Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy

 
CONTINUE READING
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
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2
2
9                      CANTERBURY
F                       GETS READY
E
B                        NEW BASE
1                      COMMANDER
9
                      STORIES FROM
                        ANTARCTICA

    Reconnecting at
    Waitangi
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
Contents
03 Yours Aye                                                               20 TE KAHA’s upgrade update

06 CANTERBURY gets ready                                                   22      Royal Navy visit

10        Ahoy Waitangi                                                    26      Stories from Antarctica

14        Weapon Technician Training                                       28      Scattering ashes

16        New base commander                                               30 Bombing the Tirpitz

                                                                           “Being in the Navy, it’s
                                                                             endless. It’s a place full
                                                                             of opportunity if you open
                                                                             your eyes. You just have to
                                                                             get among it.”
                                                                           ~ AWT Nathan Paniora

    14                                                                      20                                   28
                                                                                           NZNavy
                                                                                           navy.mil.nz

Navy Today is the official          Feedback to:                           Copy deadline for the
magazine of the Royal New           dean.hodgson@nzdf.mil.nz on the        April issue 15 March, 2019.
Zealand Navy. Established to        print quality of this publication is   Subject to change.
inform, inspire and entertain       welcomed.
serving and former members of                                              Views expressed in Navy Today
the RNZN, their families, friends   Distribution:                          are not necessarily those of the
                                    Email: navytoday@nzdf.mil.nz           RNZN or the NZDF.
and the wider Navy Community.
                                    Contributions are welcomed,            Defence Careers:
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Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
Yours Aye
 Chief of Navy

                          My Christmas and New Year break          presence at Waitangi. Since my last
                          was fantastic, enabling me to do         Waitangi Day in 2000, I was pleased
                          things with whanau, invest a bit of      to see how our national day has
                          effort in the yard and also kick back    evolved. I found the commemoration
                          and rejoice in a bit of ‘RnR’. I hope    reflective and respectful, where
                          you, along with your friends and         people are committed to listening
                          family also took the opportunity to      and trying to understand different
                          relax and enjoy a summer break.          perspectives. I also noted strong
                          On Christmas day in particular I         commitment to doing things better
                          reflected on our comrades who            and, where appropriate and possible,
                          were deployed and their families         setting right the wrongs of the
                          back at home. I was mindful of           past. The RNZN is a critical non-
                          their sacrifice and service. If any of   partisan stakeholder in the success
                          you are reading this – thank you.        of Waitangi. For those of you who
                                                                   worked so hard in support up there
                          Like many of you, my 2019 has
                                                                   thank you and BZ.
                          started at pace. The Chief of
                          Defence Force and the leadership         I am mindful that by the time you
                          team are keen on establishing clear      read this HMNZS TE MANA will be
                          markers against which to measure         somewhere in the Pacific on the way
                          progress toward our 2025 vision          to Canada for her upgrade. While this
“We are working          of an Integrated Defence Force.
                          We are working hard to shift the
                                                                   means we will be without a frigate for
                                                                   a short time, it represents a positive

  hard to shift the       focus from planning to doing. And
                          while strategic level ‘change and
                                                                   step toward delivery of an enhanced
                                                                   combat capability. And of course

  focus from planning
                          continuous improvement’ are catch-       new ship MANAWANUI is currently
                          cries, delivery of Outputs remains our   being modified in Europe prior to

  to doing. And
                          primary focus.                           sailing to New Zealand next month,
                                                                   followed by her commissioning
                          Over the next few months the
                                                                   into the RNZN in June.
  while strategic         Navy, through OP HIKI ANO, will
                          concentrate effort on addressing         There is some mahi ahead of us as
  level ‘change           critical personnel readiness
                          concerns. We will deliberately focus
                                                                   we prepare for these changes. Let’s
                                                                   smile as we ‘turn to’.

  and continuous          on ourselves as we look to rectify
                          professional development backlogs
                                                                   He heremana ahau

  improvement’ are        and improve individual deployability.
                          We have realised that we had been

  catch-cries, delivery
                          working so hard on the operations
                          end of what we do as a Navy that
                          we had slipped in how we prepare
  of Outputs remains      ourselves to do that work. We will fix
                          that… and set the foundations for the
  our primary focus.”     enhanced capabilities coming our way.
                          Notwithstanding the near term
                          focus on personnel readiness, I note
                          the Navy is still very much out and      Rear Admiral David Proctor
                          about. As always we had a strong         Chief of Navy

                                                                                          Navy Today #229   |   3
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
The exchange of the
                                                                                 symbol of command
                                                                                 for HMNZS PHILOMEL
                                                                                 between incoming Base
                                                                                 Commander,
                                                                                 CDR Ange Holland, and
                                                                                 CDR Quentin Randall.

           Change of Command
           HMNZS Philomel
        “It will create        By Suzi Phillips                       on my WE application course and
                                                                       we became good friends. On their

          wide and varied     HMNZS PHILOMEL’s new
                              Commanding Officer, who started her
                                                                       return to New Zealand they sent
                                                                       me a beautiful book of the country”,

          challenges, but     role on 21 December, brings a strong
                              background in weapons engineering
                                                                       she says. “We liked the look of
                                                                       New Zealand, so when we announced

          ultimately I        and project management to the job.       our engagement we also informed our
                                                                       families that we were going to move.”
                              “I am extremely excited, honoured
          aim to ensure       and privileged to be given this
                              Command opportunity,” says
                                                                       After five years CDR Holland took a
                                                                       break from the Navy to work in the
          the Command         Commander Ange Holland.                  commercial sector and raise her
                                                                       twin sons. She gained a Masters
                              CDR Holland graduated from the
          team serve our      University of Ulster with an Honours
                                                                       in Engineering Management, and
                                                                       experience as a patent attorney
                              degree in Microelectronic Systems.
          people well and     She joined the Womens Royal Naval
                                                                       working for an Auckland-based
                                                                       Intellectual Property law firm.
                              Service (WRNS) in 1987, graduating
          provide a safe      from the Naval College in Dartmouth      In 2009 CDR Holland re-enlisted and
                              as a Third Officer WRNS specialising     was posted to sea as the Weapons
          environment.”       as a Weapons Engineer (WEO).             Engineer Officer in HMNZS TE MANA.

                              “I knew early on that I wanted to do     She then posted into the roles of Fleet
           CDR Ange Holland   both engineering and management,         Operational Defect manager and
                              and that the Navy would give me good     was the Project Manager for HMNZS
                              grounding in management, leadership      ENDEAVOUR within Babcock NZ
                              skills along with the opportunity to     Ltd, before posting into the Technical
                              practise in the field of engineering”.   Seaworthiness Authority in March
                                                                       2017, then into the Logistics Command
                              She became one of the first women        (Maritime) at Devonport as the Fleet
                              at sea in the Royal Navy; serving        Engineering Officer Future Operations.
                              in HM Ships SOUTHAMPTON
                              and INVINCIBLE and obtaining             Being a solo parent of twin boys
                              her Weapons Engineer Charge              and with no family in NZ to provide
                              Qualification.                           support, CDR Holland says she
                                                                       understands the difficulties
                              CDR Holland and her partner              and hardships serving parents
                              immigrated to New Zealand in 1993,       encounter and hopes to bring an
                              where she enlisted in the Royal New      understanding and empathetic
                              Zealand Navy. “I had met two Kiwis       approach to the workplace.

