Air Forces.

And meeting Defence commitments with Australia – which will be described in a future issue.

We departed Auckland on 19 July, two days behind ENDEAVOUR; we motored up to North Asia to continue our defence di-plomacy, co-hosting receptions and offi cial luncheons with our embassies in:

Tokyo (4-8 August) Chinhae, Korea (11-15 August) next Hong Kong (19-23 August) then Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (26-30

August). This phase of the deployment is our main

opportunity to further relations with our northern neighbours, part of our work on behalf of all of NZ.

In Tokyo our Chefs supported NZ Trade and Enterprise, helping to demonstrate Fisher & Paykel products. At all ports so far Te Roopu Kapahaka o Te Kaha has performed with enthusiasm and to great acclaim.

We are due to reach Singapore on 1 September, for a short maintenance period before Exercise BERSAMA PADU 06, which is hosted by Singapore this year.

Te Kaha Cadets Visit, 24 June

The Cadet group on the foc’sle, with their hosts LT Alistair McHaffi e (r) & Tauranga Recruiter WOEWS Roger Sheehan


ENDEAVOUR has had a busy month undertaking a wide variety of activi-ties after our North Island circuit:

exercising with the Indian Naval Ship TABAR, and

gearing up for our South East Asia de-ployment.

On 8 June after an overnight stay in Pe-lorus Sound, ENDEAVOUR made the short transit across Cook Strait to Wellington for her fi rst visit in several years. In the ap-proaches to Wellington, we launched our Sea-boat to embark seven senior students from Wellington’s Rongotai College from Seatoun Wharf, who came aboard to ex-perience our entry into the harbour. High winds and a typically lumpy entrance into Wellington Harbour meant that their RHIB ride to the ship would rival any theme-park ride for excitement (and splashes).

Upon reaching Wellington’s inner har-bour, the wind abated signifi cantly and the ship was treated to blue skies and only the gentlest northerly winds at our central city berth alongside Queens Wharf.

Our fl ight deck became the venue for a reception hosted by the Deputy Chief of Navy, CDRE Tony Parr RNZN. Guests included the Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, the VCDF and COM JFNZ, RA Jack Steer. An RPC was held concur-

BY SLT DUNCAN MACKENZIE RNZN

ENDEAVOUR

rent to the Cocktail Party for the ship’s Ratings at Trentham Military Camp - an event that was well enjoyed by those who participated.

ENDEAVOUR’s visit to Wellington was ac-corded a high profi le, with the ship hosting several tours for various schools, Sea Scout troops and the local RNZNVR in addition to opening for public viewing over the week-end. Approximately 400 locals took the op-portunity to get a glimpse of life onboard this fl eet replenishment ship and to gain a better appreciation of their Navy.

That Sunday afternoon, Wellington had begun to feel the brunt of the extremely bad weather system which shut down most of the country and cut power to Auckland. As very strong winds had begun to impose their presence on ENDEAVOUR, extra berthing lines were essential to prevent us being picked up and carried away!

The weather continued to worsen overnight, and by morning the prospects of ENDEAVOUR making any significant passage in Cook Strait were negligible. It is not often that a ship doesn’t sail due to adverse weather, so this event was met with a certain level of interest by the ship’s company. The unfavourable weather continued into the next day; though it

subsided suffi ciently for ENDEAVOUR to farewell Wellington and complete our cir-cumnavigation of the North Island.

The unforgiving seas of the Cook Strait gave fi ve local high students (embarked as part of the continued recruiting drive) a chance to experience some of the “not so pleasant” conditions that can be part of life in the Navy, whilst providing the newer members of the RNZN an illustration of why we always “secure for sea” before we sail. The weather eventually abated and we were able to arrive back in Auckland in good spirits and ready to tackle the fi nal preparations for our major deployment.

As part of our deployment preparations ENDEAVOUR conducted small-arms safety and fi ring qualifi cation assessments. Hav-

ENDEAVOUR departing Auckland on 17 July. Photo by PhotoOne

TABAR, ENDEAVOUR & TE KAHA seen from an RNZAF P-3K

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ing made the most of our short passage to Auckland, everybody was worked-up to a good standard with safety procedures for each of the weapons – the 5.56mm IW Steyer for everybody, with Offi cers and Se-nior Ratings additionally trained in the use of the 9mm Sig Sauer Pistol. Good scores were recorded by all those who attended Whangaparaoa Training Centre for the fi r-ing assessments; congratulations to:

POMT Tipene scoring 58 out of a possible 60 with the Steyer, and

SLT Mackenzie with 79 out of 80 on the pistol range.

Providing a bit of light relief in our hec-tic schedule was the visit of the young dancers from the Braemar Dance Studio in Devonport. The visit was part of their

promotional build up to their entry into the NZ Highland & National Dancing Cham-pionships which were held at the Bruce Mason Theatre on 7th 8th and 9th July. The Navy was the main theme of their entry as they performed a traditional sailor’s dance, the Sailors Hornpipe.

In the midst of our preparations came the visit to Auckland of the Indian Navy’s new Missile Frigate, INS TABAR. This provided the rare opportunity to exercise with the Indian Navy in our own waters, and in early July, ENDEAVOUR sailed from Devonport in company with TE KAHA and TABAR, to conduct a brief bilateral passage exercise. Embarked in ENDEAVOUR for the overnight passage was a media representative from Triangle Television, who had been fi lming

TABAR’s visit to Auckland. Once ENDEAVOUR led the other two

ships out of harbour, the ships conducted a three-ship Replenishment at Sea, with both TE KAHA and TABAR making their approaches and hook-ups simultane-ously. This provided ENDEAVOUR an ideal environment in which to continue the training for the relatively inexperienced winch crews, who are an integral part of our replenishment operations.

After TE KAHA detached in the early evening, ENDEAVOUR continued North overnight as consort for TABAR as she made her way to Tonga, where TABAR will represent India at the King of Tonga’s birthday celebrations later in July. At 0100 that Friday, ENDEAVOUR bade farewell to TABAR, with TABAR passing a message of thanks to all of those involved with her fi rst visit to New Zealand.

As you read this, ENDEAVOUR has de-ployed in company with TE KAHA. After 18 days (including a PASSEX off Noumea) and some 8700 kilometres from Devon-port, our visit to Tokyo, Japan, marks the commencement of a very busy 5 month deployment for the two ships.

ENDEAVOUR will once again do our very best to represent our Navy and New Zea-land throughout the Asia-Pacifi c region.

The Braemar Dance group on board, with LWTR Kiley White (standing, rear) and LSTD Karin Stirling (crouching, right). Braemar Dance Studio is in Devonport and the girls are (l to r): Lexi Flem-ing, Milly Hay, Maddy Hay, Emily Jones, Madison Fleming, Kate Woodd & Alice Charles. They were promoting the NZ Highland & National Dancing Championships which were held from 7-9 July and one of the dances they performed was the Sailors Hornpipe.

“High winds and a typically lumpy entrance into Wel-lington Harbour meant that their RHIB ride to the ship would rival any theme-park ride for ex citement.”

RAS with INS TABAR

Farewell, a last wave as ENDEAVOUR departs on 17 July. Farewell, a family watches the ship depart.

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RESOLUTION has just completed her DSRA early this month and we are now conducting the various engi-

neering and sea trials necessary after such a long time alongside. We have also had the numbers on board swell with the vari-ous VTF and NPRC personnel also working around the ship. Before HATS and SATS be-gan we conducted a ship’s exped down to Taupo, which gave our team the chance to take a break from Auckland and engage in some kayaking and challenge themselves on the high ropes course.

Our DSRA had begun in July, with a major refi t of the galley – much to the delight of our Chefs and the Supply De-partment. There were also a large number of engineering changes around the ship, including the upgrade of our computer

system, which meant our engineers were very busy.

