- HMNZS Tui (1970)
HMNZS "Tui" was one of nine "Conrad" class
oceanographic ships built for theUnited States Navy . These ships were designed to perform acoustic experiments on sound transmission underwater, and for gravity, magnetism and deep-ocean floor studies. She was originally commissioned into the US Navy in 1963 as the "Charles H Davies"In 1970 she was transferred to the
Royal New Zealand Navy and renamed "Tui". After a partial refit and scientific equipment had been installed and tested, she began a program of work for the Defence Scientific Establishment in Auckland. For years "Tui" went unobtrusively about the kind of work she was designed for, primarily underwater acoustics."Tui" worked in Australian, Indian Ocean and South Pacific waters. She worked on Auckland University research, with DSIR scientists, and with other oceanographic ships. "Tui" also took part in several American research programs. Her acoustic research was mainly to do with the detection and tracking of submarines.
During the
1970s she made an extensive search for theMaria Theresa Reef .In 1997 she was decommissioned and was replaced by the
hydrographic ship HMNZS "Resolution".In February 1999 the "Tui" was deliberately scuttled two kilometres from
Tutukaka Heads to serve as a tourist attraction and wreck for divers, following a period of work on her which removed any objects in danger of breaking free and welding shut any areas that may have posed a hazard for wreck divers. [ [http://www.diving.co.nz/wrecks.htm Dive Waikato / Tui] retrieved on9 Jan 2008 ] Her anchor was presented to the City of Napier. [ [http://www.napier.govt.nz/index.php?cid=facilities/memorials/mem_tui&mid=58 HMNZS Tui Anchor] ]"Tui" was named after the Tui bird from
New Zealand and was the second of two ships with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy.ee also
*
Survey ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy Notes
References
* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 115-116. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994
External links
* [http://www.dive-pacific.com/articles.asp?sid=538 The Tui turns two]
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