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Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
News

 74 VESSELS                                                                      Bravo Zulu
 INSPECTED                                                                       Awards 2018

“The main objective
  of the patrol was
  to detect any non-
  compliant fishing
  activity, in support
  of sustainable
                                                                                 The Commander W.J.L Smith Cup
  management of                                                                  CFOR, Captain David McEwan

  New Zealand’s                           47 21 6                                The Fleet Seamanship Award
                                                                                 HMNZS TE MANA
  fisheries resources”
                                          Commercial    Recreational   Amateur
                                          vessels       vessels        charter
                                                                       vessels
                                                                                 The Monowai Trophy
                                                                                 HMNZS OTAGO
 Simon McDonald, MPI
                                                                                 The Chatham Rose Bowl and
                                                                                 Efficiency Pennant
 About 50 commercial fishing vessels      Coordination at MPI, said the
                                                                                 HMNZS OTAGO
 were among 74 vessels inspected          operation targeted both inshore
 during joint patrols conducted by        and deep-water fisheries and
 HMNZS WELLINGTON and the                 covered the Chatham Rise, the east     The RNZN Safety Award (Individual)
 Ministry for Primary Industries          coast of the South Island, Taranaki    CPOWT Michael Jamieson,
 (MPI) before Christmas.                  and the Marlborough Sounds.            HMNZS TE MANA

 The three-week operation involved        The boarding team, comprised of        The RNZN Safety Award (Unit)
 Compliance staff from MPI, offshore      Fishery Officers from MPI and crew     HMNZS TE MANA
 patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington           members from WELLINGTON, also
 and a Royal New Zealand Air Force        inspected 21 recreational vessels      Murano Trophy,
 P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft.       and six amateur charter vessels.       The Naval Reserve Division of the Year
 Simon McDonald, Manager for                                                     HMNZS OLPHERT
 Fisheries Compliance, Liaison and
                                                                                 Jo Simms Memorial Award (Inaugural)
                                                                                 A/LMUS Fraser Robertson

                                                                                 Naval Support Command Customer
                                                                                 Service Trophy
 Top Seamanship                                                                  Physical Training Instructors

                                                                                 Naval Support Command
                                       HMNZS CANTERBURY won                      Efficiency Trophy
                                       the second annual Seamanship              Leadership Training Squadron
                                       Competition for 2018, held on 10
                                       December at the Seamanship                The Royal New Zealand Navy
                                       Training Aid Facility, particularly       Scholarship (Gisborne)
                                       on the new Wetside Training               Kyle Hannah, Gisborne
                                       Facility. The competition aims to
                                       encourage seamanship excellence           Chief of Navy Scholarship Sea Cadets
                                       throughout the fleet and shore-side       CFPO Charlotte Holmes,
                                       establishments. CANTERBURY                TS ACHILLES
                                       were the winners of the inaugural
                                       2017 competition.
 ASCS Alex Croucher receives
 the Seamanship Competition
 trophy on behalf of his ship
 from CDRE Tony Millar.

                                                                                                          Navy Today #229   |   5
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
CANTERBURY
WORK UP
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
On Exercise

  By Andrew Bonallack

You can’t predict
a day in HMNZS
CANTERBURY, says
her Executive Officer.
And that’s precisely
what the ship trains for.
In the lead-up to Christmas, the hum
and vibration of CANTERBURY and
her crew hard at work sounds like
a busy container port, an air traffic
control centre, and an active, at-sea
warship, all at the same time. The ship’s
Public Relations Officer – and Supply
Officer – has to deliver a briefing on the
move to the Navy Today editor shortly
after a seaboat ride to CANTERBURY,
manoeuvring in the vicinity of Army
Bay, near Whangaparaoa Peninsula.
The ship is undergoing a work-up to
prepare CANTERBURY for the cyclone
season. In essence, it’s probably their
toughest two weeks of the year. The ship
and crew are placed on 48-hours notice
to deploy over the summer if a natural
disaster should occur in the Pacific. It
means that while other ship’s companies
are easing down towards Christmas,
CANTERBURY and her company work
themselves up, like an athlete readying for
a major competition.
What adds to the intensity are the ship’s
two Landing Craft Medium (LCMs) TAHI
and RUA, both now on the water and
taking turns making approaches to the
ship’s stern ramp and side doors. The
wind is about 15 knots, gusting to 25, and
the chop and spray against the LCMs
                                                   Opposite page: A flight deck team
is easily visible from the bridge, as the              supervise an underslung load
crew watch them almost fondly. It has            transported by a Seasprite SH2-G(I).
been a long time since both LCMs – and
the cranes that lower and raise them –        Above: An LCM marries up to the stern
have been 100 per cent available. Their                    ramp of CANTERBURY.
operation signals that CANTERBURY is,         An LCM feels the chop as it manoeuvres
in essence, ready for anything.                   towards the side of CANTERBURY.

                                                                     Navy Today #229 |   7
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
LCM TAHI is craned aboard.

    LTCDR

    Fiona Jameson
    Executive Officer

CANTERBURY’s rescue and recovery
abilities have been showcased
before, during Cyclones Winston
and Pam in the Pacific Islands, and
closer to home during the Kaikoura
earthquake relief effort in 2016,
with over 400 trapped tourists and
residents transported to Lyttelton.
“We’ll get into Christmas pretty
tired,” says Lieutenant Commander
Fiona Jameson, the ship’s Executive
Officer. She is on the vehicle deck,      Army Bay becomes a de facto landing         islands, we could be gone for 10
critically watching LCMs perform          point for the disaster exercise. The        days. The ship could be working 24
stern ramp marriages, with an Army        ship has to prove its Non Combatant         hours a day, so you really have to
driver practising backing a truck, a      Evacuation (NEO), with Navy trainees        manage people. People have to look
Medium Heavy Operations Vehicle           acting as displaced persons to              after each other. It’s a buddy system,
(MHOV), down CANTERBURY’s                 be “rescued” from the beach and             regardless of what uniform you wear.”
ramp, then onto a bobbing LCM, a          processed on board. The trainees then
manoeuvre not for the nervous.                                                        Ahead of CANTERBURY is another
                                          change roles to go back as a recovery
                                                                                      testing day in front of the Maritime
“Our primary aim is to be ready for the   and medical team. In the meantime, Air
                                                                                      Component Commander and
tropical cyclone season, and ensure       Force and Navy helicopters lift stores
                                                                                      Maritime Operational Evaulation Team
our new members of Ship’s Company         from the flight deck of CANTERBURY,
                                                                                      (MOET), who will ultimately sign-
are up to speed. If the balloon goes      under the direction of the NZ Army’s
                                                                                      off on CANTERBURY’s capability.
up, for a Humanitarian and Disaster       Ship Amphibious Load Team (SALT),
                                                                                      “It’s been a massive two weeks,”
Relief event, we recall everyone, sail    and transport the loads to shore.
                                                                                      says LTCDR Jameson. “The ship
to Napier to pick everyone up, and        Warrant Officer 2 Alan Brill, the SALT      finished on a real high. Everyone
get on our way.” As the XO, fatigue       Warrant Officer, is holding the fort        is happy to be back out, doing
management is on her mind. LTCDR          while the incumbent SALT officer is         LCM operations. There’s a balance
Jameson has been an XO on HMNZS           on a course. “There’s always a load         of operating safely and pushing
TE MANA, and frigates work hard, but      of legends about what the ship can          ourselves. It’s okay to push people
this is different. “Frigates get more     do, and you can’t help buy in, to all the   through tired, and teach them how to
frequent breaks. On CANTERBURY,           blood and sweat, the capability, the        manage fatigue. If we don’t train for
it can feel relentless sometimes, like    techniques, to fulfil the ship’s mission.   resilience, we won’t have resilience,
a continuous, undulating ride that        There’s never a dull moment.”               and you won’t be able to deliver.”
never stops. But Ship’s Company love
it. There’s this amazing feel about       Coming back on board, he says he            Overall, it’s been a great year for
CANTERBURY. She’s one of the              loves seeing the CANTERBURY                 the ship. “You can’t predict a day
units that gets to live the integrated    culture alive and well. “The ship’s         in CANTERBURY. If you enjoy a
Defence Force. You live, breathe and      motto, kotahitangi, means unity.            challenge, then CANTERBURY is the
talk joint forces here, when you’ve       That’s enshrined in the ship. There’s       one. It’s easy to come to work with a
got LCMs and Air Force helicopters        a few places where it’s more than           spring in your step. And you join the
all kicking around, Ship’s Company        just words. On CANTERBURY, it’s             Navy to stay busy and go to sea.”
find it really enjoyable.”                an everyday thing. If we went to the

