- Author
- Editorial Staff
- Subjects
- Ship design and development, Ship histories and stories
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- September 2023 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
The following article has been sourced from various local and overseas news outlets.
The post-war Royal New Zealand Navy was based around two Dido-class light cruisers, HMNZ Ships Black Prince and Bellona (later replaced by Royalist) supported by a squadron of six Loch-class frigates, HMNZ Ships Hawea, Kaniere, Pukaki, Rotoiti, Tutira and Taupo. Some of these names are significant as they were passed to later generation vessels such as four Lake-class Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV) Hawea, Pukaki, Rotoiti and Taupo which were built in Whangarei and commissioned in 2009.
The Lake-class were 55 metres in length and 340 tonnes loaded displacement, the Australian Armidale-class of the same era were slightly larger at 57 metres length and the new Cape-class are 58 metres length and displace 400 tonnes.
In practice the Lakes were too small for the sea conditions encountered off the New Zealand coast which restricted their employment, and two of the ships, Pukaki and Rotoiti, were effectively mothballed about three years after they came into service but not officially decommissioned until 17 October 2019. While Hawea and Taupo remain in service they were joined by two larger Offshore Patrol Vessels of the Protector-class HMNZ Ships Otago and Wellington. TheProtectors were built by Tenix in Williamstown,Victoria but suffered a number of technical problems which delayed their commissioning until 2010. These vessels are 85 m in length, displace 1900 tons and can carry a Seasprite helicopter. Now here lies an interesting connection to the remainder of this story, which must have involved a few pints of Guinness, because the Protectors are based on a design used by the Irish Naval Service.
Two of the former Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Inshore Patrol Vessels, Rotoiti and Pukaki, are about to embark on a journey to their new home port in Ireland, leaving an economic boost in their wake. The ships are being craned on board a large sealift vessel over the next two days at Auckland’s Captain Cook Wharf.
A condition of the $42 million sale to the Republic of Ireland Department of Defense was that work would be undertaken to regenerate and modify the ships to a seaworthiness standard before they left New Zealand. More than 15 New Zealand businesses spent last year bringing the vessels back to a seagoing state. ‘This work provided a welcome $26M economic boost for all the local maritime contractors and sub-contractors involved,’ said Chief of Joint Defence Services, Brigadier Rob Krushka.
Along with an overhaul of all major machinery such as main engines, generators, drive shafts, propellers, stabilisers and boat davits, the ships also had a number of system upgrades installed including a new and integrated platform management system, maritime communications suite and CCTV system.
Rotoiti and Pukaki were commissioned into the RNZN in 2010 to provide fishery protection and conduct border patrols around New Zealand’s 15,000 kilometre coastline. However, Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor said larger ships in the fleet have gradually taken on these roles.
‘At the time of their entry into service, the IPVs provided operational capability around our coastline. But now we have a far greater need to project a presence further afield and that’s something these ships simply weren’t designed to do,’ said Rear Admiral Proctor.
The two ships were formally decommissioned from the RNZN in October 2019 and for 18 months were berthed at Devonport Naval Base while options for their future were considered. After interest from a number of navies, in March 2022 the decision was made to sell the ships to Ireland’s Department of Defense to serve with the Irish Naval Service. Lieutenant General Sean Clancy, Chief of Staff of the Irish Defense Forces was looking forward to the arrival of the ships.
‘The changing face of maritime security in the Irish Sea has highlighted a requirement for a specialist inshore capability in order to protect Irish interests,’ he said. ‘These vessels will strengthen the ability of the Naval Service to fulfil its role in protecting our national sovereignty.’
The two ships, which at 55 metres long are smaller than the 62-metre-long Le Ciara and Le Orla which they are replacing, each require a crew of just 20 as opposed to the 39 strong complements required to crew the bigger vessels which Ireland acquired from the Royal Navy in 1988. The new additions will bring the Irish Naval Service fleet to six after several ships were withdrawn from service in recent years due to crew shortages, and Naval Service management hope the small crew numbers required for the two new IPVs will mean they can be at sea more consistently.
The two ships, which will be renamed on entry into service with the Irish Naval Service, were used by the New Zealand Navy to patrol within 24 nautical miles or 44 km and it is expected that they will be deployed by the Naval Service to patrol the Irish Sea following the UK’s departure from the EU.
Speaking following the formal handover of the vessels in Auckland, Irish Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin said: ‘The evolving nature of security at sea has brought to light the need for these vessels to safeguard Irish waters and enhance our maritime security activities.’