Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Encyclopedia
Commissioned minesweeper
s and danlayer
s of the Royal New Zealand Navy
(RNZN) from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present. The RNZN was created two years into World War II
. For coherence this article covers the war years from the start, and thus includes also the New Zealand minesweepers operating from the beginning of the war.
s (13 Castle class, 3 Bird
class and 4 Isles
class), 5 converted trawlers, 10 converted merchant boats and 4 danlayers.
s were trawlers purpose built to Admiralty specification to operate as minesweeper
s and/or anti-submarine boats.
of Thames gave a speed of 10 knots (19.6 km/h). The coal-fired boiler was of the Scotch marine type. The boiler size governed the size of ship that could be manufactured, and as boiler plate of the required size was not available, two completed boilers and some partly completed boilers were supplied from Britain.
In addition two further Castle trawlers, Tawhai and Waikato, were completed in 1946 but were not commissioned.
class naval trawlers were 168 feet (51.2 m) long, displaced 923 tons full load, and could manage 13 knots (25.5 km/h). They had a complement of 33–35 and were armed with one 4 inches (101.6 mm) gun, 2x1 Hotchkiss guns, twin Lewis guns and 40 depth charges. They were equipped with asdic
.
class naval trawlers were 164 feet (50 m) long, displaced 740 tons full load, and could manage 12 knots (23.5 km/h). They had a complement of 40 and were armed with one 12-pdr gun, three 20 mm Oerlikons (3x1) and depth charges.
COMSOPAC is an acronym for Commander South Pacific.
During World War II
, one of the major United States theatre commands was the command of the South Pacific Area
. This command was usually referred to as COMSOPAC (COMmander SOuth PACific)
It was formed in April 1942 as a subordinate command of Pacific Ocean Areas, commanded by Robert L. Ghormley
through October 1942, William Halsey, Jr.
to June 1944, John H. Newton to March 1945, and Admiral William L. Calhoun to the end of the war.
In June 1942 New Zealand passed the operational control of most of its South Pacific naval forces to COMSOPAC. This continued until COMSOPAC released control in June 1945.
The headquarters for COMSOPAC were initially located in Auckland
, New Zealand
. In July 1942 they were transferred to Nouméa
, New Caledonia
,
First Group
Port Minesweepers
On 14 November 1940, a few weeks after the founding of the Royal New Zealand Navy
, they were reorganised as the
First Minesweeping Flotilla (NZ)
First Group
Port Minesweepers
Then on 23 December 1940 the Port minesweepers were separated, and the remaining minesweepers were organised into the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla. This name aligned with the flotilla names used by the Royal Navy
. The makeup of this flotilla changed during the course of the war, as new minesweepers were commissioned, others sunk or withdrawn for repairs or refitting, and requirements changed.
Here is a snapshot of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla on 27 March 1943:
7th Trawler Group – Auckland
30th Trawler Group
194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Auckland
94th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Auckland
95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Wellington
96th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group
The Port minesweepers were organised into their own flotillas. Eleven new Castle class minesweepers joined the Port flotillas on completion, 1943–44.
class minesweepers on anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian coastal waters during 1966 and 1967.
They are the only commissioned RNZN ships never to have visited NZ.
These Admiralty
designed coastal minesweepers were built with composite hulls of wood on aluminium frames and a minimum of magnetic material in the hull. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters. Their shallow draft gave them some protection against pressure and contact mines, and allowed them to navigate in shallow inshore waters. They were 153 feet (46.6 m) long, displaced 360 tons standard, could manage 15 knots (29.4 km/h), and had a complement of 32. They were named after British villages which ended with "ton".
Early in 1965 Indonesia
was employing a policy of confrontation against Malaysia. New Zealand agreed to assist Malaysia by deploying two Royal Navy
minesweepers then in reserve at Singapore
. These were commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1965 and joined the Royal Navy's 11th Minesweeping Squadron (also Ton class), taking part part in anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian waters.