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Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
You can too                                an objective, it may take a number of
                                           years to achieve, but with hard work
                                                                                         individual application of our excellent
                                                                                         culture, ethos and values combined
                                           and dedication anything is possible.          with support from their colleagues and
  By LTCDR Jonny Bannister                 I do recognise that we cannot all be          family and their ability to develop a
                                           the Chief of Navy and that many of us         high-performance team, which carried
One of the things that I love about        do not have the ambition to achieve           them further. It’s something we are all
being a member of the RNZN is the          one of the top leadership positions           capable of.
equality of opportunity available to all   within the RNZN. However, this
                                                                                         All of these examples not only make
of us, no matter what trade, rank/rate     example does give me the inspiration
                                                                                         me proud to serve in the RNZN and
or seniority you are.                      and satisfaction to know that if I set
                                                                                         the wider NZDF but inspire me to
                                           my mind on a particular goal then the
Whatever your peers or seniors are                                                       go the extra mile in support of my
                                           organisation will support me.
achieving, you too can achieve the                                                       colleagues to deliver the operational
same level of success, enjoyment or        Consider Narelle Silwood, from DTA, as        objectives. It doesn’t matter where we
professional fulfilment. As we all move    the NZDF Civilian of the year, followed       are employed or what tasks we are
towards a fully integrated Defence         by LCSS Alicia Wall as the Sailor of the      asked to undertake, all of us who are
Force by 2025, I think this will prove     Year and as the NZDF Person of the            serving in the RNZN are capable of the
to be a key ingredient that underpins      Year. They have both been contributing        extraordinary. If you have the desire
our success. It will take a combined       towards the ground-breaking                   to achieve something positive in your
effort to achieve this transformational    development of the RNZN Mission               life, embrace our cultural values and
change and it is something I believe       Support Capability – a capability             ethos and you will succeed. To the
our Senior Leadership already              essential to realising the full potential     leaders out there – encourage your
recognises, as has been demonstrated       that is embedded within the Frigate           teams, because everyone can make
with the appointment of our new Chief      System Upgrade. So, what was it that          a positive contribution. To individuals,
of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor.       allowed them both to achieve the              the sky is the limit and ambition is only
                                           extra-ordinary in the space of a year?        limited by your own imagination. To all
Our new Chief of Navy is the first non-    In short, I think it was the ‘belief in the   of us, make sure you tell our story to
Warfare Officer (GLX) to be selected,      art of the possible’ and the desire to        the public as they should be proud of
something that has not previously          succeed in the face of adversity. They        their Navy. You can all be ambassadors
been achieved by a senior officer from     knew the work they were undertaking           for a great organisation where family,
across the Commonwealth Nations.           would have a significant impact on the        teamwork and devotion to duty are
His appointment demonstrates to            fighting capabilities of their peers on       both supported and recognised.
me that there are no barriers to           future operations. But it was also their
advancement; if you set your mind to

                                                                                                                     Navy Today #229   |   9
Waitangi Reconnecting at - Royal New Zealand Navy
Ahoy Waitangi
“These children              The Navy’s long-held special
                              relationship with the lands of Te
                                                                      The 88 children, who each got a Navy
                                                                      baseball cap, received a ship’s tour,

  are never going             Tai Tokerau is celebrated in pomp
                              and ceremony every Waitangi Day.
                                                                      visits to the bridge and below decks,
                                                                      fired the water cannon, and went on

  to forget this              But this year, the Navy invited the
                              youngest generation of Te Tai Tokerau
                                                                      RHIB rides. A highlight was an escort
                                                                      by a pod of dolphins while out in the

  experience.”
                              beyond the parade ground, taking        bay. Teacher in charge Kate Moss,
                              two Northland schools to sea aboard     from Oromohoe School, said she
                              HMNZS WELLINGTON.                       could not believe the extent the Navy
 Kate Moss, Oromohoe School                                           went to. “It’s just been an absolute
                              Out of 22 entries, Paparore School
                                                                      blast for the kids. They were really,
                              and Oromohoe School were first and
                                                                      really excited to be here.” She said
                              second respectively of the Navy’s
                                                                      what she really noticed was how some
                              inaugural Ahoy Waitangi competition.
                                                                      of her “anxious” students had “a huge
                              Schools within the lands of Te Tai
                                                                      growth in confidence” as they took
                              Tokerau were asked to submit a
                                                                      on the activities. “These children are
                              written project, or a short video or
                                                                      never going to forget this experience.”
                              animation, or a song, to describe to
                              the Navy what was special about         John Windleborn, principal of Paparore
                              Waitangi Day. Third and fourth place    School, said it was “a once-in-a-
                              winners, Mangawhai Beach School         lifetime experience. I will certainly be
                              and Kamo Primary School, will get a     endorsing this opportunity, and letting
                              visit from a Navy Seasprite SH2-G(I)    the other principals of Te Tai Tokerau
                              helicopter.                             know what a wonderful experience
                                                                      this was for the students.”

 10   |   Navy Today #229
Ahoy Waitangi

Navy Today #229   |   11
12   | Navy Today #229
HEART OF                                        Ever since, the Navy is invited annually by
                                                the people of Te Tai Tokerau to attend. A

WAITANGI                                        similar charter was conferred at the 175th
                                                anniversary by the three local authority
                                                districts, Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara,
The celebration of the signing of               while HMNZS TAUPO, homeported in
New Zealand’s most historic document,           Whangarei, has its own charter.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi – the Treaty of Waitangi
                                                This year’s ceremony featured HMNZS
– has strong roots in the Navy’s history
                                                WELLINGTON and sailors from HMNZS
within New Zealand.
                                                PHILOMEL, with a Beat Retreat and
In 1947 the Navy erected a new flagpole on      Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony at the
the Treaty grounds and held a ceremony to       Treaty Ground flagpole the evening before
commemorate the service of New Zealand’s        Waitangi Day. Reviewed by Governor-
first naval governor. From that year            General, Her Excellency Dame Patsy Reddy,
commemorations have incorporated a              a 100 person Guard of Honour conducted
Navy ceremony, apart from Waitangi Days         the ceremonial lowering of the New Zealand
between 1986 to 1989, when the event was        White Ensign, signifying the end of the day.
in Wellington and did not involve the RNZN.
                                                At midday on Waitangi Day,
For the 150th anniversary, in 1990, the event   WELLINGTON fired a 21-gun salute to
was returned to Waitangi. In that same year,    observe the 179th Anniversary of the
the Navy was granted a charter to march         signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
freely through the lands of Te Tai Tokerau.

                                                                                               Navy Today #229   |   13
Evolution of a                  It’s a trade that “provides lethality
                                 to command”, says Chief Petty Officer

 Weapon
                                 Weapon Technician Greg Bishell,
                                 Assistant Career Manager Weapon
                                 Engineering.
                                 Weapon Technicians evolve after

 Technician
                                 Basic Common Training, from
                                 Ordinary Electronic Technicians.
                                 After BCT, technicians undertake
                                 trade training for nine months, and end
                                 up being divided between Electronic
                                 Technicians and Weapon Technicians.
                                 “That can depend on demand and
                                 needs for particular trades, and

“Anything that has to do
                                 generally you get volunteers, people
                                 who want to be one or the other.”
                                 During their trade training, the
  with weapons on the ship,      trainees go to sea with a task book
                                 to complete, which generally takes
  the Weapon Technician          three months, and they promote to
                                 Able Rate. “Then they get a second
  maintains them. That’s the     task book, and start leaning towards
                                 Weapon Technician tasks.”
  torpedo tubes, chaff, small    Weapon Technicians are taught how

  arms, all the explosives,
                                 to maintain the Close In Weapon
                                 System (CIWS) and small arms, then
                                 tackle the Leading Hands course,
  the CIWS, the missiles. It’s   including a Level 4 National Certificate

  quite specialist training.”
                                 in Electronic Technology.

