HMNZS Hinau with Auckland central visible in the background.
History
New Zealand
NameHinau
BuilderSenior Foundry Ltd. Auckland
Launched28 August 1941
Commissioned23 July 1942
Decommissioned1945
IdentificationPennant number: T17/T399
FateSold to become a breakwater in 1954.
General characteristics
Class and typeCastle-class minesweeper
Displacement625 tons
Length135 ft (41 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
PropulsionSingle screw, triple reciprocating engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Crew25

HMNZS Hinau was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class ships commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Background

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country's limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]

Construction

Hinau was laid down in 1940 and was of a composite design, using Kauri wood due to a shortage of steel at the time. [2] Hinau was launched on 28 August 1941 at Senior Foundry Ltd, located at Auckland.[3] Being the first ship launched for the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Operational history

Hinau was the first of three composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 23 July 1942. The other two were Rimu and Manuka. She served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary minesweeping division)[4] which was located at Auckland. but would occasionally visit Wellington and the South Island. She would have refits in March 1943, August 1943, and October 1944.[5] On 18 August 1943, Hinau had a small fire in the foward mess while at Lyttleton, with some damage.[6] After the war she was laid up at Devonport Naval Base.[5] In 1954 she was sold off as military surplus to be scrapped.[7] She was saved and purchased by Parry Bros LTD located in Whakatīwai, to become a breakwater and shingle bin, where she remains today. In 1998, she featured on the cover of the album, The Islander.

Hinau in 2023

References

  1. ↑ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-06. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 12 — Minesweeping in New Zealand Waters | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  3. ↑ "MINE SWEEPER LAUNCHED". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  4. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  5. 1 2 "HMNZS Hinau Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  6. ↑ McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. ISBN 0-477-01399-6.
  7. ↑ "Three Navy Craft Scrapped". The Press. 2 February 1955. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
External videos
video icon Launch of the Hinau, New Zealand National Film Unit footage.
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