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HMS Richmond leaves Plymouth to take up her duties defending strike group https://ift.tt/w2mvaWe

22nd April 2025 at 1:08pm

Watch: British and Canadian warships join forces for CSG 25

HMS Richmond has left her home port of Plymouth to join the flagship on the Royal Navy’s biggest deployment of the year.

The submarine-hunter will spend most of the next eight months protecting aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and other ships which make up the UK Carrier Strike Group.

She was waved off by families who gathered as sailors have done for decades at Devil’s Point.

An hour later, she was followed into Plymouth Sound by Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec, who is also assigned to the carrier force for much of the remainder of 2025.

CSG 25 will work with Nato allies in the Mediterranean before moving on to the Indo-Pacific region with major exercises off Japan and Australia, before making the return journey and home in time for Christmas.

HMS Richmond is part of the defensive “ring of steel” drawn around the task group to protect it from hostile eyes and ears as well as potential threats.

Her first duty, in sync with her Merlin Mk2 helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron from RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, is to keep hostile submarines well away from the CSG.

The Navy says HMS Prince of Wales is the sword, offering offensive capability, while HMS Richmond is the shield
The Navy says HMS Prince of Wales is the sword, offering offensive capability, while HMS Richmond is the shield (Picture: MOD)

Beyond that she can be called upon for a host of duties and missions such as board and search operations to counter smuggling, drug-running or terrorist activity.

She can also provide air defence with her Sea Ceptor missiles and naval gunfire support should targets ashore need pounding.

Leading Hand Martin Tutchings, one of the frigate’s weapons engineers, said: “I’m really excited to deploy and do what I joined the Navy to do, travel the world and contribute to operations around the globe.”

Also excited are the crew of HMCS Ville de Québec, which sailed from Halifax earlier this month. Her crew have enjoyed a couple of days in Plymouth before departing Devonport.

The Canadians have been training more than a year for their part in the deployment – the first to the Indo-Pacific in the 30-plus-year career of the Ville de Québec.

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Massive crowd sees off HMS Prince of Wales as carrier leaves Portsmouth for CSG 25

Tim Cooper

22nd April 2025 at 2:00pm

Watch: Royal Navy flagship sets sail for historic deployment

HMS Prince of Wales has set sail from Portsmouth Harbour to the sound of cheering crowds as she heads out to sea to lead Carrier Strike Group 2025.

She’s on an eight-month mission to demonstrate UK and allied collective resolve and determination to maintain security and freedom from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Between now and December, the Carrier Strike Group (CSG 25) will conduct a series of exercises and operations with air, sea and land forces of a dozen allies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Japan and Australia.

Some family members had been waiting since the early hours to see off their loved ones.

One lady explained that she had been staying at a campsite but had shifted to a location nearer the seafront.

“We thought we’d come over here and sleep on the street so we can get an early spot, but in a camper van,” she said.

She said being an early bird had been worth the effort, adding: “We’ve got one of the prime spots here, and we’ve just found out that our lad’s going to be on the top, in his number ones, which we weren’t expecting.”

Defence Secretary John Healey said the CSG was an “immensely complex operation” and thanked the personnel involved in Operation Highmast.

“This is a unique opportunity for the UK to operate in close co-ordination with our partners and allies in a deployment that not only shows our commitment to security and stability,” Mr Healey said. “But, [the CSG] also provides an opportunity to bolster our own economy and boost British trade and exports.

“As one of only a handful of countries in the world able to lead a deployment of this scale, the Royal Navy is once again demonstrating its formidable capability while protecting British values and sending a powerful message of deterrence to any adversary.”

Watch: HMS Dauntless joins Indo-Pacific deployment

A contingent of 18 UK F-35B jets will join the carrier in the days after departure, with that number increasing to 24 during the deployment.

The F-35Bs that operate from HMS Prince of Wales are a mix of Royal Navy and RAF units, and one father said: “My son’s sailing out today.