CPOWT Greg Bishell

 14   |   Navy Today #229
Weapon Technician Training

Playing with                              He went through Basic Common
                                          Training, then a year of weapon

the Big Guns                              engineering training. Part-way
                                          through, the trainees are asked
                                          if they would like to specialise as
  By Andrew Bonallack
                                          Weapon Technicians.
Able Weapon Technician Nathan             “I was dead keen. Honestly, I’m a
Paniora, 21, remembers the father-        big kid, and big toys are cool. And
son chat on a night-time surfcasting      I’m very practical-based. Weapons
session that led to his application to    are a lot more hands-on, it’s more
join the Royal New Zealand Navy.          of a physical job. You get in, you get     Able Weapon Technician

It was a quiet night on Omamari
Beach, three months before Nathan
                                          your hands dirty. I really enjoy it.”
                                                                                     Nathan Paniora
                                          After trade training, he served in
was due to finish year 13 at Dargaville   frigate HMNZS TE MANA for a
High School. The fish weren’t biting.     year, and was then posted early to       great They have nice, big trips
It was a good time for a talk. “What’s    Australia to do the Mk-45 five-inch      away overseas.”
your plan?” his father asked. Nathan      gun course – the main weapon of
thought about it. He was doing            a frigate.                               “Being able to work everyday with
well academically but had a self-                                                  Mini-typhoon (remote controlled
confessed dislike for classrooms and      He is now on courses at Devonport        .50 Cal machine guns), loading the
bookwork. He told his Dad he’d likely     towards his promotion to Leading         Phalanx Close in Weapon System
waste four years and a lot of money       Weapon Technician. “A lot of             that fires 4500 rounds per minute
at university. His father thought about   bookwork,” he laughs. “I joined up       or controlling a 21 tonne 5 inch gun
that, and said, “have you considered      to avoid it, but it catches up with      system with my own two hands is
the military?”                            you. You understand why you have         pretty surreal.”
                                          to do it.”
Nathan did his research. He enjoyed                                                His advice about career choices in the
maths, and was interested in              He says the training can be hard,        Navy is, “give it a go. Being in the Navy,
engineering. He joined the Navy           but his father always said, if you       it’s endless. You name it, the Navy
straight after school, starting in        love something, it’s not hard.           has got a hand in it. It’s a place full of
January 2015. “My parents brought me      “I want to get promoted, and             opportunity if you open your eyes. You
to Devonport. Mum cried, and my dad       definitely like to get back out to       just have to get among it.”
shook my hand and said good luck.”        sea. Either of the frigates would be

                                                                                                            Navy Today #229   |   15
Change of Command
           HMNZS WELLINGTON
         “Everyone I have        By Suzi Phillips                         Navy ships have a Navigator’s Yeoman
                                                                           who is a hydrographer and looks
                                Ceremonial duties in Waitangi were
           spoken to since I    the first official assignment for
                                                                           after the marine charts. They are
                                                                           responsible for making sure the charts
                                the new Commanding Officer of
           got news of this     HMNZS WELLINGTON, Lieutenant
                                                                           are up to date and can be safely used
                                                                           for navigation.
                                Commander Tim Hall.
           command, say         “While it’s been a long time since I
                                                                           “It’s a great opportunity for the junior
                                                                           hydrographer officers to go to sea in
           it’s the best job
                                went to sea, I’m keen to get stuck in,”
                                                                           the other ships – not just in the Navy’s
                                he says. “We have a busy first half of
                                                                           hydrography and dive support ship,”
                                this year starting with Waitangi and I’m
           you will ever do     looking forward to it all.
                                                                           says LTCDR Hall.
                                                                           LTCDR Hall started in the maritime
           and they would       “Command of a ship is unlike
                                anything else and brings together
                                                                           survey team and spent 18 months
                                                                           as the last Commanding Officer for
           all do it again if   so many different aspects of team
                                leadership,” he says. “I’m looking
                                                                           the Hydrographic Unit before it was
                                                                           merged into HMNZS MATATAUA in the
           they could.”         forward to that multi-disciplinary
                                function, bringing it all together.
                                                                           new Littoral Warfare Capability merger.
                                And I’m also keen to see what has          He then spent a year working in
          LTCDR Tim Hall        changed since I was last at sea.”          Capability Branch in Wellington,
                                                                           completing the Lead Capability and
                                LTCDR Hall, 37, from Auckland’s
                                                                           Major Fleet Unit Command Courses.
                                North Shore, began his Navy career
                                14 years ago as a hydrographer –           “Command of a ship is significant for
                                quite by chance.                           any one and is pretty special,” he says.
                                                                           “Everyone I have spoken to since I
                                After graduating from Rangitoto
                                                                           got news of this command, say it’s
                                College, he did a four-year conjoint
                                                                           the best job you will ever do and they
                                Arts and Science degree at the
                                                                           would all do it again if they could – so
                                University of Auckland, followed
                                                                           they have set the bar pretty high for
                                by working at the University as a
                                                                           my expectations,” he says.
                                Customer Services adviser while he
                                decided on his future path.                “From what I have seen it is an
                                                                           awesome ship’s company – responsive
                                “I was working at a Careers Expo
                                                                           and enthusiastic and very good at
                                Day on Campus as an usher and on
                                                                           what they do,” he says. “I’m looking
                                a break I wandered around the Expo
                                                                           forward to working with them - to
                                and saw the Navy Careers stand,” he
                                                                           reach our goals and those that are set
                                says. “I asked what I could do in the
                                                                           for us.”
                                Navy with my degree which included
                                a major in Marine Science and they
                                recommended hydrography.”

16   |   Navy Today #229
Safety

 Safety

Honing our                              MOET’s Mission is “to provide
                                        the Generation, Maintenance
                                                                                 This month, MOET will host a team
                                                                                 from the Royal Canadian Navy, Sea

navy skills                             and Evaluation of Operational
                                        Capability to Force Elements through
                                                                                 Training Pacific to familiarise them
                                                                                 with the RNZN SARC process, and
                                        professional training, coaching and      other MOET activities, providing
It’s shaping up to be a busy year for   evaluation”. In preparing MOET           an opportunity for a collaborative
the Maritime Operational Evaluation     personnel for their role, additional     approach to supporting the Frigates
Team (MOET).                            coaching training is provided with       on completion of their upgrades.
                                        a focus on supportive approaches         With preparations for the arrival
MOET had a busy 2018, from
                                        to improvement coaching. For this        of HMNZS MANAWANUI, HMNZS
January’s Work-Up with HMNZS TE
                                        approach to work, participants need      AOTEAROA and HMNZS TE KAHA
MANA in the East Australian Exercise
                                        to be open to feedback and the           coming out of FSU, various SARC’s,
Area in her build-up towards her
                                                                                 HMNZS CANTERBURY work-up,
five-month Pacific deployment, and      coach needs to practise collaborative
                                                                                 and an extended period of Navy
completing in November with HMNZS       conversations to facilitate problem
                                                                                 training (Operation HIKI ANO), 2019
WELLINGTON’s Work-Up in the             solving, build confidence and
                                                                                 is shaping up to be another busy year
Hauraki Gulf. In between, the MOET      improved performance.
                                                                                 for the MOET.
conducted Work-Ups, Shakedowns,
                                        As MOET returned to work from a
Safety and Readiness Checks (SARC),
                                        good break, their activities ramped up
sea checks and Aviation SARC’s.
                                        commencing with HMNZS TE MANA’s
MOET is a significant enabler to the    SARC in the first week of February
readiness of maritime forces and as     prior to her sailing for Canada. A
such provides an essential service to   team from MOET will travel to the
the Maritime Component Commander        UK in April to integrate with the
and Captain Fleet Operational           Royal Navy, Flag Officer Sea Training    Above: MOET assist with
Readiness in the generation,            counterparts to observe a Tanker         force integration training
evaluation and reporting of Force       Work-Up, a useful precursor to the       on board HMNZS TAUPO
Element readiness.                      arrival of AOTEAROA in 2020.             alongside Suva, Fiji.