From 26-29 June RESOLUTION was host ship to FNS VENDEMIAIRIE, and we had an eventful week with a sports afternoon, a hangi, an RPC, and a reception. The hangi went down really well after a busy after-

noon playing sports; the afternoon ended with the presentation of the ships’ crests to each CO. And some of our offi cers really en-joyed teaching their French counterparts all about NZ wines!

BIG SCIENCE ADVENTUREBack on 29 May, RESOLUTION had sailed from Auckland for our fi nal survey period of the fi nancial year, which included port visits to our home port of Gisborne, and the Chatham Islands.

The visit to Gisborne was rather low key, but included one offi cial function when the CO and six members of our company took the opportunity to renew ties with the Gisborne Branch of the RNZRSA. They joined the veterans for a couple of drinks before presenting them with a new photo of our ship.

The main aim of the visit was some R&R for the ship’s company, and everyone took the opportunity to get out and about within the town.

While alongside in Gisborne we em-barked a party of eight personnel for the Royal Society of New Zealand for their BIG Science Adventure. [See NT 112 July] The group - three scientists, one teacher, three high school students from Timaru and a film mentor – were being taken to the Chathams as a part of the RSNZ’s competition for high schools. The students had participated in a nationwide video making competition, and their entry had been placed within the top six in the country. Their prize was to join a science expedition out to the Chathams to make

RESOLUTION

BY A/LT K J BEGG RNZN, SUPPLY OFFICER

(L to r): OHSO Sally-ann Solomon, OHSO Kevin Tunley & OHSO Peter Melrose working on the port

Good mornay! POSA Mel Wallace shows off one of the crayfi sh gifted by the islanders to the ship.



a 10-minute fi lm on the work being con-ducted there. In this case, the scientists are investigating the ‘youth’ of the islands – geological studies of the islands and its rocks have shown that it emerged from the ocean a mere one million years ago, making it a baby when compared to most of the world. Their fi lm will be presented at a special showing later this year, and the best team will win a trip to Antarctica in January 07. We wish them all the best with their fi lm-making eff orts!

Our passage across to the Chathams was ‘lumpy’ to the extreme, with our guests spending most of the trip out there wish-ing they had been given somewhere that didn’t involve three days at sea! Most of the ship’s company shared the sentiments

as the six metre swells made life onboard very uncomfortable for the fi rst two days. Fortunately the seas reduced after the second day allowing everyone to recover and catch up on work (and rest) before arriving at the islands.

Variable weather – the after-eff ects of the storms lashing the rest of the country – meant that we were unable to settle in one anchorage, and instead had to keep changing location as the winds and swell direction shifted [see also page 16] Despite this, we were able to send ashore

two work parties to do some painting and repairs at Te One School, the main primary school on the island (There are no secondary schools - when students reach secondary age they either go to a board-ing school in New Zealand, or the whole family will move). We also participated in a sports afternoon, and simultaneously hosted a Commanding Offi cer’s luncheon and ship-visit for 60 children.

Monday evening we re-embarked our eight guests after they had shot approxi-mately 500 minutes of raw footage to turn into their film. Given the rather dismal weather forecast, the decision was made to leave that night and give ourselves extra time for the trip back to DNB.

A much quieter trip home followed as the weather seemed to have done its worst already, and with time in hand, the decision was made to move up the timing of some engineering trials, allowing us to berth at 1600 on Thursday 22 June.

The end of this fi nancial year marks a change to the way RESOLUTION accounts for her surveying operations, with the new LINZ contract based progressively around the miles surveyed, rather than the days spent at sea surveying. This means that the contract will now more accurately refl ect the distances and outputs of a survey period, rather than the more generic days spent at sea.

“Th e hangi went down really well aft er a busy aft ernoon laying sports...and some of our offi cers really enjoy ed

teaching their French counterparts all about NZ win ! “

BIG SCIENCE ADVENTURESThe principal sponsor for this competition is Freemasons New Zealand - ‘proud to be in partnership with the Royal Society and the RNZN in furthering the education of young people and in promoting excellence.’

Other supporters of the Royal Society for this competition were:Antarctica New ZealandThe Ministry of Research, Science and TechnologyThe Apple Computer Division of Renaissance.

LT Pete Bowmar explains the workings of the ship’s boat to the tour group.

Rugby mud (l to r): POET Matt Anderson, LET Luke Mason (partly obscured and clean) AHSO Byron Solomon, LHST Tim Sinclair, OHSO Pete Melrose and AMT Mark Dunn.

The second work party at Te One School: (l to r): LCSS(U) Damian Olson; AMT Mark Dunn; WO Reece Golding, CPOET Eric Campfens, OHSO James Baldwin, ACSS Shannon Irwin, LMT(P) Mike Wattam, POMT(L) Mike Pope.


An Exclusive Economic Zone patrol saw WAKAKURA and MOA under the command of LT Brad King, RNZN

and LT Mike Peebles respectively, voyag-ing down the East Coast of the North and South Islands to Dunedin in the middle of winter. For MOA this was likely to be the last visit paid to some of her familiar ports along the way, before she is decommis-sioned next year.

A brief stop was made at Akaroa for a rest, after two days of very rough seas. During our transit vessels were hailed as part of the requirements for our EEZ patrol and their details recorded before being reported to HQ JFNZ.

On reaching the start of the long pilot-age into Dunedin a group of students were embarked so they could experience (in relative calm) what it is like in our patrol craft. This was a great way to promote the

Navy and introduce potential recruits to the excitement and adventure of a naval career.

Dunedin was a great run ashore. The ship’s company were hosted by HMNZS TOROA, the Dunedin Division of the RNZNVR and the previous ‘owners’ of MOA. A luncheon for local high school career advisors was held, then a recep-tion at TOROA for the ships’ companies of WAKAKURA, MOA and TOROA. This event served to welcome the Ships to Dunedin, to thank the employers of Dunedin-based VR personnel and, to promote the Navy in the Deep South.

An excellent night was had by all, with the CO MOA presenting the CO TOROA with an HMNZS MOA cap tally, as the RNZNVR only had cap tallies of their units, not the tallies of the IPC associated with their Division.

Winter in the Deep South kept up its reputation and one morning we all woke to snow in the foothills of Dunedin and freezing temperatures.

After doing the ‘tourist thing’ and taking a drive up to the lookouts overlooking Dunedin - and getting the car stuck in the snow and ice – we realised it was better to stay in the relative shelter of the city.

The local Sea Cadets braved the cold to

visit both IPCs and go inside WAKAKURA. WAKAKURA and MOA headed north to

Banks Peninsula on our EEZ patrol and to conduct some training, before heading back to Oamaru for the next weekend.

Perfect conditions were experienced off Sumner Head and Brighton Pier for conducting RASAPS and TOWEX evolu-tions and it was a chance for the Grade 3 Offi cers of the Watch under training to test their skills conning two ships just metres apart (under the watchful eyes of their respective COs).

The port of Oamaru has not been dredged for some time, so it provided trying conditions for our entry. We care-fully conned the two ships along a nar-row channel, just metres from the rocks one side and the sand bar the other, while the depth sounder ‘shot up’ to 2½ metres below the keel. There were some edgy moments with many local people gathered on the wharf to watch our ships enter harbour.

PATROLOUR DEEP SOUTH SOJOURNBY SLT ANDREW MORGAN RNZN

The Seaward Kaikouras seen as WAKAKURA surfed north



That evening the North Otago RSA host-ed the ships’ companies for the evening and made us all feel very welcome. Satur-day morning and the stream of interested people had not abated so WAKAKURA opened the ship to visitors. The following morning a large group from both ships’ companies mustered at the Waitaki Boys High School for a friendly game of touch against the boarding students. In return, tours of both IPCs were conducted for the boarders that afternoon.