“He’s based in [RAF] Marham with 617 Squadron working with the F-35s. Got down there at 07:00 this morning. Just wanted to make sure we got a good spot. You snooze, you lose.”

HMS Prince of Wales, the Royal Navy’s flagship, will sail alongside HMS Dauntless, HMS Richmond and an Astute-class submarine, which will shield her from any danger. 

The 65,000-tonne vessel will be heading to the Indo-Pacific and onwards to Australia during the deployment. 

Some 2,500 personnel – around 2,100 British personnel, and 400 from Norway, Canada, and Spain – will initially deploy as part of the CSG, and the personnel will increase to 4,500 in the Indo-Pacific region.

These families, who have been separated from their loved ones, will have to wait for a while as the personnel will be away for seven-and-a-half months. 

Another man said: “Our daughter Meghan is on the ship, so it’s our last opportunity to see her for a few months, so [we’re] very proud to be down here.

“This is our second time here, so we know it gets very crowded. We’ve got our coffee. We’ve got our croissants, and we’ve got our banner – an eight-foot banner. We’re good to go!”

What: What we know about the vessels making up CSG 25

Spectators at the departure waved flags and banners from Portsmouth Harbour’s beach and walls as the vessel sailed past.

Gemma McConnell was with her children, Lachlan, seven, and Chloe, four, to see off Surgeon Commander David McConnell. 

The 42-year-old from Plymouth said: “You’ve got to believe in the Navy to be a Navy wife, a proper part of it.

“It doesn’t ever make me sad when he goes away, because I think it’s an adventure, he gets to see the world, he’s getting to be with amazing people, and it just gives me an enormous sense of pride.”

Viv Pyatt, 61, came from Probus, near Truro, Cornwall, to watch her son, Able Seaman Harry Pyatt, 24, go on deployment.

She revealed that it had been an emotional send-off and added: “We all had a few tears, even my son, he had a few tears, but he’s got a girlfriend on board, so I think they’ll look after each other, so they’ll be fine.”

Submarine-hunter HMS Richmond and Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec set sail from Plymouth to join CSG 25 earlier in the day.

Making up the rest of the Carrier Strike Group initially are air defence destroyer HMS Dauntless from Portsmouth, two Norwegian vessels, the tanker HNoMS Maud and frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen, which are coming directly from Norway, and tanker/support ship RFA Tidespring.

The ensign on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales was at half-mast as a mark of respect for the late Pope, a Royal Navy spokesman said.

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The loss of three young NZ members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the yacht Evaine, near Tiritiri, on April 17, 1940 https://ift.tt/6TDHCFR

As usual, this morning I read Bungy’s RNZN In Memoriam 17 APRIL: and read about that yacht Evaine. I do remember reading of this tragedy on other occasions but did not know how it had happened so a bit of research and turned this up.

Bungy’s post – RNZN In Memoriam 17 APRIL:

DALLOW Jack William SIG NZ3594 RNZN yacht ‘Evaine’ 20………1940
RYAN William Albert OSIG A/1815 RNZNVR yacht ‘Evaine’ 23….1940
WAITE Desmond Clyde OSIG A/1867 RNZNVR yacht ‘Evaine’ 20 1940

The loss of three young members of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in the yacht Evaine, near Tiritiri, on April 17, was recalled at an inquest yesterday into the death of Jack William  Dallow, signalman, aged 20, of Oriental Bay, Wellington, whose body was found on the beach at Wliangaparaoa Peninsula on May 4. The, bodies of his companions, William Albert Ryan and Desmond Clyde Waite, have not been recovered. Evidence was given that permission was given to the men to go sailing in Ryan’s boat, which was found capsized five hours later about three miles from Tiritiri. All sails were set, and the leader sail appeared to have fouled the masthead. Robert Wilson Leitch, yeoman of signals, who had previously sailed with Ryan, said: “It appears to me that while hoisting the spinnaker Ryan handed over the tiller to either Dallow or Waite, who through inexperience might easily have allowed the yacht to gybe.” The coroner, Mr. F. K. Hunt, returned a verdict of accidental drowning in the case of Dallow, and intimated that later proceedings would probably be taken in respect of the other victims.