In their first year they carried out 200 patrols, with 20 incidents involving intruding Indonesians, often taking as prisoners those aboard intercepting small craft. By the time the Indonesian confrontation policy ended in August 1966 Hickleton and Santon had jointly steamed 130000 miles (209,214.2 km).
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s and danlayer
Danlayer
A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans...
s of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZN) from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present. The RNZN was created two years into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. For coherence this article covers the war years from the start, and thus includes also the New Zealand minesweepers operating from the beginning of the war.
World War II minesweepers
During World War II the RNZN operated 39 minesweepers and danlayers. This included 20 naval trawlerNaval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
s (13 Castle class, 3 Bird
Bird class minesweeper
The Bird class minesweeper was a naval trawler built to Admiralty specifications so it could function as a minesweeper. Forty-five were built. The RNZN ships were also referred to as corvettes....
class and 4 Isles
Isles class trawler
The Isles class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II....
class), 5 converted trawlers, 10 converted merchant boats and 4 danlayers.
Naval trawlers
Naval trawlerNaval trawler
A naval trawler is a vessel built along the lines of a fishing trawler but fitted out for naval purposes. Naval trawlers were widely used during the First and Second world wars. Fishing trawlers were particularly suited for many naval requirements because they were robust boats designed to work...
s were trawlers purpose built to Admiralty specification to operate as minesweeper
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
s and/or anti-submarine boats.
Castle class
Thirteen Castle class naval trawlers were commissioned. Apart from the James Cosgrove and Wakakura, all were built in New Zealand by government directive, circa 1942. They were 135 feet (41.1 m) long, displaced 540 tons standard or 612 tons loaded, and were designed for a complement of 27. The three-cylinder engine of 480 ihp from A & G PriceA & G Price
A & G Price Limited is an engineering firm and locomotive manufacturer in Thames, New Zealand, established in 1868. In 2004 a precision formed yacht keel division was formed to make the Maximus canting keel...
of Thames gave a speed of 10 knots (19.6 km/h). The coal-fired boiler was of the Scotch marine type. The boiler size governed the size of ship that could be manufactured, and as boiler plate of the required size was not available, two completed boilers and some partly completed boilers were supplied from Britain.
| Name | Pnd | Builder | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Aroha | T24 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1943–1945 | Served at Auckland | |
| HMNZS Awatere | T25 | Patent Slip, Wellington | 1943–1945 | Served at Wellington | |
| HMNZS Hautapu | T26 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1943–1947 | Served in Lytteton | |
| HMNZS Hinau | T17 | Senior Foundry Co., Auckland | 1942–1945 | LL Flotilla AS Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.... |
|
| HMNZS James Cosgrove | T10 | 1941–1944 | |||
| HMNZS Maimai | T27 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1943–1946 | Served at Wellington | |
| HMNZS Manuka | T19 | Mason Bros, Auckland | 1942–1945 | LL Flotilla AS Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.... |
|
| HMNZS Pahau | T28 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1944–1945 | Served in Wellington | |
| HMNZS Rimu | T18 | Seager Bros Shipbuilders Ltd | 1942–1945 | LL Flotilla AS Anti-submarine warfare Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines.... |
|
| HMNZS Waiho | T34 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1944–1946 | Served in Auckland | Sold to Red Funnel trawlers |
| HMNZS Waima | T33 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1944–1946 | Served in Lytteton | Sold to Red Funnel trawlers |
| HMNZS Waipu | T32 | Stevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers | 1943–1946 | Served in Auckland | |
| HMNZS Wakakura HMNZS Wakakura (T00) HMNZS Wakakura was originally a First World War naval trawler built in Canada. She was purchased by New Zealand in 1926 and transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy when it was established in 1941... |
T00 | 1941–1947 | 1926–1941 was HMS Wakakura in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy The New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy was formed in 1921 and remained in existence until 1941. It was the precursor to the Royal New Zealand Navy .Originally the British Royal Navy provided total security for the colony of New Zealand... . Used as danlayer Danlayer A danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans... from July 1944. |
In addition two further Castle trawlers, Tawhai and Waikato, were completed in 1946 but were not commissioned.
