History of HMNZS Tarapunga (Q1187)(PP3566) as far as I can find out. https://ift.tt/bWOhSKo

8 x depth charges

ASDIC

Complement: 10 officers and ratings

Builder: Everett Marine Ways Inc near Seattle, Washington, United States – ordered 21 February 1942, completed January 1943

Key Dates:

Commissioned 13 May 1943 as Q1187 [Tarapunga]

Paid off 19 September 1945 [Tarapunga] sold privately but returned in 1950 to the RNZN

Pennant No.: Q1187 as SDML

Renamed: Tarapunga as Mako 1980

Colour Schemes – in wartime service the HDMLs had a mixture of dark and light grey overall. Post 1945 this was changed to a light grey. The Survey Motor Launches [SML] were given an all white scheme as was standard for survey vessels in this period as per the images above.

This type of vessel was designed in 1939 by the Admiralty for harbour patrol and anti-submarine duties. It was designed for construction in civilian boatbuilding companies. Between 1940 and 1945 over 500 were built. They were considered very robust and seaworthy craft with good sea-keeping qualities. In January 1942 the Admiralty agreed to allocate HDMLs to New Zealand and ordered 24 from the United States under the Lead-Lease arrangements. Twelve vessels were ordered in May 1942 from the United States to be built in boatyards on the West Coast and East Coast.  The final vessel varied between each boatyard as to fit out and appearance. The USN supervised the construction and then took charge of the finished HDML for allocation to the Allied navy. Both Q1187 & Q1188 were shipped as deck cargo from Vancouver aboard SS Kootenay Park and arrived at Wellington on 30 April 1943. There they were unloaded by floating crane and underwent full commissioning trials.

It was intended that they would be used for anti-submarine patrols in the port approaches. They would replace the NAPS launches. Q1187 after commissioning joined the 124^th Motor Launch Flotilla in Auckland. 

Q1188 joined the 125^th Motor Launch Flotilla based in Wellington. They then carried out routine patrols in their respective areas through to 1945. As the war came to an end in 1945 the launches were concentrated at Auckland to pay off.

   Q1187 sold and renamed COAST GUARD CUTTER No 1.

At the same time Q1188 and Q1187(ex-Coast Guard Cutter No 1)  the two coastal survey launches were fitting out for their new roles . They didn’t get Radar or lattice masts, but were fitted with modern Echo Sounding equipment.

Q1187 arrived on 30 June 1945 followed by Q1188 on 11 July. After paying off they were laid up at Pine Island. In July 1946 ownership passed to the Marine Department who was selling off war surplus. Once the Lend-Lease agreements were concluded the government put them up for sale. However, during the sale process the government realised the value and in February 1947 Q1188 was withdrawn from sale.

In 1949 the RNZN purchased the frigate Lachlan for use as the first survey vessel in RNZN commission. It was decided that two smaller vessels would be needed to assist her in the survey task which HDMLs would be suitable. Q1188 had been cannibalised for parts to keep the other HDMLs that were in service so she had to be rebuilt. This was completed in February 1950 and she was commissioned as SML 1188 and was sent to Wellington in March. After arriving in Wellington, she began a survey of Cook Strait. In April she was given the pennant number P3556.  A second launch was required for survey duty so that Auckland Coastguard’s Cutter No. 1, formerly Q1187 reverted to the RNZN on 29 May 1950 and was given the pennant number P3566 in October 1950. She was converted to SML in March 1951 and commissioned as a survey vessel on 21 March 1951. In April she proceeded to Wellington to carry out surveys of the Cook Strait. From then until 1979 both vessels carried out surveys right across the New Zealand coastline mostly by themselves or as a pair. They would also work with HMNZS Lachlan & Monowai.

In 1948 the Admiralty reclassed HDMLs as Seaward Defence Motor Launches [SDMLs]. The RNZN changed the classification in August 1949. By March 1950 orders were issued to change the pennant numbers. Q1187 was assigned the number P3566 and Q1188 assigned P3556. This caused some confusion in signalling and the keeping of records. There is still today some uncertainty about which vessel is being referred to due to errors in recording the correct number. To try ad solve the problem for the signallers from May 1951 P3556 had [A] added and P3566 [B]. These were added to the hulls in 1953. On 28 October 1954 P3556A chased a stolen yacht off Whangaparaoa.

HMNZS Tarapunga [RNZN Museum]The next change was to assign names to the SDMLs that were in service with the RNZN. Those SDMLs that were assigned to fisheries protection were assigned Maori names for fish while other vessels were given Maori names for sea-birds. On 21 July 1955 P3556A was renamed Philomel, P3566B was renamed Maori from the shore establishments. As per NO 14/56 of 19 January 1956 Philomel was renamed Takapu [Gannet] from October 1955. Maori was renamed Tarapunga [Black-backed Gull] also from October 1955. They would serve as survey vessels under these names until they were released from survey duty in 1979.

Renamed: Tarapunga as Mako 1980

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