[New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23704, 10 July 1940, Page 12]

Casualty

Service Number: 

3594

Name:

Jack William Dallow

Rank: 

Signalman

Date of Birth:

Not known

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Unit:

Royal New Zealand Navy

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Accidental Death

Date of Death:

17 April 1940

Day of Death:

Wednesday

Age at Death: 

20

Conflict: 

WW2

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Royal New Zealand Navy

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery: 

Auckland (Waikumete) Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 

Prot. Naval Area C, Row 1, Grave 12.

Cemetery Location: 

New Zealand

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NZ frigate to join UK CSG in Indian Ocean with Spain leaving shortly after https://ift.tt/YVkioNW

The switch will be made once the multinational Carrier Strike Group reaches the Philippines in August 2025. John Hill – April 22, 2025

View from HMNZS Te Kaha as the frigate exercises alongside partner navies in the Philippine Sea as part of Operation Crucible, the UK Carrier Strike Group in 2021. Credit: New Zealand Defence Forces.

New Zealand will send a warship, HMNZS Te Kaha, an ANZAC-class frigate, to join the UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 (CSG25) deployment when the multinational force reaches the Indian Ocean.

Shortly after, when CSG25 reach the Philippines, the Spanish Navy ship, Méndez Núñez (F-104), an Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate, will depart from the group, beginning its transit back to Ferrol Naval Base in Northern Spain.

The UK CSG, led by HMS Prince of Wales, the second of two British carriers, will depart from Portsmouth on 22 April on an eight-month voyage to the Indo-Pacific in a joint effort that the UK Royal Navy has designated Operation Highmast.

A consistent Royal Navy presence will lead the group throughout the journey, albeit some vessels from partner nations will join and depart when and where necessary under their own command. Other contributors include Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Spain, while Sweden provides some of its personnel.

Maintaining strength

It is notable that the Royal Navy will only provide half of what it had deployed in the previous CSG in 2021. At that time, the service sent two Type 45 destroyers and two Type 23 frigates to sail as escorts to the flagship carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The Royal Navy will lean slightly more on frigates from partner navies to help project a more credible deterrence throughout the deployment, which will enter contested waters in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Nonetheless, joint deterrence appears to be working as the UK Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Tony Radakin, was sent to China to speak with military counterparts in the weeks leading up to the CSG deployment. It is likely that Radakin would have put to rest any fears in Beijing about their presence in the South and East China Seas later this year.

This switch between Te Kaha and Méndez Núñez demonstrates the effort in maintaining a consistent power projection in a dangerous part of the world.

Te Kaha is nine-years older than Méndez Núñez. However, the two ships are both general-purpose vessels capable of meeting simultaneous threats from the air, surface, and sub-surface.

CSG: air wing component

Part of the strength of the CSG this year is with its airwing component, particularly the number of F-35B Lightning II combat aircraft that will operate from HMS Prince of Wales.

The Council of Geostrategy, in an update in The Broadside, revealed that the Lightning force will be at full operational capability, which includes 24 aircraft.

“This is a significant moment,” Sea Power Research Fellow Dr Emma Salisbury observed, “which means that the aircraft and its associated support and engineering is working at its full potential to be able to deploy two squadrons wherever they are required in the world.”

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/nz-frigate-to-join-uk-csg-in-indian-ocean-with-spain-leaving-shortly-after/?cf-view

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USS Nimitz in Guam for Port Visit; U.S., South Korea Wrap Mine Warfare Exercise https://ift.tt/6ZCOop5

Dzirhan Mahadzi – April 20, 2025 2:12 PM

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) arrived in Guam for a scheduled port visit, April 18, 2025. US Navy Photo

Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) made its first port call since departing its Indo-Pacific deployment, arriving in Guam on Friday with two of its escorts. Meanwhile the U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) wrapped up a mine warfare exercise in South Korean waters on last week.
Nimitz, flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, destroyers USS Gridley (DDG-101), USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) arrived in Guam for a regularly scheduled port on Friday, according to the service

“The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group’s arrival in Guam highlights the island’s vital role as a strategic outpost in the Western Pacific—essential for projecting power, deterring adversaries, and responding to crises across the Indo-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Maximilian Clark, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11, in the release.
“It’s always an honor to return to Guam—where our service members are welcomed like family, and where our presence truly matters. The Nimitz Strike Group is proud to be in Guam—America’s critical terrain and gateway to maintaining stability in the region.”

Destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG-54) and USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108) also deployed out as part of the Nimitz CSG but during the transit of the Pacific Ocean, Wayne E. Meyer detached from the CSG, making a port visit to Singapore from Mar. 26 to Mar. 31 and headed to the U.S Central Command area of operations where it is now operating as part of the Carl Vinson CSG.

Curtis Wilbur meanwhile, has detached from the CSG to conduct a port visit to Saipan. News channel NMI News Service on Thursday posted a video showing Curtis Wilbur docking at Saipan that day. Curtis Wilbur is expected to rejoin the CSG as previous CSG visits to Guam had a destroyer from the CSG detaching and conducting a port visit to Saipan and subsequently rejoining the CSG.

During its transit of the Pacific Ocean, the Nimitz CSG consisting of Nimitz, Curtis Wilbur, Gridley and Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee carried out a formation sail with cruiser USS Michael Monsoor (DDG-1001) and fleet oiler USNS John Lewis (T-AO-205) on Apr. 10. Michael Monsoor is on an independent deployment to the Indo-Pacific though the U.S. Navy has release little information on its deployment.

Earlier in Guam on Monday, fast-attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783) returned to its homeport of Naval Base Guam following its first operational tasking while forward-deployed in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a navy release, “This first operational tasking following Minnesota’s recent homeport shift demonstrated the submarine’s operational readiness and the capabilities the Virginia-class brings to the Indo-Pacific region,” said Capt. Neil Steinhagen, commander, Submarine Squadron 15, in the release.

The release stated that Minnesota’s operations included a port visit to Western Australia, marking the first of two planned U.S. Virginia-class fast-attack submarine visits to HMAS Stirling in 2025. Minnesota also visited Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, supporting bilateral engagements and hosting tours for local officials, according to the release.

The release also stated that while in the region, the crew took part in at-sea operations as part of the Submarine Command Course and participated in Exercise Lungfish, a tactical development exercise between the U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy, “Working side-by-side with our Australian counterparts helped sharpen our undersea warfighting skills. That kind of tactical development is vital—not just for increasing our own readiness, but for enhancing interoperability with allied warfighters deployed shoulder-to-shoulder in support of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”, said Cmdr. Jeffrey Cornielle, commanding officer, Minnesota, in the release.

On Wednesday, U.S. Seventh Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) arrived in Cairns, Australia for a routine port visit, according to a Navy release, Deepest thanks to the people of Cairns for their warm welcome to our Blue Ridge and 7th Fleet teams,” said Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, in the release, “The U.S. 7th Fleet operates closely every day with the Royal Australian Navy to advance our combined warfighting capabilities and keep the Indo-Pacific secure and prosperous, and we are grateful that the first port visit with our flagship is here in Australia.”

Cairns will serve as a short stop for Blue Ridge as the ship brings fuel and supplies on board, reads the release.

Mineman 3rd Class Angel Vazquez and Mineman 2nd Class Daniel Horne conduct mine neutralization vehicle crane operations aboard the Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM-10) during Korean Spring Exercise (KSE) at sea, April 10, 2025. US Navy Photo

On Wednesday as well, the U.S. Navy and ROKN wrapped up Korean Spring Exercise, which ran from Apr. 7-16 off the southeastern coast of South Korea and is part of an annual series of exercises between the U.S. Navy and ROKN designed to increase proficiency in mine countermeasures operations between the two forces, according to a navy release.