Bird class
The BirdBird class minesweeper
The Bird class minesweeper was a naval trawler built to Admiralty specifications so it could function as a minesweeper. Forty-five were built. The RNZN ships were also referred to as corvettes....
class naval trawlers were 168 feet (51.2 m) long, displaced 923 tons full load, and could manage 13 knots (25.5 km/h). They had a complement of 33–35 and were armed with one 4 inches (101.6 mm) gun, 2x1 Hotchkiss guns, twin Lewis guns and 40 depth charges. They were equipped with asdic
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
.
| Name | Dates | Career | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Kiwi (T102) HMNZS Kiwi (T102) HMNZS Kiwi was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles. From 1948 to 1956 she functioned as a training ship.... |
1941–1946 1948–1949 1951–1956 |
AS MS Training ship Training ship |
|
| HMNZS Moa (T233) HMNZS Moa (T233) HMNZS Moa was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.On 29 January 1943, with her sister ship Kiwi, Moa helped ram and wreck the Japanese submarine I-1... |
1941–1943 | AS MS | Sunk by enemy aircraft on 7 April 1943 near Tulagi Harbour in the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal... . Five crew men were lost. |
| HMNZS Tui (T234) HMNZS Tui (T234) HMNZS Tui was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles.... >1941–1946 1952–1955 1956–1967 |
AS MS Training ship Research ship |
On 19 August 1943 Tui HMNZS Tui (T234) HMNZS Tui was a Bird class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles.... and some US Kingfisher OS2U Kingfisher The Vought OS2U Kingfisher was an American catapult-launched observation floatplane. It was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing floats. Performance was modest, because of its light engine... float-planes jointly sank the Japanese submarine I-17 Japanese submarine I-17 I-17 was a Japanese B1 type submarine of the Imperial Japanese Navy which saw service during World War II. She was the first Axis ship to shell the United States mainland.-Pearl Harbor:... . |
Isles class
The IslesIsles class trawler
The Isles class trawlers were a class of naval trawler used by the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II....
class naval trawlers were 164 feet (50 m) long, displaced 740 tons full load, and could manage 12 knots (23.5 km/h). They had a complement of 40 and were armed with one 12-pdr gun, three 20 mm Oerlikons (3x1) and depth charges.
| Name | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Inchkeith (T155) | 1941–1946 | ||
| HMNZS Killegray (T174) | 1941–1946 | ||
| HMNZS Sanda (T160) | 1941–1946 | ||
| HMNZS Scarba (T175) | 1941–1946 |
Converted trawlers
| Name | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Futurist (T12) | 1941–1944 | Functioned as a boom gate vessel 1944 | |
| HMNZS Humphrey (T12) | 1941–1944 | ||
| HMNZS Kapuni (T15) | 1941–1945 | Functioned as supply ship 1945 | |
| HMNZS South Sea (T22) | 1941–1942 | Sunk 19 December 1942 | |
| HMNZS Thomas Currell (T11) | 1941–1944 |
Converted merchant boats
| Name | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Breeze (T02) HMNZS Breeze (T02) HMNZS Breeze was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy and converted into a minesweeper.... |
1942–1944 | ||
| HMNZS Duchess (T06) | 1940–1945 | examination vessel Examination vessel An examination vessel is a vessel used to inspect ships and boats entering a port during wartime.An examination vessel would typically be responsible for examining and verifying all merchant ships and small craft entering or departing a port... 1942–45 liberty launch 1945 |
|
| HMNZS Gale (T04) HMNZS Gale (T04) HMNZS Gale was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy and converted into a minesweeper. She was the first New Zealand vessel to go into action against Japan.... |
1941–1944 | ||
| HMNZS Hawea (T16) | 1941–1945 | Functioned as supply ship in 1945. | |
| HMNZS Kapuni (T15) | 1941–1945 | Functioned as patrol boat 1940 and supply ship 1944–45. | |
| HMNZS Matai (T01) HMNZS Matai (T01) HMNZS Matai was a Marine Department lighthouse tender which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy and converted into a minesweeper.-Operational history:... |
1941–1946 | Functioned as transport ship 1945–1946. | |
| HMNZS Muritai (T05) | 1941–1946 | Functioned as training and cable-lifting ship 1945–1946. | |
