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The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) marked its 40th anniversary on 1 October 1981. It was on this date in 1941 that an “Order in Council” decreed that the New Zealand Naval Forces would no longer be an element of the Royal Navy but would become independent and would be administered by the Government of New Zealand. It was also decreed that the ships would be henceforth known as “His Majesty’s New Zealand Ships” and that the naval forces collectively would be known as “The Royal New Zealand Navy.” In its short history, this navy has been involved in a variety of naval actions and campaigns, with the result that it has established a reputation considerably greater than its size.
The RNZN’s 39th year dawned upon a navy which, although small, bore heavy national and allied responsibilities. These responsibilities, summarized from the New Zealand
Government’s 1978 Defence Review (still current), are:
► To be prepared to make an operational contribution to the strategic interests shared with the ANZUS partners, the United States and Australia.
► To exercise effective maritime control within the New Zealand region.
Unfortunately, it appeared in 198081 that the RNZN was running out of the right kind of equipment with which to fulfill its responsibilities. The two oldest ships of the four-frigate force, HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Taranaki, were 21 and 20 years old respectively. Although the RNZN made proposals for updating the frigate squadron, they were not approved by the government which, in common with others in the Western world, was under financial stress. Even though the New Zealand frigates spend much of their time in home waters, at least one frigate is normally deployed overseas exercising with allied navies.
Apart from responsibilities which New Zealand accepts for assisting in naval affairs in the South Pacific generally and in the offshore waters of some of the island countries in particular, the area of New Zealand's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the boundaries of which extend 200 miles from the coast of New Zealand and its islands, is the fourth largest in the world, totaling more than 1.4 million square miles. This places a heavy responsibility on the RNZN which is charged with policing the area in support of the Ministry of Agriculture and
The Royal New Zealand Navy’s frigates (from top to bottom, Canterbury, Waikato, Otago, and Taranaki) turn in Wellington Harbor. The Otago and Taranaki will be replaced soon by two Royal Navy Leander-ctoss frigates.
Fisheries. Four hundred licensed fishing vessels operate within the EEZ at any one time, including a large number of vessels from the Soviet Union, Korea, and Japan. Fortunately, the seasonal movement of fish tends to limit fishing activities to about one- fifth of the total area of the EEZ. Already natural gas is being piped ashore from the western coastal waters of New Zealand and oil exploration is proceeding apace. The need for future increased resources protection efforts on the part of the Royal New Zealand Navy is evident.
The main thrust of resources protection is carried out currently by the four “Lake’’-class patrol craft which, since 1975. have formed the First New Zealand Patrol Craft Squadron. They work in cooperation with aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and have proven themselves capable of taking the measures necessary to enforce the country’s fishing laws. They are occasionally augmented by the New Zealand Naval Reserve. The naval reservists are still operating HDMLs of wartime vintage from their four different units which are widely dispersed over the country. Surface patrols of the extremities are carried out by the Taranaki.
On the credit side, the RNZN’s hydrographic surveying service is in good shape. The largest survey ship, the 3,861-ton HMNZS Monowai is equipped with modern survey equipment, including a computerized Marconi hydroplot system. In 1979 and 1980, two inshore survey craft —HMNZS Takapa and HMNZS Tar- apunga—joined the Monowai.
A 1980 proposal to replace the Otago and to carry out a life extension conversion on the Taranaki resulted in an authorization to spend more than S40 million (N.Z.) on conversion work for the Taranaki and a directive to the RNZN to continue in its efforts to find a replacement frigate. The work to be done to the Taranaki was to include re-engining with gas turbines, the fitting of a flight deck, the addition of an instructional bridge, and the improvement of accommodations to accept a larger number of officer and rating trainees. This would better enable her to carry out her role of the resource protection and training ship.
Just a few days after the RNZN celebrated its 40th birthday, these plans changed. A deal was negotiated with the British Government to purchase two Leander-class frigates—HMS Dido and HMS Bacchante—which had become available as a result of British defense economies. The deal used ships, while not ideal, has found the favor of the great majority of New Zealanders, who accept it as being the best possible solution to ensure the effectiveness of the RNZN into the 1990s, given the country’s current financial constraints. The Bacchante is scheduled to arrive in New Zealand in late 1982. She will immediately go in the Devonport Naval Dockyard, Auckland, for a major refit. On completion, probably early in 1984, she will join the frigate force. The Dido will receive a refit in a U.K. dockyard prior to sailing for New Zealand in late 1983, when she is expected to join the operational frigate force.