The release stated during exercise, U.S. Navy and ROKN units worked together to clear a route for ships through a simulated minefield using mine hunting, detection and neutralization capabilities, which included an underwater detonation of a simulated mine and that ROKN Mine Squadron 52 and U.S Navy Mine Countermeasures Squadron (MCMRON) 7 commanders partnered throughout the exercise to direct mine hunting tasks for U.S. Navy and ROKN units, “Operating together in a combined environment is an outstanding opportunity for us to learn about how we each take on this complex mission set,” said Capt. Antonio L. Hyde, commodore, MCMRON 7, in the release, “This exercise continues to show the region that the U.S. and Korean navies are committed to preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”.

The U.S. Navy participated with mine countermeasures ship USS Warrior (MCM-10), personnel from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, two MH-53E Helicopters from HM-15 Det 3A and staff assigned to MCMRON 7 while the ROKN participated with a submarine, minehunters ROKS Ganggyeong (MHC-561) and ROKS Gimhwa (MHC-567), minesweepers ROKS Yangyang (MSH-571) and ROKS Hongseong (MSH-576), minelayers ROKS Wonsan (MLS-560) and ROKS Nampo (MLS-570), submarine rescue ship ROKS Cheonghaejin (ASR-21), a patrol boat, one MH-60 helicopter and two explosive ordnance disposal companies, according to the release.

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HMNZS Toroa – ‘Their today for our tomorrow’ – Anzac Day services in Dunedin https://ift.tt/OCLNF2b

By Brenda Harwood

HMNZS Toroa executive officer Lieutenant Peter Gee is co-ordinating the main Anzac Day services...

HMNZS Toroa executive officer Lieutenant Peter Gee is co-ordinating the main Anzac Day services in Dunedin for the third year. Photo: Brenda Harwood

Thousands of Dunedin people will gather at the cenotaph at dawn on Anzac Day to commemorate 110 years since the Anzac landings at Gallipoli in 1915.

For HMNZS Toroa executive officer Lieutenant Peter Gee, now in his third year as co-ordinator of Dunedin’s main Anzac Day services, it is a special honour to help ensure those who served in conflicts are remembered.

Lt Gee has had a 40-year career in the Royal New Zealand Navy, both in the regular force operations branch and in the Naval Reserve, serving all over the world, including Antarctica, the Persian Gulf and Southeast Asia. His most recent deployment was two years ago in the Middle East.

Organising the Anzac Day dawn service, posy-laying service at Andersons Bay Cemetery, and the service at Montecillo Veterans Home & Hospital, was a chance to pay tribute to all those who have served, Lt Gee said.

“I like the phrase ‘they gave their today for our tomorrow’ — those who stepped up and made the sacrifice made it possible for us to have the freedoms we enjoy today,” he said.

“So, I’m hoping we will get a good turnout for the dawn service this year. It’s going to be special to be able to stand together and remember those who have served,” he said.

“The services at Andersons Bay Cemetery and Montecillo are also very important and well attended, as are the various community services.

“It’s great to see people of all ages getting out there on Anzac Day, as we mark 110 years since the Gallipoli campaign.”

The dawn service at the Cenotaph in Queen’s Gardens will start with a march-on parade at about 6.05am, and the service itself will begin with a Howitzer gun salute at 6.30am.

The service will be attended by representatives of the New Zealand, Australian and British governments, along with the New Zealand Armed Forces Land Component commander Brigadier Jason Dyhrberg, representatives of Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, the Dunedin RSA, veterans and their descendants.

National anthems and hymns during the service will be led by the Dunedin RSA Choir, Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass Band and the City of Dunedin Pipe Band.

Following the dawn service, all will be welcome for breakfast at Araiteuru Marae in Shetland St, from 8am.

The Andersons Bay Cemetery posy-laying service, where scouts and guides will lay posies of rosemary on the service section graves, will start at 9.30am.

The service at Montecillo Veterans Home & Hospital will start at 11am, with a colour party from HMNZS Toroa in attendance, along with the Dunedin RSA Choir and Kaikorai Metropolitan Brass.