                                                                                                              Navy Today #229   |   17
01

02                            03   04

05                            06   07

     18   | Navy Today #229
08

09   Our
     People

     1. ALSS Deanna Makoare hurls
     the line during the Seamanship
     Competition in December.
     2. Chief of Navy RADM David
     Proctor (in historic rig) during the
     2018 Champion of the Navy events,
     with ACSS Matt Kruger as the
     winner of the best moustache.
     3. HMS MONTROSE versus HMNZS
     CANTERBURY in netball.

10   4. HMNZS CANTERBURY’s
     Commanding Officer, CDR Matt
     Wray, presents AMED Alice Stuart
     with her first Good Conduct Badge
     during the Families Day sailing.
     5. Graduates of December’s Petty
     Officer Seaman Combat Specialist
     Course, with LSCS Sam Carter
     (second from left) achieving dux of
     the course.
     6. The team from HMNZS
     CANTERBURY with the Seamanship
     Trophy for 2018.
     7. OET Joel Grant receives the
     Spencer Tewsley Cup from Defence
     Minister Ron Mark, as the best all-
     round graduate of BCT 18/02.
     8. Madeline Wilson works at getting
     the black tape off her father’s
     rank slides, to reveal CDR Hayden
     Wilson’s new rank.
     9. No. 6 Squadron pilot/observer
     SLT Harry Jennings talks up the
     Seasprite SH-2G(I) helicopter on
     board HMNZS CANTERBURY
     during the Seeport Festival in
     Auckland.
     10. AMT(L) Aidan Jones fits out
     a youngster with fire-fighting rig
     during HMNZS CANTERBURY’s
     open day at the Seeport Festival in
     Auckland.

                        Navy Today #229   |   19
New Masts Fitted to T
      y LTCDR Ben Langley, OIC Keep Alive Team,
     B
     HMNZS TE KAHA

During HMNZS TE
KAHA’s Frigate System
Upgrade (FSU) project,
a four-week docking
phase was scheduled
by Victoria Shipyards
Limited (VSL) to allow
for the installation
and alignment of new
systems and equipment
in a stable and controlled                                                                         A view of the aft mast
environment.                                                                                           after installation.

HMNZS TE KAHA entered the VSL             ensured that the engine room no          such as changing underwater
dry dock on 26 November following a       longer had an open skylight. A missile   valves, pressure testing relief valves,
cold move from a nearby VSL wharf.        launch plate has been added on 02        changing hull anodes, tank surveys,
During this docking window both           deck and this system is starting to      and completing partial repairs on TE
the new forward and aft masts were        take shape after a number of hours       KAHA’s underwater hull coating. To
aligned, secured, and set in place        of heavy fabrication and installation    date, VSL had largely been involved
using a chock-fast compound. Once         of internal structural foundations.      with the FSU scope of work and
the forward mast was installed, VSL       Another noticeable change during the     they were unaccustomed to the New
focussed on insulating the interior       docking phase was the installation of    Zealand maintenance procedures to
of the mast and pulling the cables        the new Sea Sentor towed torpedo         be completed in dock. The TE KAHA
required for the masts’ systems such      decoy winch which was installed          Keep Alive Team (KAT), and the
as the SMART–S three-dimensional          on the quarterdeck. Manoeuvring          Babcock New Zealand personnel who
surveillance radar, navigational radar,   this very large winch into place via     were in Canada for the docking phase,
laser warning system, and sensors to      the 150-tonne crane was a feat in        were onsite to assist VSL, which
support Electronics Support Measures      itself. The final evolution during       ensured that all jobs were completed
(ESM). Shortly after the forward mast     the docking phase (certainly not         to the required specification and within
was installed the focus shifted to        least important), was to install the     the docking schedule. All required
aligning, securing and setting the aft    polemast which houses electronic         stores and items to support the
mast in place. The aft mast is fitted     surveillance and communications          maintenance completed in dry dock
with a helicopter control radar and       equipment. VSL also made headway         were sourced via New Zealand, and
also houses the ammunition for the        with commencing the installation of      managed through the KAT logistic
missile decoy system.                     more than 50000m of new cable            support team in Canada.
                                          required for the FSU upgrade.
While the ship was in dry dock, VSL                                                On 21 December TE KAHA was
also progressed the installation of       As the water was drained from the        scheduled to undock. The day prior,
the Sea Ceptor missile system. This       dock it was evident that the hull was    during a routine flood up of the dock
included installing two new decks         due for a good clean. VSL completed      and wetting of the hull, the small KAT
in what was the old Vertical Launch       a full hull and propeller blade wash     of nine went about checking for leaks
System (VLS) compartment, which           and completed various activities         and ensuring the watertight integrity

20   |   Navy Today #229
e Kaha

      The new missile system being
             installed on 02 deck.

 of the vessel before we could float
 off the blocks and out of the dock.
 Prior to undocking, the VSL rigging
 personnel provided KAT personnel
 a birds-eye view of the local area
 which consisted of hoisting some
 KAT personnel 150 feet above the
 ship from dockside to flight deck
 (gangways were already removed
 in preparation for the undocking).
 This gave those personnel involved
 a good perspective of the FSU
 progress and the change in ship’s
 profile from above, and secondly
 allowed those personnel to enjoy
 the view on a very cold (but sunny)
 day in Esquimalt.
 Overall the docking period went
 very well and achieved all the
 FSU and legacy maintenance
 requirements. After the ship
 exited dock, and was safety
 alongside the VSL wharf, the nine
 members of the KAT proceeded
 on six days annual leave which
 was well deserved. We all look
 forward to seeing what 2019
 brings for TE KAHA.
                                       The polemast being installed
                                        during the dry dock phase.

                                                       Navy Today #229   |   21
Royal Navy Welcomed
                             By Suzi Phillips                        “A big thanks to the RNZN haka
                                                                     party. I’ve never before been greeted
                           As HMS MONTROSE arrived                   in quite such spectacular style while
                           to an exchange of gun salutes,            coming alongside.”
                           received by MCC and returned by
                                                                     Commander O’Neill said the
                           HMNZS PHILOMEL, a group from
                                                                     entry into Auckland’s inner
                           host ship HMNZS CANTERBURY
                                                                     harbour was very smooth,
                           performed the Navy haka on
                                                                     supported by the Auckland
                           Calliope South Wharf.
                                                                     Harbour Board and the Pilot.
                           “As sailors, we’re very lucky to arrive
                                                                     “To us it’s a wide channel,
                           in a country by sea and especially
                                                                     compared to our home base – the
                           to New Zealand – through the Bay
                                                                     other Devonport in Plymouth which
The haka                   of Islands and into Auckland,” said
                           the Commanding Officer of HMS
                                                                     is one of the most challenging
performed for              MONTROSE, Commander Conor
                                                                     pieces of water with very strong
                                                                     tidal streams and 180-degree plus
HMS MONTROSE               O’Neill, RN.
                                                                     turns on the roller-coaster through
                           “The Navy haka on the jetty was a         the narrows.”
when she sailed            spectacular way to be welcomed –
                                                                     HMS MONTROSE was visiting
into Devonport             I was quite focussed on berthing the
                           ship at that point and all this amazing
                                                                     Auckland during the first seven-
                                                                     month phase of a three-year
Naval Base was a           activity was happening on the wharf
                           and I was desperately trying to see
                                                                     deployment that will contribute to
highpoint of the           it while not crashing, but the Ship’s
                                                                     security in the Middle East region
                                                                     and in the South Pacific.
                           Company were fell-in and they really
ship’s “spectacular”       appreciated and enjoyed it.”              From Auckland, the ship sailed for
welcome to                 “Then to go to the marae and enjoy
                                                                     Australia, Japan and the South China
                                                                     Sea before heading to its new base
New Zealand                the powhiri later – it was a very
                           moving experience to be part of,” he
                                                                     in Bahrain.