| HMS Puriri (T02) | 1941 | Puriri was sunk just before the creation of the RNZN. | 14 May 1941 struck a German mine 9 miles (14.5 km) NE of the Whangarei heads Bream Head Bream Head is a promontory on the east coast of Northland in the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the end of a 30 kilometre-long peninsula, the head juts into the Pacific Ocean to the southeast of Whangarei... and sunk with the loss of 5 crew members. |
| HMNZS Rata (T03) | 1941–1943 | ||
| HMNZS Viti (T?) | 1941–1945 |
Danlayers
| Name | Type | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Coastguard (T12) | Converted trawler | 1941–1960 | Functioned as a stores ship 1945–1960 | |
| HMNZS Kaiwaka (T14) | Converted merchant ship | 1941–1945 | ||
| HMNZS Nora Niven (T23) | Converted trawler | 1941–1944 | ||
| HMNZS Phyllis T22 | Converted trawler | 1943–1944 |
COMSOPAC
COMSOPAC is an acronym for Commander South Pacific.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, one of the major United States theatre commands was the command of the South Pacific Area
South Pacific Area
The South Pacific Area was a multinational U.S.-led military command active during World War II. It was a part of the U.S. Pacific Ocean Areas under Admiral Chester Nimitz.Instructions to the senior U.S...
. This command was usually referred to as COMSOPAC (COMmander SOuth PACific)
It was formed in April 1942 as a subordinate command of Pacific Ocean Areas, commanded by Robert L. Ghormley
Robert L. Ghormley
Vice Admiral Robert Lee Ghormley was an admiral in the United States Navy, serving as Commander, South Pacific Area, during the Second World War.-Biography:...
through October 1942, William Halsey, Jr.
William Halsey, Jr.
Fleet Admiral William Frederick Halsey, Jr., United States Navy, , was a U.S. Naval officer. He commanded the South Pacific Area during the early stages of the Pacific War against Japan...
to June 1944, John H. Newton to March 1945, and Admiral William L. Calhoun to the end of the war.
In June 1942 New Zealand passed the operational control of most of its South Pacific naval forces to COMSOPAC. This continued until COMSOPAC released control in June 1945.
The headquarters for COMSOPAC were initially located in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In July 1942 they were transferred to Nouméa
Nouméa
Nouméa is the capital city of the French territory of New Caledonia. It is situated on a peninsula in the south of New Caledonia's main island, Grande Terre, and is home to the majority of the island's European, Polynesian , Indonesian, and Vietnamese populations, as well as many Melanesians,...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
,
The 25th Minesweeping Flotilla
In the early months of WWII the New Zealand minesweepers had no formal grouping as a flotilla Then Niagra was sunk in June 1940. On 18 July 1940 the Naval Board designated the First Group for coastal minesweeping, and allocated Port minesweepers to the main ports. They were:First Group
- Futurist, Humphrey, James Cosgrove, South Sea, Thomas Currell, Wakakura
- DanlayerDanlayerA danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans...
: Coastguard
Port Minesweepers
- Dutchess, Muritai, Nora Niven
On 14 November 1940, a few weeks after the founding of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
, they were reorganised as the
First Minesweeping Flotilla (NZ)
First Group
- Group leader: Matai
- Muritai, Rata, Gale, Puriri
- DanlayerDanlayerA danlayer was a type of vessel assigned to minesweeping flotillas during and immediately after World War II. They were usually small trawlers, fitted for the purpose of laying dans...
: Coastguard
Port Minesweepers
- First Minesweeping Group: Wakakura, Humphrey, Dutchess – Auckland
- Second Minesweeping Group: South Sea, Futurist – Wellington
- Third Minesweeping Group: James Cosgrove, Thomas Currell – Lyttelton
Then on 23 December 1940 the Port minesweepers were separated, and the remaining minesweepers were organised into the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla. This name aligned with the flotilla names used by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. The makeup of this flotilla changed during the course of the war, as new minesweepers were commissioned, others sunk or withdrawn for repairs or refitting, and requirements changed.
