Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal New Zealand Navy
(RNZN).
The Volunteers, or "Navals", peaked after the Russian-scare in the 1880s with a total of 20 units. Volunteers were trained in boats, taught gunnery, and manned some of the coastal batteries at the four main ports. Later they were also trained in mining submarines and maintaining minefields that were laid in Auckland and Wellington harbours.
The Naval Volunteers supplemented a small number of regular soldiers known as the Permanent Militia. The Permanent Militia included the New Zealand Torpedo Corps who were responsible for manning the four Defender-class torpedo boats
and the Submarine Mining Corps.
In 1902 the Volunteers were further reorganised into the Garrison Artillery Volunteers. In a special report in 1919, Admiral of the Fleet
Lord Jellicoe
recommended that New Zealand acquire 18 minesweepers.
of the Royal Navy
was formed. A unit of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was established in Auckland and further units were opened in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin two years later.
The Government finally responded to Jellicoe's report by purchasing one second-hand minesweeping trawler, HMS Wakakura
. This was the sole training ship for the Naval Reserve until the beginning of World War II. Wakakura moved from port to port so each unit could have its share of sea training and live gunnery practice.
By 1939 the need to protect merchant ships from mines which might be laid round the coast was becoming increasingly apparent. There were, at that point, 78 officers and 610 ratings active in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
On 1 October 1941 New Zealand Naval forces ceased to exist. King George VI consented to the formation of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand navy was no longer a mere division of the Royal Navy. All ships and training bases were recommissioned into the new navy, and the prefix "HMS" to their names were replaced with "HMNZS".
Of the 1700 Naval Reservists who trained prior to the outbreak of war, 139 lost their lives, 80 in the sinking of HMS Neptune.
In 1947 the Government transferred a Harbour Defence Motor Launch to each unit. Naval Reservists also trained in Royal New Zealand Navy cruisers
, frigates
and minesweepers
but the motor launches were now the mainstay of seamanship training. Training in general was focused, as in the regular force, on training Seamen, Gunners, Communicators, Radar Plotters, Electricians, Marine Engineers, Medical Assistants and Clerks.
From 1978, as the ships of the regular force became more and more complex, Naval Reserve training focused on patrol craft seamanship and engineering, and on the protection of merchant shipping. Around 1984 the motor launches were upgraded to Moa class inshore patrol boats (IPVs).
The shift in focus stemmed from the understanding that military control of vital seaborne trade was imperative for New Zealand's survival. The basic principle of effectively managing and protecting seaborne trade remains a basic Naval Reserve task today.
The RNZNVR is currently organised into four regional units. Each unit has its own training headquarters under the command of a senior Reserve officer, and number up to 60 Naval Reserve personnel. The units are also commissioned
ships, in the tradition of Royal Navy
stone frigate
s, and each bears the prefix "HMNZS" (Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship).
Volunteers can join one of three branches of the RNZNVR
Royal New Zealand Navy
The Royal New Zealand Navy is the maritime arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
(RNZN).
Early history
The first Naval Volunteer units were formed in Auckland and Nelson in 1858. Over the rest of the 19th century Naval Volunteer units were formed in various ports such as Bluff, Wanganui, and Wairoa. These were reorganised into Naval Artillery Volunteers in 1883.The Volunteers, or "Navals", peaked after the Russian-scare in the 1880s with a total of 20 units. Volunteers were trained in boats, taught gunnery, and manned some of the coastal batteries at the four main ports. Later they were also trained in mining submarines and maintaining minefields that were laid in Auckland and Wellington harbours.
The Naval Volunteers supplemented a small number of regular soldiers known as the Permanent Militia. The Permanent Militia included the New Zealand Torpedo Corps who were responsible for manning the four Defender-class torpedo boats
Defender class torpedo boat
The colonial service Defender-class torpedo boats were designed by Thornycroft & Company for the defence of New Zealand, built at Chiswick in 1883 and shipped to New Zealand. They were quickly obsolete and were left to deteriorate in situ...
and the Submarine Mining Corps.
In 1902 the Volunteers were further reorganised into the Garrison Artillery Volunteers. In a special report in 1919, Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
Lord Jellicoe
John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe
Admiral of the Fleet John Rushworth Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO was a British Royal Navy admiral who commanded the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in World War I...
recommended that New Zealand acquire 18 minesweepers.
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
The next major reorganisation occurred in 1926 when the New Zealand DivisionNew 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...
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...
was formed. A unit of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was established in Auckland and further units were opened in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin two years later.
The Government finally responded to Jellicoe's report by purchasing one second-hand minesweeping trawler, HMS 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...
. This was the sole training ship for the Naval Reserve until the beginning of World War II. Wakakura moved from port to port so each unit could have its share of sea training and live gunnery practice.