The following morning the mercury again dropped, with the fi rst of the series of very cold fronts that hit the South Island. Both COs went to Waitaki Boys’ High School to speak at Assembly on the RNZN and its roles; however, due to the power cuts and road closures from snow, their talk was de-livered in the darkened Hall of Memories to only about a quarter of the school.

Although the weather was cold we sailed that afternoon on the high tide, as the fore-cast weather threatened to make us late for

PATROL

our next tasking. The southerly front kicked up a substantial 4 metre swell, giving us a 24 hour rollercoaster ride as we headed north. Both IPC’s averaged 15 knots with 12 knots rung on and WAKAKURA reached 22 knots while surfi ng down one swell! Of note, WAKAKURA and MOA were the only RNZN vessels that sailed that day due to the weather, which by then was crossing the North Island. On approaching Cook Strait the following seas would have made for a good crossing to escape the weather in Wellington harbour. But the report of swells of up to 8 metres at the harbour entrance quickly dispelled that plan! Both ships instead proceeded towards Tory Channel and the calm waters of the Marlborough Sounds.

The next phase of our tasking and de-ployment was to uplift members of the Royal Society from Stephens Island, a wildlife reserve at the western approaches to Cook Strait, in order to transport them to Wellington. However, the heavy swell

WAKAKURA and MOA ext end their gratitude to all our hosts in Dunedin and Oamaru - for their warm welcom .

and wild weather was not conducive to this, so unfortunately the tasking had to be cancelled. Instead we undertook some intensive sea training in the relative calm of the Marlborough Sounds before the weather allowed us to continue our pas-sage to Wellington.

Wellington provided a welcome rest after the voyage north. Once the weather was calmer, we sailed for Petone Wharf to embark HQ JFNZ personnel from Tren-tham, for a day of sea experience with the harbour, including RASAPS and MOBEXs - by both seaboat and swimmer.

After three weeks away, WAKAKURA and MOA fi nally headed north and home to DNB. Winter was still with us, as snow was seen on the steep hills of East Cape. How-ever, the weather was considerably kinder along the East Coast. On completion of a number of drills for the benefi t of em-barked RNZNVR personnel, we conducted a formation entry into Auckland harbour - the end of a great patrol south.

(L – r): OWTR Kayla Mitchell, LSCS ‘Pukz’ Pakinga, OMT Jonathan McCormack & ACSS Te McDonald conducting a brief for a Light-line transfer on WAKAKURA

SLT Andrew Morgan on WAKAKURA as they pass astern of MOA during a TOWEX.

MOA undertaking RAS approaches and Light-line transfers with WAKAKURA


At the time of writing this article we have another two Divers about to graduate from their Diver Transfer

Course (soon to be renamed the Leading Divers’ Course).

What can they look forward to in the remainder of this year? Straight after graduation they took some leave, but on their return to join the ODT they can expect to:

assist with trials on the Diver Reconnais-sance System (DRS). The DRS is a hand held underwater computer complete with a navigation and sonar capability. It’s go-ing to revolutionise the way in which we conduct area searches for MCM and Very Shallow Water MCM.

in September they will deploy to Malay-sia for Ex BERSAMA PADU then,

in October to Australia for Exercise DUGONG.

On return from DUGONG the remainder of the team and the Diving School will have already moved into the new Diving Training and Support Building which has been specifi cally designed and built to accommodate all activities of the Diving Branch - as well as the MCM Cell, MOET and the Deployable Hydrographic Unit.

A YEAR IN THE LIFE…As you read this, it’s now just over a year since I had previously welcomed three other fresh-faced Divers into the team; I look at ODT today and can see how much our capability has improved – let me put into perspective exactly what it is that the Team has achieved:

The ODT participated in Ex BERSAMA LIMA 05 in Malaysia. That was a Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise which last year was directed by the Royal Malaysian Navy. The ODT spent 2 weeks on an island off the east coast of Malaysia with the other nations’ divers, conducting Very Shallow Water Mine Counter Measures exercises and Explosive Ordnance Disposal tasks.

A few weeks ago our Divers returned from another 2 week exercise, again in Malaysia, where 19 Western Pacifi c Naval Symposium (WPNS) countries gathered to work and train together and to dem-onstrate their military capabilities. This was especially satisfying for ODT as towards the end of last year we took receipt of our brand new MCM diving set.

THE VIPER SETThe VIPER self-contained re-breather div-

ing apparatus is state-of-the art MCM div-ing technology and it received a great deal of interest, compliments and envy from the other WPNS diving teams. Our Divers were completely at ease with this sophisticated breathing apparatus as they’d had a two-week Deep Diving Work Up during March of this year in the Hauraki Gulf area, a fi ve day trial to assess the vulnerability of the equipment in close proximity to a sea mine and of course regular periods of Continu-ation Training.

The VIPER set will once again be put through its paces when we deploy back up to Malaysia for Exercise BERSAMA PADU next month, and again to Australia in Oc-tober for Exercise DUGONG with the RAN Clearance Diving Teams. We will be sup-ported by MANAWANUI on that exercise.

MCMMine Counter Measures is our core busi-ness and our Divers periodically deploy an element of 6 – 8 divers in the good ship MANWANUI, in order to relocate, iden-tify and where necessary, remove clutter and Mine Like Bottom Objects from our strategic sea lanes. This task is known as Operation NIAGARA and all of the new

OPERATIONAL DIVINGBY LTCDR DAVID TURNER RNZN

Two new Divers: (l) Sapper Jay Culhane RNZE & (r) LMT Raupatu Ormsby.



divers have been involved in this activity around NZ’s extensive coastline.

MANAWANUI is an excellent Diving Support Vessel and is pivotal for much of the deeper work we conduct in and around NZ.

Our Divers conducted a two week Sur-face Supplied Breathing Apparatus (SSBA) Work Up using MANAWANUI’s wet bell sys-tem, back during January. The fi rst phase of the Work Up featured underwater tool training to a maximum depth of 50 me-tres using air as the breathing gas, before proceeding to the second phase which was to clean the Noise Range off the east coast of Great Barrier Island at a depth of 90 metres using heliox gas.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) is an essential skill that is taught in order to provide support for MCM and Fleet Operations. In February a group of our Divers spent a week at Kaipara Air Weapons Range receiving consolidation training in demolitions and EOD techniques before a deployment to Whangaparaoa Training Facility in April.

The first couple of days there were dedicated to the annual Weapons Han-dling Tests and Weapons Qualifying Tests,

before the Team then concentrated on conducting VSW MCM and Beach Surveys during the day and EOD tasks during the evening.

In addition to the exercises in South East Asia and supporting MCM operations around the NZ coastline, there is always maintenance to be done, leave and career courses to consider as well as requests from the Police or NZ Customs. Preparing for deployments can also take time – making sure that the equipment we pack up some months prior to an exercise is in full work-ing order, is essential to the mission, and is securely stowed in whichever NZ warship is to carry our equipment.

Towards the end of this year the ODT will assist with the introduction into service of the Remote Environmental Monitoring Underwater System (REMUS), which is an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle.

When deployed with our VIPER breathing apparatus, the ODT will have a total MCM weapons system.

November is our annual Adventurous Training Week and then it’s straight into a VSW MCM and Beach Survey task in preparation for JOINT KIWI 08.

AND 2007…After Christmas Leave we will have a

week at Kaipara Air Weapons Range, a two week VIPER Work Up in the Hauraki Gulf followed by a three week Shallow Water/Surf Zone Trial for the Defence Technology Agency.

Operation NIAGARA activities will also keep us busy throughout the next 12 months and all our new Divers will be very familiar with MANAWANUI by the time they embark for a two week SSBA Work Up in the Hauraki Gulf next June. Before they know it they’ll be welcoming even more new divers into the branch in July 2007…could you be one of them?

THE DIVER TRANSFER COURSE IS A CHALLENGING 19 WEEK COURSE!FOR INFORMATION ABOUT BECOMING AN OPERATIONAL DIVER OR A DEFENCE DIVER CONTACT WARRANT OFFICER HEATH CAIRNS EXT 7521.

