Royal New Zealand Navy

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

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) (Maori: Te Taua Moana, The Sea Army) is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. In April 2006 the fleet consisted of ten ships, with the combat force consisting of two frigates.

History

Main article: History of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Pre-World War I

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

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

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

World War I and the Inter-War period

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

Between World War I and World War II, the New Zealand Division operated 14 ships, including the cruisers HMS Achilles and HMS Leander, and the minesweeper HMS Wakakura.

World War II

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

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

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

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

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

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

Post-war

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

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

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

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

Until the 1960s, the RNZN had, in common with other Dominion navies, flown the White Ensign as a common ensign. Post-war, the foreign policies of these independent states had become more distinctive and there was a wish and a need for separate identities, particularly if one Dominion was engaged in hostilities where another was not. Thus, in 1968, the RNZN adopted its own ensign, which retains the Union Flag in a top quarter but replaces the St George's Cross with the pattern of stars displayed on the national flag.

The modern RNZN

Current Fleet

Main article: Current Royal New Zealand Navy ships

The RNZN is currently in a transitional period where its role is being broadened into a navy that is more versatile than in the more recent past. It used to be combat orientated, based on the frigate, but a number of new ships are soon to be incorporated into the fleet that will give the RNZN a much broader platform to work from. These "Project Protector" ships are currently under construction with only the Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) in commission at this stage.

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

Naval combat force

HMNZS Te Kaha

File:NZ MRV (NZDF).jpg

HMNZS Canterbury, the new MRV commissioned in June 2007. This was the first ship completed in Project Protector.

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

The specifications and armaments of the two ships are identical.

Logistics support force

HMNZS Endeavour is the fleet tanker. She provides fuel and other supplies for the frigates when they are on international operations, and for allied ships should this be required. Endeavour takes her name from the Royal Navy ship that carried James Cook to New Zealand on his first voyage, in 1769. Her home port is the city of New Plymouth. HMNZS Canterbury, the RNZN's new Multi-Role Vessel entered service in June 2007.

Hydrographic force

The hydrographic survey ship of the RNZN is HMNZS Resolution. Resolution is used to survey and chart the sea around New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. She was formerly the United States Navy USNS Tenacious, used to tow sonar arrays to detect enemy submarines. A small motor boat, Adventure, is operated from Resolution. Her home port is the city of Gisborne. Resolution carries some of the most advanced survey technology available.

Diving support

Dive Support capability is provided by HMNZS Manawanui. Manawanui is provided for the use of the Operational Dive Team (ODT), which is trained for deep sea diving, underwater demolition and explosives disposal. Manawanui is a highly specialised Dive Support Vessel.

Inshore patrol craft

The RNZN has one Moa class patrol boat, which is used for Training and Mine counter measures. Four other craft were decommissioned in 2007.

• HMNZS Kahu (A 04)

Aircraft

Main article: No. 6 Squadron RNZAF

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

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

Role of the RNZN

Purpose of the New Zealand Defence Force

See also: New Zealand Defence Force

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

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

The intermediate outcomes of the NZDF are listed as:

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

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

Participation in international security operations

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

Civilian roles

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

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

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

Current deployments

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

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

Personnel

Reserves

The primary reserve component of the RNZN is the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR), which is organised into four units based in Auckland (with a satellite unit at Tauranga), Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin:

• HMNZS Ngapona: Naval Reserve, Auckland [1]
• HMNZS Olphert: Naval Reserve, Wellington [2]
• HMNZS Pegasus: Naval Reserve, Christchurch [3]
• HMNZS Toroa: Naval Reserve, Dunedin [4]

At present civilians can join the RNZNVR in one of three branches: Administration, Sea Service (for service on IPVs), and Maritime Trade Organisation (formerly Naval Control of Shipping). In addition ex regular force personnel can now join the RNZNVR in their former branch, and depending on time out of the service, rank. The need to attend compulsory training one night a week has recently been removed.

Finance

Routine funding

The RNZN is funded through a "vote" of the New Zealand Parliament. The New Zealand Defence Force funds personnel, operating and finance costs. Funding is then allocated to specific "Output Classes", which are aligned to policy objectives.

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

Large Projects

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

Onshore establishments

The Royal New Zealand Naval Museum

The Museum, adjacent to the HMNZ Naval Base, Devonport, contains important collections of naval artefacts, and extensive records. Supporters may join the Friends of the Royal New Zealand Naval Museum [5]

Naval Communications Facility Irirangi

Naval Communication Station at Waiouru

Future fleet

Main article: Royal New Zealand Navy Future Plans

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

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

Future fleet (projected for 2008):

• 2 x ANZAC Frigates
• 1 x Multi-role vessel
• 2 x Offshore Patrol vessels
• 4 x Inshore Patrol vessels
• 1 x Replenishing ship
• 1 x Dive Support vessel
• 1 x Hydrographic Survey vessel

Project Protector

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

References

Further reading

• Rear-Admiral Jack Welch, "New Zealand's navy seeks 'credible minimum,'" International Defence Review 9/1995, Vol. 28 No. 9, pages 75-77

See also

• History of New Zealand
• Military History of New Zealand
• New Zealand military ranks
• New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps

External links

• Royal New Zealand Navy homepage
• The New Zealand Defence Force Website
• Royal New Zealand Naval Association website
• The Royal New Zealand Navy in WWII, Official History (online), by S D Waters
• Google Maps Image of Devonport RNZN Base