The cost of the package deal is said to be less than $100 million (N.Z.)—a considerable saving for the exchequer when compared with the combined cost of, say, a new Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7)-class frigate and the Taranaki's conversion. The Taranaki and the Otago are expected to be retired as the replacement British frigates are brought into active service.
It is reasonable to assume that when replacement has been effected, one of the frigates, probably the oldest, HMNZS Waikato, will assume the role of the “resource protection and training ship” which presently is carried out by the Taranaki.
Although a small navy, the RNZN maintains a viable hydrographic surveying force. The largest ship in this force is the Monowai, a 3,861-ton converted passenger-cargo ship.
also included three Wasp helicopters.
The Bacchante was launched in 1969; the Dido, launched in 1963, finished a three-year extended refit in 1978. during which she was fitted with the Ikara ASW missile system. She is thus, in many respects, only a three- year-old ship. The decision to buy
The New Zealand frigate force is thus destined to become a single-class ship squadron comprised entirely of Leander-class frigates, since the two frigates which will be retained, the Waikato and HMNZS Canterbury, are both of this class. While the individual ships have some obvious dif-
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The RNZN’s four “Lake”-class patrol craft (Taupo, left) enforce the country’s fishery laws. Sometimes, they are backed up by old harbor defense motor launches (like the one pictured below) operated by reservists.
ferences, the general concept of running and maintaining one class of ship has many advantages, not the least of which are in the standardizations of training and stores support. While there are many details which are the subject of current staff studies, there is little doubt that the RNZN will remain capable of making a significant contribution to the ANZUS blue water forces well into the foreseeable future.
In addition to the frigate purchase, an undisclosed sum has been set aside for the building of four patrol craft- type vessels to serve with the reserve divisions of the RNZN. These ships will be built in New Zealand.
New Zealand’s contribution to its maritime force should be measured against other factors. The two main islands of New Zealand have a total area nine-tenths the size of the Italian mainland. While the population of Italy is 55 million. New Zealand's is just three million, a trifle more than the population of Rome. Against this must be placed the requirement to provide the funds necessary to maintain and develop the road systems, public utilities, and the myriad of other internal requirements of a country of its size. To many outsiders, the provision of a navy of the size of New Zealand’s in the face of such constraints says much for its determination to fulfill its ANZUS commitments and, in addition, to be capable also of looking after its own interests in the South Pacific generally.
A paragraph in the introduction to New Zealand's 1978 Defence Review sums up the attitude of New Zealand toward defense and should serve as an assurance to its allies. “It would be rash to assume that our [New Zealand’s] sovereignty will never be challenged. What is more. New Zealand may be small and isolated but New Zealanders themselves have never been isolationists. A sense of realism in security matters is not only practical but consistent with our history. We have always been ready to defend our way of life when necessary and have always recognized that to do so we have to work with others and contribute to the common cause.”
Commander Davies is currently serving on the Royal New Zealand Navy's Naval Staff at Defence Headquarters in Wellington.
Some Hope Against Incoming Missiles
By Lieutenant Commander P. Roullett, French Navy Reserve
Missiles sank the Israeli destroyer Eilath in 1967 and signaled the development of many successors that now provide formidable offensive capabilities. Endowed with a destructive power far greater than any previous naval weapon system, a fast patrol boat can sink a major warship with one blow—or at least inflict severe damage. The efficiency of surface-to- surface missiles was confirmed in 1971 when an Indian Navy “Osa” fast strike craft crippled several Pakistani warships and merchantmen. Had the last word been said? It seemed that any navy, regardless of size, could place a major warship at its mercy
with the point of an antiship missile.
Inspired by such success, shipyards designed and built many fast patrol boats armed with missiles developed by various countries; these hornets swarmed in all parts ot the world—ready to strike.
But another conflict showed that the missile threat did not spell ultimate doom for the fleets of the world. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, some 50 "Styx” missiles fired by Egyptian or Syrian attack boats did not strike home, while the Israeli "Gabriel” missiles generally found their targets. Against the new sword, a shield had been forged: electronic warfare (EW).
It is a science halfway between magic and bluff, a battle of wits where the weapon generates its own counter. Scientists as well as operational staffs are always keen to observe the latest battle tactics and evaluate results, obtaining this information with various forms of intelligence. Any government that did not take into account the new importance of electronics in warfare would soon find its warships doomed.
In all combat information centers (CICs), an EW corner—small at first—grew more important in size and role. Behind a modest screen, more and more black boxes were to be