EOD training: (l) LDR Leighton Hobbs and (r ) LDR Joe Carroll

Surfacing after a night surface-supplied dive.


AROUND THE FLEETAUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2006

COMPILED BY CPOCSS G. FOOTE HQ JFNZNOTE: THIS FORECAST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

NAVAL COMBAT FORCEHMNZS TE MANA [CDR W TRUMPER RNZN]

AUGUST SEPTEMBER AUGUST SEPTEMBER

01 - 21 Auckland - PAL21 - 23 Preps23 - 31 OP HAVRE

03 - 04 OP HAVRE04 - 30 SRA

HMNZS TE KAHA [CDR A S GRANT RNZN]

11 - 15 Chinhae15 - 19 PASSEX19 - 23 Hong Kong23 - 26 PASSEX26 - 30 Ho Chi Minh City30 - 31 PASSEX

01 PASSEX02 - 08 Singapore09 - 22 Ex BERSAMA PADU22 - 26 Singapore26 - 30 PASSEX

NAVAL SUPPORT FORCE

11 - 15 Chinhae15 - 19 PASSEX19 - 23 Hong Kong23 - 26 PASSEX26 - 30 Ho Chi Minh City30 - 31 PASSEX

01 PASSEX02 - 08 Singapore09 - 22 Ex BERSAMA PADU22 - 26 Singapore26 - 30 PASSEX

HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY FORCE

14 - 21 Harbour Training21 - 25 SATS25 - 28 Auckland28 - 31 LINZ Survey

NAVAL PATROL FORCE

14 - 18 Harbour Training18 - 21 Auckland21 - 31 Grade 3 OOW Course

01 - 08 Grade 3 OOW Course08 - 29 MWVFCP*29 - 30 Auckland

VISITING SHIPS

HMNZS HINAU [LT C HEY RNZN]

01 - 31 Auckland - PAL & SRA 01 - 11 Auckland11 - 29 MWVFCP*29 - 30 Auckland

21 - 25 HATS/SATS25 - 28 Auckland28 - 31 Grade 3 OOW Course

01 - 08 Grade 3 OOW Course08 - 29 MWVFCP*29 - 30 Auckland

DIVING AND MCM FORCES

11 - 14 Westport14 - 16 EEZ Patrol16 - 18 OP ORION18 - 21 Lyttelton21 - 26 OP ORION / NIAGARA26 - 29 Lyttelton29 - 31 EEZ Patrol

01 EEZ Patrol01 - 04 Auckland 04 - 08 DTA08 - 11 Auckland11 - 15 DTA15 - 18 Auckland18 - 28 Passage28 - 30 Sydney

OPERATIONAL DIVING TEAM [LTCDR D TURNER RNZN]

17 - 25 OP NIAGARA 04 - 22 Ex BERSAMA PADU

21 - 31 Grade 3 OOW Course 01 - 08 Grade 3 OOW Course08 - 29 MWVFCP*29 - 30 Auckland

HMNZS WAKAKURA [LT B P KING RNZN]

HMNZS MOA [LT M J PEEBLES RNZN]

HMNZS KIWI [LT G JUDSON RNZN]

11 - 20 Auckland - Harbour Training21 - 28 Grade 3 OOW Course28 - 31 Auckland - PAL

01 - 11 Auckland11 - 29 MWVFCP*29 - 30 Auckland

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR [CDR I J S ROUTLEDGE RNZN]

HMNZS RESOLUTION [CDR D L MUNDY MNZM, RNZN]

HMNZS MANAWANUI [LTCDR N M LONGSTAFF RNZN]

HMNZS KAHU [LT J L P CLARKSON]

HMAS SYDNEY25 - 30 Dunedin

01- 07 LINZ Survey 07 - 11 Tauranga 11 - 21 LINZ Survey21 - 25 Auckland25 - 30 LINZ Survey


* MWVFCP = Minor War Vessel Fleet Concentration Period

HMAS SYDNEY01 - 04 Wellington07 - 11 Auckland

‘Alien fi shermen’ aboard WAKAKURA during Ex LION ZEAL; TE KAHA in the background.

PHO

TO: W

AKA

KURA


G A L L E Y S L I D E

COMPILED BY AWTR SUZIE DAVIES, HMNZS PHILOMEL

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PROMOTION

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

CAPT M J Millar RNZNCDR B I Fotheringham RNZNCDR A G Nuttall RNZNA/LTCDR D A Coleman RNZNLT B M Wallis RNZNSLT K R Ashton RNZNSLT G C Bicknell RNZNSLT G J Bradfi eld RNZNSLT L M Garthwaite RNZNSLT A J Longley RNZNSLT R D Parsons RNZNSLT A E Savko RNZNSLT K J Sherley RNZNSLT D M Short RNZNSLT G M Van Der Gulik RNZNENS L M Bruce RNZNENS R J M Easton RNZNWOET S M MenziesCPOMT(P) D T HamillCPOMT(P) M A Powell

CPOSCS M D SimmPOWTR L C ChuiLHST S A GreenACH A L DombroskiACO C J Du BoisADR W G HobbsASA D S T NgawakaASCS O N KaiparaASCS N M MurphyAWTR S T NgereAWTR L R Tapiki Matapuku

RNZNVRLTCDR M E J Ohs RNZNVRLTCDR B D Walker RNZNVRLT T R Earley RNZNVRSLT A Manaton RNZNVRSLT K J Moloney RNZNVRENS A W Milkop RNZNVRENS H D Young RNZNVR

CDR P W Houliston RNZNLT V J Orr RNZNLCSS A S ReidLPTI J G WhiteAEWS C P CherringtonAMEDIC T K McleanAMT2(L) T W JoinesASA S R AdamsOCH C M White

OSCS K K F JonesOT(WE) G J AntonOT(WE) A T Dobson

RNZNVRCDR D G Jensen RNZNVRCDR J B Shankland RNZNVRABSEA S J Neale OSEA U S Strickland

The Mexican Navy’s Training Tall Ship

CUAUHTEMOC visited Auckland 24-29

July. The three masted barque berthed

at Princes Wharf and her Host Ship for

the visit was HMNZS PHILOMEL.

The CO of CUAUHTEMOC is CAPT

Roberto Gonzalez-Lopez , who paid

Offi cial Calls on the Deputy Mayor

of Auckland City, the Acting District

Commander Auckland Police, and the

Manager of Marine Services – Ports of

Auckland Ltd, and CAPT Clive Holmes,

RNZN. Amongst other activities, soc-

cer and volleyball was played against

RNZN personnel on 26 July, with a BBQ

on completion of the sports.

MNTTS CUAUHTEMOC TRAINING SHIPBuilt in Spain, 1982

Complement: 37 Offi cers 90 Midshipmen 143 SailorsLength: 90.5 metresBeam: 12 metres Draught: 5.4 metresDisplacement: 1662 tonsSails: 23, total 2368 sq mDiesel: 1125 hp, 1 shaftMax Speed: 17 knots (under sail)

7 knots (diesel)

MEXICAN TALL SHIP VISITS AUCKLAND

On 31 August the RNZN Museum is to launch Jack Harker’s new book: “Left Hand Down a Bit” the story of HMNZS WAKAKURA.

The Museum has created a temporary display about the fi rst WAKAKURA, which was built in 1917, one of 60 Castle-class minesweepers for the RN. She was sold off after WW I and taken to Inverness for disposal. Purchased in 1925 for £5,000 by the NZ Government, she was handed over in April 1926 at Sheerness, after being refi tted for service as a training ship for the Volunteer Reserve.

The name WAKAKURA comes from ‘waka’ (Maori for canoe) and ‘kura’ is from the Maori pronunciation of the English word ‘school’.