Here is a snapshot of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla on 27 March 1943:
7th Trawler Group – Auckland
- Four Isles class: Inchkeith, Killegray, Sanda, Scarba
30th Trawler Group
- Kiwi, Tui
- The Loop Guard:
- Danlayers:Nora Niven, Phillis
194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Auckland
- LL magnetic minesweepers: Hinau, Manuka, Rimu, Hawera, Kapuni
94th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Auckland
- Matai, Breeze, Gale
95th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group – Wellington
- Futurist, Rata
- Danlayers: Kaiwaka, Coastguard
96th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group
- James Cosgrove, Thomas Currell
The Port minesweepers were organised into their own flotillas. Eleven new Castle class minesweepers joined the Port flotillas on completion, 1943–44.
Ton class
The RNZN operated two TonTon class minesweeper
The Ton class were coastal minesweepers built in the 1950s for the Royal Navy, but also used by other navies such as the South African Navy and the Royal Australian Navy...
class minesweepers on anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian coastal waters during 1966 and 1967.
They are the only commissioned RNZN ships never to have visited NZ.
| Name | Dates | Career | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Santon (M1178) HMNZS Santon (M1178) HMNZS Santon was a Ton class minesweeper that operated in the Royal Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy , and the Argentine Navy.... |
1965–1966 | 1967 sold to Argentina and renamed ARA Chubat (M3) | |
| HMNZS Hickleton (M1131) HMNZS Hickleton (M1131) HMNZS Hickleton was a Ton class minesweeper that operated in the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy . She was named after a small village near Doncaster.... |
1965–1966 | 1967 sold to Argentina and renamed ARA Neuquen (M1) |
These Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
designed coastal minesweepers were built with composite hulls of wood on aluminium frames and a minimum of magnetic material in the hull. They were intended to meet the threat of seabed mines laid in shallow coastal waters. Their shallow draft gave them some protection against pressure and contact mines, and allowed them to navigate in shallow inshore waters. They were 153 feet (46.6 m) long, displaced 360 tons standard, could manage 15 knots (29.4 km/h), and had a complement of 32. They were named after British villages which ended with "ton".
Early in 1965 Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
was employing a policy of confrontation against Malaysia. New Zealand agreed to assist Malaysia by deploying two Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
minesweepers then in reserve at Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. These were commissioned into the RNZN on 10 April 1965 and joined the Royal Navy's 11th Minesweeping Squadron (also Ton class), taking part part in anti-infiltration patrols in Malaysian waters.
In their first year they carried out 200 patrols, with 20 incidents involving intruding Indonesians, often taking as prisoners those aboard intercepting small craft. By the time the Indonesian confrontation policy ended in August 1966 Hickleton and Santon had jointly steamed 130000 miles (209,214.2 km).
See also
- Anti-submarine warfareAnti-submarine warfareAnti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
- Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand NavyCoastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand NavyCoastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy established during World War II. It consisted of small coastal defence craft such as motor launches, submarine chasers, air-sea rescue launches, motor gun boats and motor torpedo boats. It did not include minesweepers, naval trawlers or landing craft...
- RNZN Fairmiles in the Solomons
Further reading
- Burgess, Michael (1981)The Royal New Zealand Navy: A Pictorial History. Allied Press Ltd. ISBN 9780908641253 (many pictures of New Zealand minesweepers)
- Harker, Jack (2000)The Rockies: New Zealand Minesweepers at War. Silver Owl Press. ISBN 0959797998
- Harker, Jack S (2001) The birth and growth of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Pentland. ISBN 1858218047
- Harker, Jack S. (2006) Left hand down a bit! : the Wakakura story. Kotuku Media. ISBN 0908967047
- Johnston, James Ian (2005) Face with Fortitude. Ianswork Publishers. ISBN 0473100118
- Wright, Gerry (2006) A Kiwi on our Funnel : The story of HMNZ ships Hickleton and Stanton. Zenith Print and Design. ISBN 04731008224