- HMNZS Hawea (F422)
HMNZS "Hawea" (F422) was one of six "Loch" class
frigate s of theRoyal New Zealand Navy .She saw brief wartime service with the
Royal Navy as HMS "Loch Eck". In February 1945 she took part in sinking two U-boats north of the Shetland Islands."Loch" class frigates were designed for anti-submarine ocean convey escort work. Since the Admiralty named them after Scottish lakes they were renamed after New Zealand lakes.
Lake Hawea is a glacial lake located in theCentral Otago region ofNew Zealand . The name is Māori and is thought to refer to a local tribe though the exact meaning is uncertain. "Hawea" was the first of three ships with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy.Korean war service
The
Korean war started on25 Jun 1950 whenNorth Korean forces crossed the 38°N parallel and invadedSouth Korea .The New Zealand Government decided to maintain two frigates in support of a United Nations Naval Force assisting South Korea. "Hawea's" sister ships, "Pukaki" and "Tutira", were hurriedly prepared for war service and sailed for Sasebo, their main base in
Japan , on3 Jul 1950 .They did escort and patrol services , often working with Commonwealth, South Korean and other allied ships, and in support of amphibious landings. The frigates were rotated in turn with the other four "Loch" frigates.
For "Hawea's" turn she departed for Korea on
2 Mar 1951 and returned on8 Mar 1952 . She had the distinction of firing the first shots in anger.On
15 Sep 1951 "Hawea" had a 7.6 m (25 ft) motor boat swamped and sunk in the Han River estuary , Western Korea, while navigating swift tidal channels to reach a bombardment position.Other service and incidents
On
22 Mar 1949 "Hawea" participated in sinking the coal hulk "Occident" inPalliser Bay .In late December 1956, "Hawea" with her sister ship "Pukaki" escorted the Antarctic supply ship "Endeavour" from
Bluff to the edge of the pack ice.Fate
On
15 Nov 1965 "Hawea" was paired with "Pukaki" and towed by the tug "Atlas" to Hong Kong for breaking up.ee also
Frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy References
* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 37-41. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994
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