She sailed for NZ, but the intended 4 month voyage stretched to 7 months due to machinery breakdowns and a six-week wait to replace a sick offi cer. From May 1927 she sailed with her fi rst intake of Reservists, generally spending three months each year with each Reserve Division until 1940.

The sinking of the liner NIAGARA in the Hauraki Gulf on 19 June 1940 saw WAKAKURA urgently transferred to minesweeping. She subsequently served in Lyttle-ton and Wellington before being withdrawn from minesweeping in 1944.

RECALLING THE FIRST WAKAKURA

RNZN MUSEUM


There are days in my life where I wake up in the morning and thank the Lord above that I do not have a desk job! I had such

a day in early July… Our morning involved two small parades at

the DC School, the fi rst being for the Chief of Staff of Qatar. What made this Parade diff erent was the (rare) sight of two RNZAF Iroquois gracing Ngataringa sports fi eld waiting to fl y the Major General and his entourage to their next destination.

It was nice for those of us on the ground to get a friendly wave from him from 50m in the air as we prepared ourselves for our second pa-

BY AMUS TIM CHRISTIE

BAND-DITS rade for Vice Admiral Sureesh Mehta of India.Imagine a nicely formed and dressed Guard and Band waiting patiently for the arrival of the Vice Admiral - then the distant hum of a Seasprite getting louder as it approaches the parade ground.

Then imagine how we all looked after the Seasprite hovered less than ten metres above our heads as it came into land, blue collars fl apping and hats fl ying everywhere. It was an amusing sight as we quickly sorted our rigs out and got on with the job at hand. That afternoon we played host to the Navy Band from India.

The Indian Navy has approximately 160 Musicians (as opposed to our 26). The 19-strong ship’s Band from INS TABAR, under the direction of their Master Chief, came up for the afternoon to sit in on rehearsals with us. This was a great opportunity to meet and greet Bandsmen from another Navy and build relationships with them.

We rehearsed good old favourites like “Corn-fi eld Rock” and “Hottenanny” from their books and even added to our playing repertoire with a fi lm score from a real Bollywood movie!

The TABAR’s Band enjoyed their afternoon with us so much so that some members took the time out to visit us the next day to say farewell. We certainly enjoyed having them.

Our Band continues with a busy schedule including many rehearsals for a four-hour Big Band dance party at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in July, as well as School Concerts, Bruce Mason concerts and a perfor-mance in the Aotea Centre in August.

The two Band-masters after the combined Indian Navy & RNZN Band session.

“Imagine how we all looked aft er the Seasprite

hovered l than ten m r above our heads

as it came into land, blue collars fl a ing and hats

fl ying everywhere.”

All in together, the Bandsmen from INS TABAR sit with the RNZN musicians.


The RNZN Chaplain’s conference is a biennial event which gives RF and

VR Chaplains an opportunity to come together and refl ect on issues aff ecting the delivery of chaplaincy services to naval personnel.

It is also a chance to build espirit de corps amongst our Chaplains and to gather information which may im-prove our services.

The programme included a session with the CN, who spoke of his expecta-tions for the Chaplains in the RNZN and RNZNVR; in addition:

Spiritual Refl ections were given by Anna Johnstone, photographer and poet

H M N Z S P H I L O M E L

L to R: Chaplains Colin Gordon, Ross Horton RNZAF, Wayne Toleafoa with Mrs Anna Johnstone; Chaplains Hugh McCaff erty; Robert Peters and Micheal Baker.

BY CHAP WAYNE TOLEAFOA RNZN

CHAP Ross Horton RNZAF shared his experience of his recent deployment to Afghanistan.

LTCDR Katherine Ayres, in charge of RNZNVR Administration and Control, spoke of the changing role of the VR.

Navy social worker, Mrs Alison Cuth-bert, led a discussion on Project Pro-tector and its implications for Naval families.

We visited the Bridge Simulator, our Marae and the Navy Museum. The conference included a two-day sailing exped around Waiheke Island in the STC PAEA. All Chaplains who attended found the conference to be of great value personally and professionally.

NAVAL CHAPLAINS’ CONFERENCE

Leaving the UK for a new life in NZ is an excit-ing prospect, but the work involved to move to the other side of the world is daunting. The emigration process is not just about moving - there are hundreds of hurdles to overcome - and the lack of any written guide prompted LTCDR Steve Horrell to write a book about the whole experience.

‘Emigrating to New Zealand: An Indepen-dent Guide’ started out as a short ‘hints and tips’ booklet for other UK military personnel joining the NZDF. However, as the content of the booklet began to grow the concept of a self-contained guide was born, and one UK publisher - specialising in travel publications - realised that this book would be unique on the current market.

Based on personal experiences, the book has been deliberately designed to help any prospective migrant understand exactly what needs to be tackled before leaving the UK, during the initial settling period on arrival in NZ and some of the lifestyle changes to expect. The content is wide-ranging and includes information about the reasons for emigrating, visa application, vehicles, house-hold and electrical equipment, insurance, pets, house hunting and buying, education, health and much, much more. An event planner is also included to help with bringing everything together for a successful move.

LTCDR Horrell is now at HQ JFNZ since join-ing the RNZN in November 2003, after serv-ing in the RN for nearly 30 years.

THE ART OF EMIGRATION

POPTI Emma Cairns made her debut for the Kiwi Ferns NZ Women’s Rugby League Team against the NZ Maori Wom-en’s Rugby League Team at The International Stadium, Rotorua, on 1 July. The Kiwi Ferns won 50-16, including a 30m run and try by Emma. The Kiwi Ferns’ target next year is the 2007 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.

Emma plays for the Northcote Tigers Club and has also been selected for the Auckland Women’s League team which will contest the Women’s National Tournament. ASA Jaimee Colvin and OSA Jo Leef have also been se-lected as standby players on the Auckland squad.

CAIRNS’ NATIONAL DEBUT


NINETY YEARS AGO, NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST NZ-BORN NAVAL VC WINNER

JOINED THE HIGHLY SECRET Q SHIPS TO AMBUSH GERMAN U-BOATS.

SANDERS

After his three-month training course he volunteered for “special service” on board the highly secret Q ships. His fi rst ship was the 182-ton brigantine, known to the Admiralty simply as BRIG 10, but given the cover name of HELGOLAND. She was fi t-ting out as a Q-ship at Falmouth.

Small sailing ships were eff ective Q ships because they were, from the U-boat’s point of view, too small to be worth a torpedo; instead the U-boat would sur-face and sink the ship with its deck gun. Of course with the U-boat rolling and pitching in a seaway and only a manu-ally-aimed deck gun, it was natural to come close to the target in order achieve eff ective hits. This gave the Q ships their opportunity; once the U boat was close, the screens concealing the guns were dropped, the White Ensign broken and the Q ship opened fi re, aiming to hole the submarine’s pressure hull.

Appointed as 1st Lieutenant and Gun-nery Officer of HELGOLAND, Sanders oversaw the installation of four 12-pound-ers (76mm guns fi ring a 12lb (5kg) shell) concealed in a central deckhouse. The

brigantine sailed on her first patrol in Sept 1916.

On 24 October HELGOLAND was at-tacked and during the action Sanders had to clear a jammed gun screen - impressing all on board with both his effi ciency and his calmness under fi re.

On 4 February 1917 Sanders was ap-pointed to the 277 ton topsail schooner FIRST PRIZE. Armed with three 12-pound-ers, two Lewis machine guns and a Maxim gun, she commissioned as HMS PRIZE on 25 April and sailed on her fi rst patrol the next morning. Four days later, south west of Ireland, PRIZE encountered the German U-boat U-93, on passage back to Germany after a successful patrol.