The University of Otago service will start at 1pm, at the University Plaza, next to the staff club.

In the evening, the Dunedin RSA Choir will present its Anzac Revue concert, from 7pm at St Paul’s Cathedral, conducted by choir director Karen Knudson, with piano accompanist Sandra Crawshaw.

Special guests will include University of Otago senior lecturer in voice Dr Tessa Romano (mezzo soprano), Dunedin Harmony Chorus, and RSA Choir scholar Teddy Finney-Waters (tenor), David Burchell (organ), and Ralph Miller (trumpet).

Lt Gee said the busy programme of Anzac Day services and events came at a good time for the services in Dunedin, with work well under way on converting the former Farmlands building, at 84 Cumberland St (SH1), into a multi-purpose, multi-use site for the defence forces in the city.

“It’s exciting to see this facility taking shape — it is going to be a good hub for our work.”

Dunedin’s Sea Cadet units — TS Waireka and TS Nimrod — have recently merged to form TS Neptune, and were growing in strength, he said.

ANZAC DAY SERVICES

• Dunedin Dawn Service: March on at 6.15am, service begins at 6.30pm, Cenotaph, Queen’s Gardens.

• Posy-laying service: Anderson’s Bay Soldier’s Cemetery, 9.30am.

• Montecillo: Raising of HMNZS Toroa ensign and Anzac Day service at Montecillo Veterans’ Home and Hospital, Bay View Rd, 11am.

• University of Otago: Anzac Service at University Plaza (next to the Staff Club), 1pm. Or if wet, inside the main common room, University Union.

COMMUNITY SERVICES:

• East Taieri: Service at East Taieri Cemetery, 8.30am.

• Taieri Mouth: Service at Taieri Beach Cemetery, Taieri Beach Rd, 9am.

• Portobello: Service at Portobello Museum & Historical Society, 9.30am.

• Macandrew Bay: Service at Macandrew Bay Hall, 10am.

• Mosgiel: Parade departs Mosgiel RSA at 9.40am, heads to Memorial Gardens Cenotaph for service at 10am.

• Brighton: Parade departs Brighton Rugby Club at 10am, heads to Brighton Hall for service at 10.15am.

• Waikouaiti: Parade meet at RSA, 10 Pratt St, at 10.45am, service at RSA Clubrooms following parade, 11am.

• Green Island: Service at Memorial Gardens, 11am.

• Outram: Parade from Mitchell Four Square to soldiers’ memorial, 11am.

• Green Park Cemetery: Service at Green Park services section, Waldronville, 12.15pm (new time).

• Note, there are expected to be more confirmed in the coming days.

[email protected]

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Frigates – Leander Class – HMNZS Canterbury (F421) – Many images https://ift.tt/GzNb9Qx

HMNZS Canterbury (F421)

HMNZS Canterbury (F421) was one of two broad beam Leander-class frigates operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) from 1971 to 2005. She was built in Scotland and launched in 1970. Commissioned in 1971, Canterbury saw operational service in much of Australasia and other regions like the Persian Gulf. She undertook operations such as supporting UN sanctions against Iraq and peace-keeping in East Timor. With her sister ship HMNZS Waikato she relieved the Royal Navy frigate HMS Amazon in the Indian Ocean during the Falklands War. Early in HMNZS Canterbury’s career, in 1973, she relieved the frigate HMNZS Otago, as part of a unique, Anzac, naval operation or exercise at Moruroa during anti-nuclear protests, supported by a large RAN tanker, providing fuel and a large platform for Australian media. This was due to F 421 being a more modern RNZN frigate, with then current Rn surveillance radar and ESM and a more effectively insulated frigate from nuclear fallout, with the Improved Broad Beam Leander steam plant, for example, being remote controlled and capable of unmanned operation and therefore the ship provided a more effective sealed citadel for operations in areas of nuclear explosions.

