HMNZS Taranaki (F148)

HMNZS "Taranaki "(F-148) was a modified Rothesay class frigate in service with the Royal New Zealand Navy from 1960 to 1982. She, along with her sister ship "Otago", formed a core part of the RNZN escort force throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She was named after the province of Taranaki.

Construction and delivery

"Taranaki" 's first crew arrived in Cowes on the 27 March 1961 after a full military march from Plymouth and was officially commissioned on the 28th. She was formally handed over to the RNZN on the 29 March after completing her final sea trials.

ervice

The first decade of "Taranaki’"s existence saw her take part in regular deployments to the Far East, to Hawaii, Australia and the Pacific for exercises with ships of other navies, and ‘show the flag’ tours.

Between 1974 and 1978 "Taranaki" was usually laid up due to a shortage of naval personnel. On the occasions that she was out she was mainly protecting New Zealand's EEZ. On 23 January 1979 she was fully recommissioned after refitting for a training and fisheries role.

By 1980 "Taranaki" was twenty years old and reaching the end of her effective life as a combat frigate. Replacement options were sought after and in October 1981 the Government accepted an offer from the British Government to sell New Zealand two Leander class frigates. "Taranaki" was to be converted into a resources protection and training ship, but this plan was cancelled after the Leander class purchase.

The End

On the 14 June 1982 "Taranaki" set out on her last voyage from New Plymouth (her home port and chief city of her namesake province) to Auckland for decommissioning. Between the 16-17 of June her ammunition was safely removed and her boiler ceremonially dowsed out. "Taranaki" was officially decommissioned on the 18 June 1982. She was sold to Pacific Steel Ltd in August 1983 and her breaking up was completed in March 1984.

ee also

* Frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy
* List of frigates
* List of ship launches in 1959
* List of ship commissionings in 1961
* List of ship decommissionings in 1982

References

External links

* [http://www.hmnzstaranaki.org/ HMNZS Taranaki Hompepage]