U-93, a big U-boat with one 105mm gun, opened fi re on what appeared to be a sitting duck. The PRIZE sent away a “panic crew” in a life boat, apparently abandoning ship. The U-boat closed on the schooner;

SHIPSOF THE

QL

TCDR William Edward Sanders RNR, of Takapuna, was awarded the VC in 1917 for his ‘conspicuous gal-lantry, consummate coolness, and

skill’ in command of HMS PRIZE, a Q Ship.Q Ships were innocent-looking merchant

ships armed with concealed guns; their task to appear as vulnerable targets and so lure U-boats on to the surface where they were easier to attack. In the aftermath of the Battle of Jutland, the Germans resumed submarine warfare against commerce – with most of the action in British coastal waters. This stratagem of deception was one of the few eff ective ASW tactics avail-able to the British at that time.

When WWI began, Sanders, a qualifi ed merchant mariner, was keen to “do his bit” - he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Reserve but was not called immediately. Instead he served in troop ships, transport-ing troops to the Middle East and return-ing with sick and wounded from Gallipoli. When service in another ship brought him to the UK in 1916 he quickly reapplied and was appointed as a temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the RNR on 19 April 1916.


Y E A R O F T H E V E T E R A N

despite the heavy shelling Sanders held his fi re until U-93 was only 80 yards away, then ordered, “Down screens, hoist the White Ensign, open fi re.” U-93 had a fi ght on its hands.

PRIZE fi red 36 rounds in just four minutes. The very fi rst shell blew the submarine’s gun off its mounting, and blew the boat’s captain and two of the gun crew overboard.

The Q ship scored other damaging hits - wrecking the U-boat’s conning tower and blowing holes in the deck casing. For a time she disappeared below the surface, leaving both Sanders and the disconsolate German captain sure she had sunk.

The Germans in the water were spotted and picked up by the panic party and taken on board the PRIZE as prisoners of war. But the schooner was on fi re and in danger of sinking. Thanks to determined damage control, with which the prisoners helped, the ship was saved and limped away to Kinsale Harbour, in Ireland. She was later towed to Milford Haven for per-manent repairs.

Amazingly, and unknown to the British, U-93 had not sunk. Her executive offi cer assumed command, brought her to the surface and set a course for home. After travelling around the north of Scotland and into Norwegian waters, U-93 arrived

in Wilhelmshaven on 11 May, carrying with her a detailed description of the PRIZE. From that day the Q-ship was on Germany’s “most wanted” list.

Meanwhile in London, the report of the action had led to the award of the VC. On 22 June 1917, the Gazette stated that the King has been graciously pleased to ap-prove the award of the Victoria Cross to LTCDR William Edward Sanders RNR. But the details behind the award were kept secret; the anti-submarine war was at its height and the eff ectiveness of the Q ships was dependent on their disguise.

Once repaired, the PRIZE resumed her hunt for U-boats and was in action again on 12 June, when she was shelled by a submarine and hit twice. Sanders was wounded in his arm but ordered his guns to open fi re - at least one shell appeared to hit the U-boat, which dived immediately. An inconclusive cat-and-mouse action followed, with neither the PRIZE nor the U-boat suff ering further damage. For this action Sanders was awarded the DSO.

PRIZE continued to make regular patrols until early August 1917. By then the con-voy system was in force and the sea largely empty of unescorted targets. As a varia-tion on their basic tactic the Q ships were still used as bait, but now towed a British submarine. A phone cable in the tow line

SHIPS

allowed them to inform the friendly sub-marine of any approaching U boat.

On the afternoon of 13 August about 150 miles off the northern entrance to the Irish Sea the PRIZE, with the British submarine D-6 in tow, spotted the UB-48, The U-boat quickly opened fi re and the PRIZE, disguised as a neutral Swedish merchantman, immediately ran up the White Ensign and replied. D-6 had to get into a position where she could torpedo the German. Choppy seas and communi-cations problems between schooner and submarine denied the D-6 a chance to attack. D-6 then had to remain submerged to avoid becoming the hunted. UB-48 submerged and cautiously tracked the schooner into the night. Just after 0300 UB-48 fi red torpedoes at the PRIZE which blew up in a sheet of fl ame and with the loss of Sanders and all on board.

The story of the Q ships has been called “the most amazing side-show the Navy has ever conceived”. It was a demand-ing tactic of war, requiring patience and courage from those who manned the Q ships. But it was a tactic that was quickly overtaken once the real answer to U-boats, the convoy system, was adopted

With acknowledgements to naval historian Grant Howard, who is currently working on a biography of Sanders VC.

LEFT: Sanders in his uniform as a LTCDR RNR. The elaborate stripes and curl on his sleeve are noteworthy; he is wearing the Blue ribbon of the Naval VC. After WWI all VCs were awarded with the red ribbon of the pre-1919 Army VC.

The Sanders Memorial service held at the plaque on the corner of Sanders Ave, Takapuna last August.


Westlake Girls’ High School Year 11 history syllabus for this year included a project on the Battle

of the River Plate, fought in December 1939. The naval battle falls under the cur-riculum heading of ‘New Zealand’s Search for Security.’

About 90 students came to the Museum one afternoon in June to study the battle - they used the Museum’s River Plate ex-hibition as the basis for their research and were also provided with talks by Museum staff as well as the Museum’s information

sheets on the Battle. Their work was very good and very creative and it seemed that the girls really enjoyed the afternoon.

Their projects were internally assessed for credits toward NCEA. The top eight projects were selected by the History faculty and shown to the Museum staff ; we thought this was a good opportunity to show-case the girls’ work so we have displayed the projects in the Museum.

We held a small function 4 July 06 to recognise the work that had been produced and provided each of the

eight students (and the teachers) with a small momento to thank them for agreeing to have their work displayed. Some of their par-ents came as well. A spin-off has been that many of the stu-dents enjoyed the learning experience so much that they have returned to the Museum bringing parents, grandpar-ents and friends to look around.

We also hope that having the projects displayed will attract

the wider families and friends to view the display and, of course, the rest of the Museum.

We had extremely positive feedback from Westlake Girls’ High. The Head of History, Mrs Linda Clack, commented that the Navy Museum provides an outstand-ing asset in the community to support schools. They intend returning next year to pursue other research areas to expand into Years 12 and 13 as well.

The Museum is keen to improve its engagement with local schools through this type of initiative, while also promot-ing the study of naval heritage as part of meeting the requirements of the school curriculum.

We propose to work closely with all schools to develop education packages, exhibitions and information that can meet their educational outcome requirements. The projects will also be advertised widely through teaching journals and peer groups which may result in more schools being interested in the service the Museum has to off er.

This is one aspect of our strategy to pro-actively improve our community profi le and engagement.

WESTLAKE GIRLS HIGH RESEARCH BATTLE OF RIVER PLATE

BY CDR DAVID WRIGHT DIRECTOR NAVAL MUSEUM

Teachers and students from

Westlake Girls High School

in front of their display

at the Navy Museum.

Front row (l to r): Grace

Gong, Sophie An, Lindsley

Toh; back row: Tony Klein

(teacher), Sophie Edmonds,

Gina Grbic, Lauren Driffill

and Linda Clack (teacher).

CDR Wright with Sophie Edmonds and Lindsley Toh and one of their displays.Photos: RNZN Museum


The PJM Medal honours the valour and sacrifi ces made by the NZ servicemen and women who served in Malaya/Malaysia for at least 90 days, between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966. This also includes service in Singapore up to 9 august 1965. Eligible veterans, and the families of deceased veterans, are encouraged to apply for the PJM Medal, to: Medals Offi ce, Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, Private bag 905, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

Further details on the eligibility criteria for the award of the PJM Medal, and application forms, are available from the NZ Defence Force Medals website: http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/news/index.html

On Saturday 1 July many of those who served in HMNZ Ships HICKLETON and SANTON

or in the RNZN support party, attended a reunion at the Navy Sports Complex, Nga-

taringa Bay. The Malaysian High Commissioner, His Excellency Dato Sopian Ahmed

also attended, to show his country’s appreciation and respect for those who helped

defend them in their time of need. He presented a number of the naval veterans with

the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal – a Malaysian medal that Her Majesty has

gracefully approved may be worn with our British Commonwealth medals.