last month.                said. “Welcome by haka and powhiri
                           was such a privilege and that sense
                                                                     Footnote: RN-RNZN interoperability
                                                                     was called into action when a short
                           of tapping into the historic and          notice compassionate return to the UK
                           spiritual side of New Zealand and the     left MONTROSE short of an officer. LT
                           Maori culture – it was quite intense      Mat Jamieson joined MONTROSE in
                           and humbling.                             Auckland on attachment, allowing the
                                                                     ship to proceed on her next passage
                                                                     without delay.

                           KIWI ARRIVES                              “It’s been a long trip across the
                                                                     Pacific… and a fantastic experience,”
                           WITH THE                                  she said. “It was lovely to arrive into
                                                                     Auckland and that amazing welcome
                           ROYAL NAVY                                from the Royal New Zealand Navy.
                                                                     I was totally blown away.

                           Petty Officer Heidi Tait, Marine          “We had the exchange of gun
                           engineering technician, was               salutes and then closed up on the
                           delighted that her employer gave her      jetty. I didn’t know what to expect
                           a trip home in HMS MONTROSE.              and then the NZ Navy haka was
                                                                     fantastic. The crew were buzzing
                           Born and raised in Wellington,            and as we came off the upper deck
                           POET Tait moved to London a little        the atmosphere was electric.”
                           over 10 years ago for some OE
                           (overseas experience) and then            “It was brilliant to be back on
                           joined the Royal Navy.                    New Zealand soil, and I’m excited to
                                                                     see my family. It’s also important for
                                                                     the ship’s company to get a look at
                                                                     New Zealand.”

22   |   Navy Today #229
Change of Command
 HMNZS MATATAUA
“Like any sailor,        By Suzi Phillips                        His career highlights so far have come
                                                                  from active deployments, including

  I’m always keen       The new Commanding Officer of the
                        Navy’s Littoral Warfare Unit, HMNZS
                                                                  most recently as Executive Officer in
                                                                  HMNZS TE MANA during a five-month

  to put all that       MATATAUA, is a war-fighting expert
                        with command experience and a
                                                                  deployment, where his leadership,
                                                                  warfare and command training were

  great training        strong business base.                     on call. “It was an exciting deployment
                                                                  and being Executive Officer in a
                        Originally from Palmerston North,         frigate has got to be one of the most
  into action.”         Commander Layamon Bakewell,
                        36, joined the Navy 16 years ago.
                                                                  rewarding jobs in the Navy,” he says.

                        He took command of MATATAUA               “Taking command of ROTOITI was a
 CDR Layamon Bakewell                                             real highlight – leading a small Ship’s
                        on 12 December.
                                                                  Company in a fantastic ship that did
                        As a youngster he was inspired by         some important work around New
                        stories of the sea from his grandfather   Zealand carrying out fisheries and
                        who had been in the Merchant Navy.        customs patrols.”
                        “My grandfather told stories of the       While in command of ROTOITI,
                        excitement and adventure of a life at     he also led the rescue of salvage
                        sea and I decided on the Navy in about    teams off the MV RENA in 2011, a big
                        fifth form,” said CDR Bakewell.           storm threatened to break up the
                        He decided to take a year off after       ship marooned on the reef in the Bay
                        finishing Palmerston North Boys           of Plenty.
                        High and did the first year of a degree   CDR Bakewell said that
                        in Business Studies at Massey             MATATAUA offered the Navy
                        University there.                         a realistic option to provide an
                        “I joined the Navy at the end of that     operational war-fighting effect.
                        year and later went on to finish my       “It’s an exciting time for HMNZS
                        degree as part of the Tangaroa            MATATAUA with a lot of new capability
                        Scheme [Navy sponsored study].            coming on line over the next three
                        The Navy later paid for me to do my       years and introducing those new
                        Masters in Business Studies – that        capabilities into service.”
                        was an awesome opportunity to do
                        postgraduate study while still working
                        fulltime in the Navy,” he said.

                                                                                                 Navy Today #229   |   23
Change of Command                                                                The Naval Volunteer force that
                                                                                 existed in Auckland in the early

HMNZS WAKEFIELD
                                                                                 1860’s centred on personnel
                                                                                 with small boat experience who
                                                                                 could undertake force protection
                                                                                 duties for visiting Royal Navy
                                                                                 units, supplement the land
In stepping into the role of            position with lots of challenges.        forces ashore and conduct
Commanding Officer, HMNZS               WAKEFIELD has a great vibe, it           anti-smuggling operations
WAKEFIELD, Commander                    has that feel of an extended family.     for the Customs and Excise
Ian Andrew is continuing a              You’re handing over a well-oiled ship,   Department – tasks that are
series of “firsts” for the shore-       and I’m really looking forward to        not uncommon to the Navy of
based unit encompassing                 getting stuck in.”                       today. Volunteers were a fiscally
Naval staff in Wellington.                                                       attractive and operationally
                                        CDR Andrew, from Thames,                 viable alternative to a standing
His ceremony, in relieving              joined the RNZN in 1993 and              naval force.
Commander Jennie Hoadley, was           graduated as a supply officer,
the first official change of command    serving in CANTERBURY and                Over the next 150 years these
ceremony for WAKEFIELD, “at least,      TE KAHA. He has worked in a              part-time volunteers, now known
as far as anyone can remember,”         variety of supply and logistics          as the Naval Reserve, continued
said Rear Admiral David Proctor,        roles, including Logistics Adviser,      to evolve as New Zealand’s
Chief of Navy. It was only in 2017      New Zealand Defence Staff                maritime security requirements
that a Command Directive was            London. His new role is both             altered. Reservists distinguished
given to WAKEFIELD’s Commanding         Director Coordination (Navy) and         themselves then, as they do
Officer for the first time.             Commanding Officer WAKEFIELD.            now, with their ability to rapidly
                                                                                 learn new skills in addition to
CDR Hoadley has left him with           WAKEFIELD, named in 1954 after           bringing desirable skillsets
another first: to come up with a        the pioneering Wakefield brothers        from their civilian backgrounds,
suitable symbol of command for          of the New Zealand Company, has          such as the Merchant Navy,
WAKEFIELD, to pass on to his            the interesting aspect in that the       into the naval service.
successor.                              Commanding Officer has command
                                        over multiple personnel who are          For many years New Zealand’s
But in keeping with tradition,                                                   naval service largely mirrored
                                        senior to him in rank.
CDR Andrew uttered “I have the                                                   the Royal Navy with separate
ship”, to CDR Hoadley, and reported     CDR Hoadley has posted to the            personnel silos for full time
to RADM Proctor for duty.               Institute of Leadership Development      service (Navy), ex-regular force
                                        in Trentham.                             personnel (Naval Fleet Reserve),
“I’m humbled by the opportunity,” he
said. “It’s been 10 years since I was                                            merchant mariners (Naval
posted to Naval Staff. It’s a great                                              Reserve) and ab initio (first-time)
                                                                                 part-time volunteers (Naval
                                                                                 Volunteer Reserve). However,
                                                                                 New Zealand’s Navy faces some
                                                                                 unique challenges and while it
                                                                                 retains a Navy augmented by the

24   |   Navy Today #229
Reservists

                                                                                      New Zealand’s

Reservists                                                                            maritime security
                                                                                      has always

Geared for                                                                            included a
                                                                                      substantial reliance

Bigger Role                                                                           on part-time
                                                                                      volunteers.

