The Royal New Zealand Navy is responsible for the maritime defence of New Zealand and its interests.
Our Vision is to be the best small-nation Navy in the world, this reflecting the unique nature of our business upon the oceans. Our Mission states the purpose of our navy: to provide fully trained, supported and effective Naval forces to Team Defence force for the protection of New Zealand and its widest interests.
The current fleet comprises two Anzac-class frigates, HMNZS TE KAHA and TE MANA, an older Leander-class frigate HMNZS CANTERBURY, a fleet replenishment ship (fuel tanker) HMNZS ENDEAVOUR and various auxiliary ships for hydrographic survey, mine counter-measures, diving support and coastal patrol.
The Navy is based at Devonport Auckland, where the shore establishments of HMNZS PHILOMEL and HMNZS TAMAKI are responsible for administration, supply and training support to the sea-going ships. In addition the naval dockyard, managed commercially by Babcocks New Zealand Ltd, undertakes the necessary maintenance and refitting work for the ships.
The Navy's routine operations stretch across the South Pacific and South East Asian regions, but its roles in international peacekeeping and regional
security also mean that our ships and naval personel have served further afield. New Zealand has deployed frigates three times since 1996 into the
Persian Gulf to operate with the UN-mandated Maritime Interception Force that is enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq; in addition a specialist
boarding party was sent to the Gulf to operate from other nations' ships during 1999. Naval personnel have served ashore on peacekeeping duties in
the Balkans, the Sinai, Angola and Cambodia, while naval ships and personnel are also deployed to East Timor and Bougainville.
Table: The RNZN fleet in 2000
Naval Combat Force:
Frigates
HMNZS TE KAHA
HMNZS TE MANA
HMNZS CANTERBURY ( due to be retired in 1995 )
Fleet replenishment ship
HMNZS ENDEAVOUR
Hydrographic and Oceanographic Force:
HMNZS RESOLUTION
HMNZS CANTERBURY F421
CANTERBURY is a Leander Class Frigate, built in Scotland for the RNZN and commissioned in 1971.
Although a relatively old ship, several refits over her service life mean CANTERBURY has both a tactical and weapon fit-out that is right up to date. Her Phalanx close in weapon fires 3000 rounds per minute.
Her refit in 1998 included changes to accommodate the Navy's new Kaman Seasprite helicopter.
The 30-year-old, 113m long Leander class frigate will be decommissioned by the Royal NZ navy in 2005, and a Canterbury group is keen to bring the namesake ship to its natural home ( sink it and use it for diving ) .
HMNZS TE KAHA F77
Launched in Melbourne on 22 July 1995, and commissioned in Auckland exactly two years later, TE KAHA is the first of the RNZN's ANZAC Class frigates, built to the German MEKO 200 Class design.
TE KAHA's state of the art fit-out includes advanced weaponry, radars, sonar and electronic monitoring systems. The combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion systems give her both high speed capability when needed, and long range endurance.
Machinery CODOG (Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine) arrangement consisting of 1 LM 2500 Gas Turbine and 2 MTU Diesels with twin control pitch propellors.
Armament 1 x 127 mm Mk 45 Gun. NATO Seasparrow Mk 41, 8 cell vertical launch air defence missile system, 2 x Triple Mk 32 Torpedo tubes. Phalanx Close in Weapon System (fitted as required) .50 Cal Machine Guns.
HMNZS ENDEAVOUR A11
As the RNZN's purpose built fleet replenishment ship, ENDEAVOUR carries supplies and fuel to RNZN ships at sea and overseas ports. Supplies are carried in containers on deck and her holds can carry up to 7,500 tonnes of fuel.
Commissioned in 1988, she is the third RNZN ship named ENDEAVOUR. The original ENDEAVOUR was Captain James Cook's ship on his first voyage to New Zealand.