HMNZS Canterbury acting as planeguard for USS America. This Photo was taken by a PO Seaman (whose name escapes me for the moment) who took my camera on a personnel transfer. ’82 or ’83.
HMNZS Canterbury
Broad beam Leander class frigate HMNZS Canterbury leaving Piraeus in 1991
HMAS Melbourne HMAS Brisbane HMNZS Canterbury Silver Jubliee trip 1977
HMNZS Southland and HMNZS Canterbury, Hong Kong 1987
HMNZS Canterbury in the Mediteranean with HMAS Brisbane and HMS Arrow
HMNZS Taranaki and HMNZS Canterbury
Jackstay transfer between Taranaki and Canterbury
HMNZS Canterbury flying her paying off pennant
HMNZS Canterbury at Opua
HMNZS Canterbury prepared for her fate
HMNZS Canterbury – being made into a reef
HMNZS Canterbury – prepares to dive
HMNZS Canterbury’s demise
HMNZS Canterbury disappears

Canterbury was decommissioned in 2005. In 2007 she was scuttled in the Bay of Islands to provide a dive wreck. She lies in 38 metres (125 ft) of water.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMNZS_Canterbury_(F421)

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Frigates – Type 12 Whitby Class –HMNZS Blackpool (F77) Includes some history and images of time in RNZN https://ift.tt/tvg2kUD

This Whitby-class Type 12 frigate was designed for the RN in the early 1950s for ASW against the Warsaw Pact submarines. Blackpool was the last Whitby to be constructed and was loaned to the RNZN while HMNZS Canterbury was being built. In 1963-64 Blackpool went a major refit at Chatham and was commissioned for service with the Far East Fleet on 9 December 1964. Upon the decision being made to loan this ship to the RNZN, Blackpool returned to Plymouth on 16 February 1966. She was commissioned into RNZN service on 16 June 1966 at Chatham under the command of Commander J.I. Quinn. During her initial trials she suffered a boiler failure and had to return for repairs. In July she had a shakedown cruise around Cowes. This was followed by a Harbour training week at Portland and then she had her first sea week from 28 July to 1 August 1966. After a maintenance period she shifted to Portsmouth arriving 12 August 1966. She did a trip from there to Amsterdam, Guernsey and returned on 31 August. In early September she spent in dock and returned to Portland. She had a Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) sea inspection in late September and also carried out Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with RFA Retainer and then went to Portsmouth.

HMNZS Blackpool

She left Portsmouth on 9 October 1966 and voyaged through the Mediterranean stopping at Gibraltar and Malta. While at Malta she met HMNZS Santon returning to the UK and did a RAS[L] at sea with RFA Wave Ruler on 22 October. She transited the Suez Canal and at Aden met HMNZS Hickleton in company with HMS Picton both returning to the UK. She arrived at Gan on 2 November and did another RAS[L] with RFA Tidereach. On 8 November 1966 she arrived at Singapore and took up station and began participation in exercises. During this time she visited Hong Kong, Pulau Tioman and Bangkok. From 24 February 1967 to 6 March 1967 she took part in FOTEX 67. Later that month she undertook exercises off Subic Bay. She was released from the Far East station and departed Singapore on 21 April 1967. Going via Darwin and Brisbane she arrived in Sydney on 10 May 1967. While there a crack was found in the keel and there were problems with the main and auxiliary feed pumps. She was in dock for repairs from 15-20 May. She first arrived in Auckland on 25 May 1967. Unlike HMNZS Otago & Taranaki she did not have her armament upgraded when in RNZN service and retained the weapons she was commissioned with.

Upon arrival, she took part in AUCKEX and then on 28 July she took part in Longex through to 9 August. She then went to Gisborne and was on the way to Picton when she was sent to Raoul Island to undertake a medivac. She returned to Auckland and then went to Dunedin and Piction as planned. On 19 October 1967 she went into refit through to 29 April 1968. Towards the end of the refit Commander D.J. Cheney took over as CO from 18 March. In May 1968 she went to Sydney for Command Team training at Jervis Bay. While at Sydney in June, a helo crashed on 5 June. She then took part on LONGEX 68 to 14 June and returned to Wellington. In July 1968 she took part in AUCKEX. She went to LONGEX on 28 July but this was curtailed on 1 August. She escorted HMNZS Inverell back to harbour after her collision with USS Caliente. ON 5 August she sailed to assist SS Gothic which has suffered a fire in her accommodation spaces that cost seven lives.

