New Zealand Naval Forces
Encyclopedia
New Zealand
Naval Forces was the name given to a division of the Royal Navy
. The division was formed in 1913
and it operated under this name until 1921
, when it became the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy
.
Originally the British
Royal Navy
provided total security for the colony
of New Zealand, but in 1846
the settlers bought a gunboat. The Waikato Flotilla operated from 1860
, and at the same time a Naval Artillery Volunteer corps was established to provide harbour defence. In 1884
the government purchased four spar torpedo boats, and starting in 1887
it funded ships of the Australasian Auxiliary Squadron.
Before establishment of the navy, the people of New Zealand paid for the building of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand
, which was at the Battle of Jutland
.
In 1912
the then New Zealand Minister of Defence, James Allen, argued in London for the creation of a New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. Though this was opposed by the First Lord of the Admiralty
, Winston Churchill
, the Naval Defence Act of 1913 brought the division into existence. The Naval Defence Act authorised the Government to establish a naval force organisation which would pass to the control of the Admiralty in the event of war. The division was to be funded by the New Zealand government.
The light cruiser
HMS Philomel
was purchased from the Royal Navy to function as a training ship. In 1913 it became the first boat to be commissioned into the New Zealand navy. Philomel escorted New Zealand land forces to occupy the German
colony of Samoa
in 1914
and saw further action under the command of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea
, the Red Sea
, and the Persian Gulf
. Allen's work had ensured that New Zealand was more ready at the outbreak of war.
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...
Naval Forces was the name given to a division of 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 division was formed in 1913
1913 in New Zealand
-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State — George V*Governor — The Earl of Liverpool -Government:*Speaker of the House — Arthur Guinness , then Frederic Lang *Prime Minister — William Massey...
and it operated under this name until 1921
1921 in New Zealand
-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State - George V*Governor-General - The Viscount Jellicoe GCB OM GCVO -Government:The TBDth New Zealand Parliament continued.*Speaker of the House - TBD*Prime Minister - TBD*Deputy Prime Minister - TBD...
, when it became 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...
.
Originally the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
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...
provided total security for the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
of New Zealand, but in 1846
1846 in New Zealand
-Population:The estimated population of New Zealand at the end of 1846 is 71,050 Māori and 13,274 non-Māori.-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State — Queen Victoria*Governor — Sir George Grey-Government and law:*Chief Justice — William Martin- Events :...
the settlers bought a gunboat. The Waikato Flotilla operated from 1860
1860 in New Zealand
-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State — Queen Victoria*Governor — Colonel Thomas Gore Browne leaves office on 3 October to take up the post of Governor of Tasmania. His successor is Sir George Grey who takes up the position in December.-Government and law:...
, and at the same time a Naval Artillery Volunteer corps was established to provide harbour defence. In 1884
1884 in New Zealand
-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State — Queen Victoria*Governor — Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois.-Government and law:The 1884 general election is held on 22 July...
the government purchased four spar torpedo boats, and starting in 1887
1887 in New Zealand
-Regal and Vice Regal:*Head of State — Queen Victoria*Governor — Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois.-Government and law:In the general election on 22 July the Premier Robert Stout loses his seat. A new ministry is formed, the 10th Parliament, on 8 October, with Harry Atkinson as Premier, and is...
it funded ships of the Australasian Auxiliary Squadron.
Before establishment of the navy, the people of New Zealand paid for the building of the battlecruiser HMS New Zealand
HMS New Zealand (1911)
HMS New Zealand was one of three s built for the defence of the British Empire. Launched in 1911, the ship's construction was funded by the government of New Zealand as a gift to Britain, and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1912...
, which was at the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
.
In 1912
1912 in New Zealand
The 1911 General Election, the first contested by the Reform Party, left parliament in an indeterminate state, with Reform holding 38 seats, Liberal 36, Labour 1 and with 5 independents....
the then New Zealand Minister of Defence, James Allen, argued in London for the creation of a New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. Though this was opposed by the First Lord of the 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...
, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, the Naval Defence Act of 1913 brought the division into existence. The Naval Defence Act authorised the Government to establish a naval force organisation which would pass to the control of the Admiralty in the event of war. The division was to be funded by the New Zealand government.
The light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
HMS Philomel
HMS Philomel (1890)
HMS Philomel was a Pearl-class cruiser. She was the sixth ship of that name and served with the Royal Navy from her commissioning in 1890 until 1914, when she was transferred to the New Zealand Navy with whom she served until 1947...
was purchased from the Royal Navy to function as a training ship. In 1913 it became the first boat to be commissioned into the New Zealand navy. Philomel escorted New Zealand land forces to occupy the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
colony of Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
in 1914
1914 in New Zealand
New Zealand showed no hesitation in emulating Britain's declaration of war on Germany and entering World War I. New Zealand troops became the first to occupy German territory when they took over Samoa in November.-Regal and Vice Regal:...
and saw further action under the command of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
, the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
. Allen's work had ensured that New Zealand was more ready at the outbreak of war.
External links
- New Zealand Navy Museum A brief overview of our history
- Royal Navy History The Royal New Zealand Navy