The veterans were honoured to have His Excellency present at their reunion and

even more so that the Malaysian Government expressed its gratitude through the PJM

medal. ‘I will wear it with pride’ was a common comment.

RA Ledson, Chief of Navy, and his wife Barbara also attended. Other special guests

were two adult children of deceased veterans and, from Australia, Allan Jones, who

represented the RAN’s 16th Minesweeping Squadron which worked alongside the

New Zealand ships in the Inshore Flotilla Singapore,

As neither HICKLETON nor SANTON had ever sailed in New Zealand waters there are

few records and no artefacts of these vessels. The Navy Museum, working with the

Confrontation veterans, managed however to provide an excellent display. A model of

HMNZS SANTON, showing her configured as a gunboat, was presented to RA Ledson

for the museum.

The occasion was also used to launch the book “A Kiwi on our Funnel” telling the

story of HICKLETON and SANTON and the Inshore Flotilla during Confrontation. An

auction of two Polo Shirts presented by Alan Jones raised funds to cover the cost of

four copies of the book which have been presented to the Base Library.

The following morning at the Naval Memorial Chapel of St Christopher, a plaque

commemorating those who served in the Inshore Flotilla was unveiled by Jane

Wright. Jane is the daughter of CDR Peter Wright DSC, RNZN, who was in command of

HICKLETON in June 1966 when she fired the RNZN’s last shots in anger, 40 years ago.

[See NT 111, June 06, p 40].

‘CONFRONTATION’ REUNION BY LTCDR GERRY WRIGHT RNZN (RTD)

SANTON vets

Jane Wright unveils the memorial plaque in the Chapel

RNZN maintainers from MULL OF KINTYRE

CN with Allan Jones, RAN and the Malaysian High Commissioner

Lyndsay Roberts accepts his PJM

RA Fred Wilson accepts his PJMHICKLETON vets Photos with thanks to Athol Corbett



THIS YEAR THE NATC PROGRAMME HAS INTRODUCED:

BASIC SEA KAYAKING, BASIC ROCK CLIMBING AND BASIC WHITE WATER KAYAKING COURSES

NAVY ADVENTURE TRAINING CENTRE NATCThe aim of these courses is to provide Naval personnel with the basic skills of each discipline, develop character and leadership qualities within our sailors and, to identify individuals who can further develop their skills to the instructor level - working for the NATC in the future. NATC would like to thank all who participated in these courses for taking up the challenge and for their professional behaviour - you are all pioneers of the RNZN-organised courses.

NATC would also like to thank the services of WOWTR Lance Kenyon, WOPTI Shayne Re-ese, CPOCH Darryn (Twisty) Anderson and Civilian Instructor Blair Anderson (Waimarino Adventure Park, Tauranga) whose services made the conduct of these courses possible.

UPCOMING NATC COURSES CAN BE FOUND ON THE NATC WEBSITE. ALL ADVENTURE TRAINING QUERIES CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE NATC PTI, POPTI ROLLESTON, EXT 7782.

I participated in the basic white water kayaking course in Taupo, one of a course of nine, we were split into two

groups. Novice paddlers included myself, POET Steve Holdaway, ASA Sophie Adams, ASA Katherine Jury and AMT Daryl Hard-ing. Intermediate paddlers were WOWTR Lance Kenyon, CPOET Patrick Ahipene, CPOCH Darryn (Twisty) Anderson and POPTI Ron (Roly) Rolleston. The novice crew thought it was a matter of getting in the kayak and drifting down river, oh how wrong we were.

The aim of the course was to provide the novice participants the basic techniques and skills required for safe white water

BY POHCM NATHAN TAMIHANA

kayaking on rivers up to Grade Three. Of course we were also exposed to a little pucker factor, everyone at some stage outside of their comfort zone.

The fi rst two days: forenoons in the pool practising basic skills then confirming them in the afternoon on moving water. Blair Anderson, the civilian instructor, gauged our individual skill levels and adapted his teaching technique to each of us. At times it felt like we had just con-quered the world, then to be quickly put back into place by the river’s unforgiving currents and eddy lines.

As the week progressed our skill levels and confidence grew and the course

became more enjoyable. At the end of each day Blair would take the intermedi-ate paddlers through more advanced river sections. Blair can toy with Grade Four sections with ease - after seeing the professional do it, the Intermediates would throw themselves into a rapid or fl y off a waterfall!

(Twisty would take his own line through a rapid or over a waterfall resulting in tears of laughter from nearby spectators.)

The course was thoroughly enjoyed by all with many entertaining moments. So if you feel like a bit of a challenge or some-thing new, register for the next course, as you will not be disappointed.

BASIC WHITE WATER KAYAKING COURSE [ta

upo]

POET Steve Holdaway negotiates the Chute, Kaituna River.


“Karabiner…On belay where…Best I pay attention as once Harry starts climbing I’m the only thing preventing him from becoming another Rock Climbing statistic.”

After getting the admin out of the way and some brief class work, we were down to the Fleet Gym and straight into bouldering. Best way to learn how to rock climb is to get in there and do it. Climbs, equipment, belaying, calls and relevant safety precautions covered, we were in the van for Wharepapa South. After trying the Te Awa-mutu back roads, we arrived at the cabins of local legend and rock climbing guru, Bryce Martin - our home for the next fi ve days.

Next morning brought rain, so we utilised Bryce’s indoor rock wall for an introduction into anchors, setting up systems and top rope rescues. The boys soon complained of sore forearms (predominately, women have less upper body strength. Men pull themselves up climbs where women are technically superior and more often look for foot holds to utilise).

A break in the weather provided a window for our fi rst natural climbs, Sheridan Rock, and where terms such as ‘5 cents/50 cents’

The week-long RNZN Basic Sea Kayaking Course is designed to give personnel fi rst-hand experi-

ence in how to use the Navy’s kayaks safely and effi ciently, and experience a new adventurous activity.

Day One brief: sea kayaking, equip-ment familarisation and the coming week’s highlights. The afternoon in the swimming pool, rolling and then having to get back into the sea kayaks.

Next day: at Lake Pupuke for stu-dents to prove they can capsize

S P O R T

BASIC ROCK CLIMBING COURSE

[wha

repa

pa so

uth]

BY LWTR NADIA LECKIE

and ‘pucker factor’ became a second language. The characteristic one arm hang comes into play and Harry unleashes his trademark ‘Double Eagle.’ That night Bryce gave us his run down on climbing techniques. The evening is wound up with DVDs, seeing just how mad some climbers in this sport really are.

Following morning, it’s harder for us to get out of bed. Frogart Edge is the challenge ahead as the climb diffi culty scale begins to rise – the day sees us identify our own anchors and set up systems to climb on. Attached only to a 10mm safety line hang-ing over the edge of a 40m cliff is enough for me to think ‘Screw this!’ Then I look to my partner, Baxy, as the raised ‘whites in his eyes’ reveal all!

After an introduction to lead climbing and a few failed attempts it’s back to Bryce’s to prepare for the student-organised day.

The fi nal day we put all newly-acquired skills to work and prove our profi ciency. By the end of the day we’re tired, accustomed to aching muscles and some have even donated blood to the rock, but we all agree it was an awesome week!

and re-enter the sea kayaks without assistance, along with learning paddle strokes and bracing. After lunch, continue with paddle strokes and towing before a paddle around Lake Pupuke.

Day Three: at Te Arai Point (Northland east coast) for surf beach launching and landing practice. This day is one of the most challenging and rewarding.

The remaining two days are a chance for the students to put all into practice during a multi-day and overnight phase. From Sandspit Bay, a ‘shakedown period’ in the estuary, then paddle to Kawau Island for

BASIC SEA KAYAKING COURSE BY WOWTR LANCE KENYON

lunch. Rafting up is carried out and a sail set, to prove the sailing system.