                                                                                      By the numbers
Naval Reserve (RNZNR, reservists            The project has the following key         The Navy Reserve today has

                                                                                      535
with previous full time service) and        objectives:
the Volunteer Reserve (RNZNVR, ab
                                            •   To deliver enhanced Naval
initio part-time entrants into the Navy
                                                Reserve Command and Control
now employed largely as Maritime
                                                arrangements;
Trade Operations specialists), active                                                 personnel
measures are underway to directly           •   To refine the Maritime Trade
link those silos to provide a seamless          Operations output (currently

                                                                                      378
                                                                                      Made up of
movement of personnel from full time            undertaken by the Volunteer
service, to part time service, and back         Reserve);
to full time service – if required.
                                            •   To investigate the establishment
To address the New Zealand Defence              of an Operational Support
Force Strategy of an Integrated                 Trade within the RNZNVR, to           previous full time service
Defence Force by 2025, the Royal                bring into the Navy professional

                                                                                      106
New Zealand Navy, along with                    qualifications/skillsets that Navy
the New Zealand Army and the                    would not have a constant need
Royal New Zealand Air Force, are                for, or indeed a training pipeline
positioning themselves to deliver               to support; and,
people, enhanced combat capability,                                                   Maritime Trade
information and relationships needed        •   To establish better engagement
                                                and management of those full          Operations Specialists
to deploy a networked combat force.
The goal is “to be effective in a rapidly       time personnel making the

                                                                                      51
changing world”, which will provide             transition to part time service       Not including
                                                (the RNZNR).                                          reservists
challenges for our Navy and our
                                                                                                      serving full time
Defence Force, particularly in the          Looking to the future, and our
                                                                                                      contracts
personnel space where NZDF have             mission to ‘advance New Zealand’s
identified an increasingly non-linear       Interests from the sea’, the Naval
workforce. The Navy’s Future Sailor         Reserve will contribute to the Navy’s
Programme is vigorously identifying         Strategic Goals of People, Future         The Navy
innovative solutions for crewing the        Navy, Capability, Relationships and       Reserve
Navy of the future. This strategy is        Information by the provision of agile     exists
addressing how reserve personnel can        and professional personnel for the        throughout               HMNZS NGAPONA
provide flexibility and innovation to the   Royal New Zealand Navy of 2025,           New Zealand
Navy’s personnel requirements.              and beyond, as we all look to achieve
As part of the overall people strategy,     our Vision of a ‘world class Navy for a
the Royal New Zealand Navy have             large maritime nation’.
                                                                                                            HMNZS OLPHERT
established the Naval Reserve               For more information contact:
Regeneration Project to investigate                                                                   HMNZS PEGASUS
opportunities for part-time personnel       LTCDR Geoff Andrew
to contribute to the Navy, and indeed       geoffrey.andrew@nzdf.mil.nz
the wider New Zealand Defence Force.                                                            HMNZS TOROA

                                                                                                               Navy Today #229   |   25
Shipriding for
the icy experience
  By Lieutenant Commander Michael        the principles
Patterson, United States Coast Guard     of Antarctic
                                         seamanship
In 1956, Captain Harry Kirkwood          in situ. These
OBE, DSC*, RN was ‘loaned’ from          opportunities are
the Royal Navy and took HMNZS            at a premium,
ENDEAVOUR to Antarctica in               as nations seek
support of the British-New Zealand       to ready their
trans-Antarctic expedition, spending     commands
two seasons between 1956 and 1958        and crews             Captain             Lieutenant           Lieutenant

                                         for increased         Simon Rooke         Sophie Going         Meyrick Pereira
working alongside United States
ships such as the USS GREENVILLE         activity in
VICTORY, USS PRIVATE J.R.                polar regions.                             in-water survival time is measured in
TOWLE and Coast Guard Cutter             The POLAR STAR makes only one              minutes and rescue response time is
NORTHWIND. Now with AOTEAROA             Antarctic voyage annually to break         measured in days. Observations and
poised to join the RNZN fleet, New       out McMurdo station for resupply           anecdotes like this underscore the
Zealand and the United States again      and the RNZN has only resumed              value of having additional resources
have the opportunity for collaborative   maritime Antarctic operations in the       that can cooperate effectively in this
maritime operations in the Ross          last decade. Gaining this experience       environment, with a knowledge of one
Sea. Several RNZN personnel have         is particularly valuable, as the remote    another’s systems and procedures.
already had a head start, sailing        and tempestuous Antarctic waters
                                         offer a wholly unique set of challenges    Each exchange affords shipriders an
on USCGC POLAR STAR and MV
                                         to naval operations.                       opportunity to bring lessons-learned
OCEAN GIANT for the 2018/2019
                                                                                    back to their respective organisation
breakout and resupply of McMurdo         The freezing temperatures and              and improve the effectiveness of
station. Future AOTEAROA navigator       proximity to the ice shelf mean            its polar programme. The common
Lieutenant Sophie Going, along           that vessels are not only at risk          knowledge of capabilities and
with Lieutenant Meyrick Pereira,         of damaging the ship by striking           procedures across national fleets
joined the crew of POLAR STAR            thick, multi-year ice, but also of         improves interoperability during
to get a better understanding of         compromising the ship’s stability with     joint operations, reducing the risk
icebreaker escort operations and         the topside weight of ice accumulating     through a ready understanding
engineering. Also participating in       on the superstructure and weather          of each vessel’s ice-keeping
this operation was AOTEAROA’s            decks. In addition to the ice risks,       capabilities during escorts, breakouts,
Commanding Officer designate,            the sea state at higher latitudes is       flight operations, or other near-
Captain Simon Rooke, to gain the         also characteristically terrible. For      ice activities. These exchange
perspective of the escorted vessel       example, NZDF’s Defence Technology         programmes provide another
from the bridge of OCEAN GIANT.          Agency deployed a wave monitoring          opportunity to bring more information,
The sharing of shipriders, or            buoy in southern latitudes and soon        insight and proficiency to bear,
operational observers, allows            recorded the tallest wave on record        and ensure our sea-going services
participating nations to take            at 24m, a threatening measurement          are ready to meet the risks and
advantage of chances to exercise         of conditions in an area where the         challenges of future polar operations.

26   |   Navy Today #229
Stories from Antarctica

SUMMER                                                                 “As a Marine Technician
ON THE ICE                                                       I never thought I’d find myself
                                                                    out of the bilge and working
                                                                           as a Communications
                                                                           Operator, let alone in
                                                                     Antarctica, yet here I am!”

