HMNZS Manuka in the Hauraki gulf
History
New Zealand
NameManuka
BuilderMason Bros. Engineering Co. Ltd Auckland
Launched23 September 1941
Commissioned30 March 1942
Decommissioned1945
IdentificationPennant number: T19
FateSunk at moorings in 1952 at the Chatham Islands
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)

HMNZS Manuka 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]

Operational history

Manuka was the third of three composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 30 March 1942. The other two were Hinau and Rimu. Manuka served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Division)[2] which was located at Auckland. In 1946, Manuka was leased to the Chatham Island Fishing Company, under the condition that she would only be used in New Zealand waters, and that she would be given back to the navy in case of an emergency.[3] Manuka would follow fishing fleets, working the coast that was sheltered.[4] At the end of the day the fishing trawlers would discharge their catches onto Manuka, where they would be weighed, cleaned and processed the fish. When she was full, she would sail to Wellington, often carrying radios for repair, and mail.[4] When the vessel returned it would carry supplies for the Chatham islanders.[4] As time went by while in service, there would be more and more problems no with the boiler on Manuka. to the point where she would need a replacement.[4] Over the course of her career she would also run aground multiple times while fishing.[5] In 1950, Manuka was moored in Port Hutt, acting as a floating freezer, with local trawlers storing their catches onboard. [4] On 4 October 1952, while anchored in Port Hutt, Manuka sunk at her moorings. There was nobody aboard when she sank.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 21 December 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  3. 1 2 Hodge, D. W (30 August 1977). "Light restoration brings memories". The Press. p. 31. Retrieved 11 November 2023 – via PapersPast.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Makarios, Emmanuel (1996). Nets, Lines and Pots: A history of New Zealand fishing vessels (2nd ed.). New Zealand: IPL Books. ISBN 9780908876013.
  5. ↑ McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. ISBN 0-477-01399-6.
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