After lunch, change boats to experience the double and single sea kayaks. Head for Motuora Island via Moturekareka Island. Varying wind speed and chop gives the course experience in changing weather conditions and shows the value of an effi cient paddle style and sound physical fitness. After a night’s rest, the course packs up and paddles to the rendezvous point at Warkworth.

It was great to see the advances that everyone had made throughout the

week both in confi dence and abili-ties. Thanks to all course members for their positive and give it a go attitude.

[inner hauraki gulf ]

Two weeks after this course was run, LET Logan Bax was sea kayaking in Whitianga when he was able to rescue two young children in their own kayak, who were being blown out to sea by the afternoon sea breeze.

POPTI Roly Rolleston descends after a top rope climb whilst ASA Kat Jury and ASA Wendy Strode continue their climb, Froggart Edge, Wharepapa South.

LET Nathan Harris preparing to set up his anchors for top rope climbing.


S P O R T

A B

C

D

E

F

A. LTCDR Philip Eagle in action against Air Force. B. Navy men: ( l to r) Back

row): AWT Jeremy Rees, LCSS John Bennetts, OSA Matt Brown, LTCDR Phil Eagle,

MID Ambrose O’Halloran, CPOET Mark Lithgow, AWT Daryl Begg (Front row):

POSA Matt Christian (Manager), AMT Jeremy Tweedie, ACO Rodney Jackson, AMT

Phil McDowell, AET Josh Grigg. Not present: LSA Randal Bartholomew, Stephen

Campbell, AMT Kurt Menzies, OMT John McDowell. C . Claire Yee (DTA) in action

for Navy against the Air Force women. D. AMT Phil McDowell (foreground) with

Stephen Campbell of DTA and (in the background) ACO Rodney Jackson playing

against Army. E. AMT2(L) ‘Bird’ Tweedie keeping ahead of Air. F. The Navy

Women’s Team: Back Row (l to r): ACO Nyree Morgan (Asst. Coach), SLT Kat

Sherley, SLT Sandra Gardiner, ABMED Hayley Sparrow, ENS Linda Bruce, AET Stacey

Maraku, LWTR Kylie Read, AMT Ants Mitai, POWTR Adrienne Dunford, LCH Tracey

McCallum, Mrs Alex Duley (Coach) (Front): ABMED Theresa Maharj, Miss Claire

Yee, OMT Debbie McKinney, ASCS Natalie Murphy, LET Tamara Morgan

CONGRATULATIONS: NZDF PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT (WOMENS) AND NAVY WOMENS PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT AND WINNER OF THE DULEY TROPHY - LET TAMARA MORGAN.

RNZN PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT (MEN) AND BARTHOLOMEW TROPHY WINNER - LTCDR PHIL EAGLE


NAVY MOTELS HOLIDAY BALLOTThe ballot period for both Arawa Lodge, Taupo and the new units at Mount Maunganui over Christmas/New Year 2006/7 will be:

22 December 2006 to 12 January 2007. Units will be allocated on a Friday-to-Friday basis only. Applications

close at 1200 on 31 October 2006 and will be drawn that afternoon. Successful applicants will be advised in writing. For more information, contact your friendly Motel and Amenities Staff. DTelN 397 7131.

The Motel and Amenities office is in the back corner of NSD Main Warehouse.

DENTAL RESEARCHTo all Uniformed Personnel who entered the NZDF between 01/01/2004/- 01/01/2006, ie during 2004 and 2005, a research project is about to be carried out using your existing “dental information”.

The research involves the use of dental charts only; the data from the charts will be collected anonymously. Names or service numbers will not be used in the final published reports of this data.

If you have any queries or questions or do not want your dental in-formation utilised for this project, please notify Major Tiffany Logan, Principal Researcher:

Major Tiff Logan, BDS, Dip. Clin Dent (Perio).Freyberg Building,(04) 4986639021 164 [email protected], [email protected]

M A I N N O T I C E B O A R D


S P O R T

F

PETER MITCHELL TRUST ESSAY COMPETITION 2006 RNZN personnel are invited to enter the Essay Competition for 2006, with entries to be received by the Sea Power Centre, Austra-lia on or before 14 Nov 06. The rules and an entry declaration form are available from the Ships Office, and can also be found at www.navy.gov.au/spc/mitchell.htm

TOPICS

Navies should reflect societal as well as technological change. Is the current rank structure an aid or a constraint to navies adjusting to these changes?

Sun Tsu’s The Art of War is one of the most influential works on strategy. Discuss its relevance to contemporary maritime strategy.

Discuss the relevance and value that conventional maritime forces offer Governments in responding to the threat of terrorism and other asymmetric threats.

In today’s ‘globalised’ world, what impact do maritime boundar-ies have upon maritime law and security enforcement, marine environmental issues, and cooperation at sea?

CONFRONTATION REUNIONWeb page of interest: Google ‘16th Minesweeper Squadron Home Page’. Go to ‘Welcome to the 16th Minesweeper Squadron, Royal Australian Navy’ and look for ‘RNZN Dedication 2006’

RNZAF CRICKET REUNIONAn RNZAF Cricket reunion will be held over 1-2 Feb 2007 at RNZAF Base Woodbourne. Details are available on the RNZAF Website under the Reunion banner or by contacting:

W/O Gary Clark ([email protected]) DtelN 345 6131Mr Merv Parr ([email protected]).

RNZN REUNION IN PERTHA Reunion of ex-RNZN sailors living in Australia is being planned for next Easter (6 - 9 April 2007) to be held in Perth, Western Aus-tralia. For more information, please contact:

Jackie Keepa 14 Serpentine Rise Success, WA 6164 P: (08) 9498-5823 M: 041-185-4343 E: [email protected]

or, George McGarvey Pipalyjara Community PMB 44 Alice Springs NT 0872 P: (08) 8956-2827

THE PAMPERING PROJECTPlease support premature babies and children in need by sup-porting The Pampering Project through a great recycling program. For every inkjet and toner cartridge sent in $2.00 will be donated directly to help the children. It is a great initiative that costs you nothing and there are thousands of inkjets just filling up the land-fills every year.

So get started and start saving your cartridges now! Please con-tact me for a postage paid envelope to send in your cartridges.

[email protected] or call (09) 4414 – 509.

(This is also an answer phone so please leave me a message with your name, address and telephone number.)

I hope to develop more initiatives to support the project and would also love to hear from people who would like to donate a small amount of time to the cause. Together we can make a huge difference!

DEDICATION OF THE NEW ZEALAND MEMORIAL IN LONDON, NOVEMBER 2006 There will be a veterans’ contingent travelling with the official delegation to the dedication of the New Zealand Memorial in Lon-don. Depart from NZ on Sunday 5 Nov & arrive back on Thursday 16 Nov. This contingent will be chosen by ballot.

Applications for the ballot will be accepted up until 1700 (5 pm) Friday 25 August 2006

In order to be eligible for the ballot you need to have enlisted as member of the New Zealand Armed Forces and served in: WWII, BCOF (2NZEF Japan, J Force) Korea, the Malayan Emergency, Indo-nesian Confrontation or Thai-Malay Border campaigns.

www.veteransaffairs.mil.nz


INS TABAR seen from HM

NZS ENDEAVOUR during their passage exercise on 7 July. The w

eapons visible on the foc’sle and before the bridge are: 100m

m gun, SAM

launcher, VLS silos for 8 SSM

s and the RBU 6000 12 barrelled ASW

rocket launcher. Note, the Kam

ov helicopter is ranged on the fl ight deck aft.

PHOTO: SLT Andrew Hogg RNZN

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR

NT 113 copy - RNZN - Royal New Zealand Navy in Bamyan.‘The Campaign’: an overview of the...

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