                                          breath-taking continent in the world.    In between watches we’ve had the
                                          The expansive vista of white, broken     opportunity and privilege to visit
                                          only by the orange cold weather gear     Shackleton’s and Scott’s historic
                                          issued to us by ANTNZ and the large      huts at Cape Royds and Cape
                                          red American vehicles, was enough        Evans, tour the Pressure Ridges
                                          to make us first timers stop and just    (which is home to a few seals and
                                          stare out in wonder before posing for    their pups) on the sea ice just off
                                          countless photos in front of the C-17.   Ross Island, camp out on the ice in
                                                                                   Scott’s Polar Tents for our Antarctic
                                          I’m currently one of four Tri-service
                                                                                   Field Training, climb to the top of
                                          Communications Operators and the
                                                                                   Castle Rock and enjoy the stunning
                                          past two months has been a busy
                                                                                   360-degree view of Mt Erebus out
                                          period with all four of us having to
                                                                                   to the Trans-Antarctic Mountains,
                                          learn a whole new skill set as
  By AMT(L) Michael O’Connell                                                      and join our American allies over
                                          none of us are communicators
                                                                                   the hill at McMurdo Station for the
                                          back in New Zealand. With me
I am currently posted to Scott Base                                                100th Armistice Day commemoration
                                          on the ice is RNZAF Safety and
in Antarctica with eight other NZDF                                                and Thanksgiving day dinner.
                                          Surface Technician, a NZ Army
personnel, making up the Scott Base       Medic and a Leading Steward              With the months ticking along the
Support Team (SBST) for a five-month      from HMNZS PHILOMEL.                     weather is starting to get warmer.
deployment here on ice.                                                            It was -40°C with wind-chill when
                                          We maintain watches of eight hours
Following a month’s Pre-Deployment                                                 we arrived, and now with -1°C through
                                          each around the clock, with our
Training (PDT), with Antarctica New                                                to -5°C ambient lately, you need less
                                          role of maintaining comms with the
Zealand (ANTNZ) in Christchurch, a                                                 cold weather gear to enjoy more
                                          Science Field Events, monitoring our
week’s firefighting training with Fire                                             outdoor activities.
                                          helicopter and fixed-wing operations,
Emergency New Zealand at Woolston         reading and interpreting weather         We’re all loving the life and people
Fire Station and the longest weather      reports to pass to the field and         that Antarctica attracts, but we are
delay for flights to Antarctica in over   aircraft, and bolstering morale with     all looking forward to getting home
30 years, we flew down here in a          a morning announcement each day          this month and enjoying the tail end of
United States Air Force C-17. The         covering daily news, a local weather     summer, beaches and green grass.
best moment of the flight was first       report, and a joke, riddle or fact of
laying eyes on the most astounding,       the day.

                                                                                                           Navy Today #229   |   27
True mates share
                     waves once again
                     Kevin Mills and Patrick Monaghan, of the
                     Mt Wellington Panmure RSA, served separately
                     during World War II but became lifelong friends
                     afterwards. Both expressed their wish to have
                     their ashes scattered at sea.

                                                                   The families of
                                                                   Kevin Mills and
                                                                   Patrick Monaghan
                                                                   prepare for the
                                                                   ashes scattering
                                                                   ceremony, as
                                                                   the Navy launch
                                                                   Mahanga is
                                                                   positioned near
                                                                   North Head.

28   |   Navy Today #229
Scattering Ashes

                                                        Navy Chaplain Colin        Mahanga holds position in Torpedo
                                                        Mason, presiding over      Bay, with the helmsman sensibly
                                                        the day’s ceremonies,      angling the boat to allow for the wind
                                                        tells the families it’s    direction. The Mills family go first,
                                                        going to be a great        with Chaplain Mason giving a prayer
                                                        day. He checks the         and a reading, and inviting the family
                                                        caskets and notes          members to speak. The scattering of
                                                        the casket for Mills is    the ashes, dense and fine, is shared by
                                                        completely sealed. A       family, with flowers cast in the waves
                                                        marine technician from     at the end.
                                                        the nearby workshops is
                                                                                   “I think I’ve got my sea legs now,” said
                                                        quickly summoned, and
                                                                                   Glennis, on the return to Devonport.
                                                        he and a family member
                                                                                   Her husband, a former president
                                                        discreetly disappear,
                                                                                   and patron of his RSA, would have
                                                        re-emerging with the
                                                                                   been humbled by the ceremony. “We
                                                        casket lid sawn through
                                                                                   couldn’t have got a better day. It was
                                                        and sealed with tape.
 Kevin Mills and                                                                   lovely, very emotional.”
 Patrick Monaghan                                         Mahanga is crewed by
                                                                                   Terry Monaghan, Patrick Monaghan’s
                                                          three sailors, dressed
                                                                                   son, says the service was nicely done.
                                                          formally and helmed
  By Andrew Bonallack                                                              “For years he said, I want my ashes
                                                          by a warrant officer
                                                                                   scattered at sea. He didn’t want
                                          in the upper wheelhouse. There’s
Two wartime sailors who bonded over                                                people to come along to a cemetery
                                          a light chop when the boat arrives
laughter and stories at the “Navy”                                                 to look after a headstone, then after
                                          at Torpedo Bay wharf, opposite the
table at their RSA shared their final                                              five years people forgot you were
                                          Navy Museum, and the swell from
journey on the sea in December,                                                    there. It was a wonderful service, and
                                          the variety of pleasure craft and
thanks to the formal ashes scattering                                              Colin did a great job. I don’t know
                                          harbour ferries adds to the bounce.
ceremonies offered by the Royal                                                    how many times he’s done it, but
New Zealand Navy.                         It’s a good spot, says Glennis. Her      it was as if it was the first time. He
                                          husband used to run the Liberty          keeps it all fresh.” His father served
Kevin Mills and Patrick Monaghan,                                                  on Fairmiles around the Solomon
                                          Boat back and forth across Auckland
of the Mt Wellington Panmure RSA,                                                  Islands during the war. “The boys
                                          Harbour, and they were in view of
served separately during World                                                     would have been delighted with the
                                          the Auckland wharves, where Kevin
War II but became lifelong friends                                                 weather. I think Patrick would have
                                          worked on the cranes after leaving
afterwards, frequently sharing Anzac                                               wanted a bit more wave action – he
                                          the Navy. Mills had served during
Day services. Both expressed their                                                 liked a bit of spray.”
                                          World War II on HMNZS GAMBIA,
wish to have their ashes scattered at
                                          and had been painting the side           Chaplain Mason says due to demand
sea, a ceremony the Navy provides to
                                          of the ship when it had a near-          for the service, the Navy will increase
Navy and ex-Navy personnel at regular
                                          miss from a Japanese kamikaze,           the ash scattering dates from three to
dates throughout the year.
                                          shot down at virtually the last          four times a year. He already has five
It meant a good-humoured reunion          moment by an American fighter            requests for services for 2019.
of sorts for the respective families      plane. “He used to say, we’ll never
near the Stanley Bay wharf where          stop to paint the ship again.”           “The service is for Navy and
the Mahanga, the Navy’s 14-metre                                                   ex-Navy, New Zealand and foreign,
transport launch, waited for what         Mills and Monaghan had their own         or the partner or child of an ex-Navy
would be her fourth and fifth ashes       “Navy” table at the RSA with other       or serving Navy person.”
scattering of the day. Across             sailors. “There used to be about eight
                                                                                   In a final honour, it turned out Mr Mills
the families, the mood was one            of them, laughing their heads off to
                                                                                   was owed two more medals for his
of satisfaction at a journey near         all the stories. Every Anzac Day, they
                                                                                   service to New Zealand. Two days
completed. Mills’ wife Glennis said       would always stand up, and toast the
                                                                                   later, at the RSA, Acting Deputy Chief
it was wonderful the “boys” were          Queen. Kevin would do every Poppy
                                                                                   of Navy Captain Maxine Lawes made
going together. “Because Patrick was      Day for the RSA. He always used to
                                                                                   a posthumous presentation to Glennis
coming out today, we asked if Kevin       go to the big shopping mall. I found
                                                                                   of Mr Mills’ New Zealand Operational
could come out on the same boat,          out he liked going because the ladies
                                                                                   Service Medal and the New Zealand
because of their friendship at the RSA.   liked to give him hugs.”
                                                                                   Service Medal 1946–1949.
They were good mates.”

                                                                                                           Navy Today #229   |   29
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