In late August to early October she took part in Exercise CORAL SANDS in Australia. After returning to Auckland, she departed again for passage to Pearl Harbour in company with an RN group. While in Hawaii, she took part in Exercise CONVEX 3/68 in November. After completing her final battle problem on 13 December, she departed Pearl Harbour for Singapore via Midway, Guam and Hong Kong arriving 24 January 1969. Once again she was posted to the Far East Station. She left Singapore on 31 March and took passage to Bangkok and then on to Hong Kong. On 2 May she assisted in a RAF helicopter medivac from the Russian vessel Never. She then went on to Japan and then to Manila for Exercise SEA SPIRIT. This was curtailed when HMAS Melbourne collided with USS Frank E. Evans. She then took passage back to Auckland arriving 30 June 1969. In August she took part in LONGEX 69. In October she was present in Gisborne for the Cook Bicentenary and returned to Auckland. On 15 October Commander I.H.D. Tyler took over as CO. In November she returned to Jervis Bay for JUC/LONGEX. She then returned via Ship Cove, Wellington, Lyttleton, and Wellington arriving in Auckland on 18 December 1969.

On 3 February 1970 she left Auckland for Waitangi for the celebrations in company with HMNZS Inverell & Kiama. Upon return to Auckland she went into another refit through to August. Commander R.E. Lawry took over as CO from 6 July. After post-refit trials, she departed Auckland on 5 October with FOF2 embarked as escort for HMS Charybdis with HRH Prince Charles embarked. She was at Suva from 8-12 October for the Fiji independence celebrations. After leaving Suva she took passage to Raoul Island and returned to Auckland on15 October. For the rest of the month she was part of RNZNVR training for Ngapona & Olphert divisions. In November she trained personnel from RNZNVR Pegasus & Toroa divisions returning to Auckland on 29 November 1970. This was her last active deployment for the RNZN. In January 1971 she acted as guardship for the One Ton Cup trials. She was then put into reserve as preparations were made to return her to the RN now that HMNZS Canterbury was ready to e be commissioned into service in the UK. Blackpool left Auckland on 22 April 1971 and was returned to the RN at Portsmouth in June 1971. The ship’s company was transferred to HMNZS Canterbury. Blackpool went into reserve and was sold for breaking up in 1978.

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NZ lighthouses – Cape Reinga Lighthouse https://ift.tt/FIyAPB3

Cape Reinga Lighthouse is a lighthouse at Cape Reinga in the Northland Region of the North Island of New Zealand.[1][2] It is owned and operated by Maritime New Zealand. The lighthouse is a common New Zealand icon and a popular tourist destination although the lighthouse itself is not open to the public.

History

Journal kept by Cape Reinga Lighthouse Keeper (1945)

The lighthouse was built in 1941 and first lit during May of that year. It was the last manned light to be built in New Zealand and replaced the Cape Maria Van Diemen Lighthouse, located on nearby Motuopao Island, which had been built in 1879. Accessing that lighthouse was difficult due to the rough seas in the area, so in 1938, it was decided to move the lighthouse to Cape Reinga for safety reasons. The complete lantern fittings from Motuopao Island were reused at Cape Reinga, though the new lighthouse was fitted with a 1000 watt electrical lamp instead that could be seen for 26 nautical miles (48 km). The lamp was powered by a diesel generator.

In 1987, the lighthouse was fully automated and the lighthouse keepers were withdrawn. The lighthouse is now monitored remotely from Wellington. In May 2000 the original lens and lamp were replaced by a 50 watt beacon. The beacon is powered by batteries that are recharged by solar cells. The beacon flashes every 12 seconds and can be seen for 19 nautical miles (35 km).

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