By 1939 the need to protect merchant ships from mines which might be laid round the coast was becoming increasingly apparent. There were, at that point, 78 officers and 610 ratings active in the New Zealand Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
War years
The declaration of War in 1939 saw the normal activity of the Naval Reserve suspended. Its personnel were called up for war service. Early in the war some Reserve personnel were drafted to duties as gunners on merchant ships or to serve on Royal Navy ships, or they embarked for further training in the United Kingdom.On 1 October 1941 New Zealand Naval forces ceased to exist. King George VI consented to the formation of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand navy was no longer a mere division of the Royal Navy. All ships and training bases were recommissioned into the new navy, and the prefix "HMS" to their names were replaced with "HMNZS".
Of the 1700 Naval Reservists who trained prior to the outbreak of war, 139 lost their lives, 80 in the sinking of HMS Neptune.
Becomes the RNZNVR
At the end of war plans to reconstitute the Naval Reserve were put into operation. Officers were selected from those who had been demobilised and recruiting began in September 1948 with the intention of reaching a strength of 70 officers and 600 ratings. It would now be called the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve.In 1947 the Government transferred a Harbour Defence Motor Launch to each unit. Naval Reservists also trained in Royal New Zealand Navy cruisers
Cruisers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Commissioned cruisers of the Royal New Zealand Navy from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present:-Loss of HMS Neptune:HMS Neptune was a Leander class light cruiser which served with the Royal Navy during World War II. Early in 1941 the New Zealand Government responded to an Admiralty request...
, frigates
Frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Commissioned frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present:-Loch class frigates:-Whitby class frigates:-Leander class frigates:-Anzac class frigates:-References:...
and minesweepers
Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Commissioned minesweepers and danlayers of the Royal New Zealand Navy from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present. The RNZN was created two years into World War II...
but the motor launches were now the mainstay of seamanship training. Training in general was focused, as in the regular force, on training Seamen, Gunners, Communicators, Radar Plotters, Electricians, Marine Engineers, Medical Assistants and Clerks.
From 1978, as the ships of the regular force became more and more complex, Naval Reserve training focused on patrol craft seamanship and engineering, and on the protection of merchant shipping. Around 1984 the motor launches were upgraded to Moa class inshore patrol boats (IPVs).
The shift in focus stemmed from the understanding that military control of vital seaborne trade was imperative for New Zealand's survival. The basic principle of effectively managing and protecting seaborne trade remains a basic Naval Reserve task today.
Current status
The current RNZNVR Mission is: "To contribute to the Navy mission by providing competent Reserve personnel fit for service". The Naval Volunteer Reserve are part time people, the seagoing equivalent of Army Territorials. Reservists are typically people with regular jobs, although many are also tertiary students or full time parents, who get paid for the spare time they spend as a member of the Naval Reserve. They formerly crewed the inshore patrol vessels and have opportunities to work with regular force either at sea, ashore or overseas on peacekeeping missions. As of 1 July 2007 there were 237 people in the Naval Reserve.The RNZNVR is currently organised into four regional units. Each unit has its own training headquarters under the command of a senior Reserve officer, and number up to 60 Naval Reserve personnel. The units are also commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
ships, in the tradition of 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...
stone frigate
Stone frigate
Stone frigate is a nickname for a naval establishment on land. The term has its origin in Britain's Royal Navy after its use of Diamond Rock, off Martinique, as a 'sloop of war' to harass the French...
s, and each bears the prefix "HMNZS" (Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship).
| Unit | Region | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HMNZS Ngapona | Auckland | with a satellite unit at Tauranga |
| HMNZS Olphert | Wellington | |
| HMNZS Pegasus | Christchurch | |
| HMNZS Toroa | Dunedin |
Volunteers can join one of three branches of the RNZNVR
- Administration
- Sea Service (for service on inshore patrol vessels)
- Maritime Trade Organisation (formerly Naval Control of Shipping).
Notable members
- Peter PhippsPeter PhippsPete Phipps is a rock drummer, singer and songwriter known for his work with Gary Glitter, The Glitter Band, and later Eurythmics, XTC and Denim.-Biography:...
, Vice Admiral Sir - Gordon BridsonGordon BridsonCommander Gordon Bridson DSO, DSC of the Royal New Zealand Navy was the commander of the minesweeping trawler Kiwi which, with her sister ship Moa, fought a classic duel with Japanese submarine I-1....
- Denis GloverDenis GloverLieutenant Commander Denis James Matthews Glover DSC was a New Zealand poet and publisher.Well-known for radical leftist opinions, he was often in trouble with authorities. In 1935 he founded the Caxton Press, which he used to encourage a less sentimental style of poetry in New Zealand than was...
- Derek FreemanDerek FreemanJohn Derek Freeman was a New Zealand anthropologist best known for his criticism of Margaret Mead's work in Samoan society, as described in her 1928 ethnography Coming of Age in Samoa...
External links
- Navy museum website Oral histories of the RNZNVR
- End of an era for Auckland Naval Reserve Branch