HMNZS Moa (T233)

HMNZS "Moa" (T233) was a "Bird" class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

On 29 Jan 1943, with her sister ship "Kiwi", "Moa" helped ram and wreck [* Waters, Sydney David (1956) "The Royal New Zealand Navy", [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-c20.html#n307 Page 307-309] , Historical Publications Branch, Wellington.] the Japanese submarine "I-1". At the time "Moa" was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Peter Phipps, later Vice Admiral Sir Peter Phipps.

On 7 Apr 1943 Japanese aircraft sank "Moa" at Tulagi Harbour in the Solomon Islands. The ship sustained a direct hit from a 500-pound bomb and sank within four minutes. Five ratings were killed and seven were seriously wounded. [ [http://www.navy.mil.nz/naval-reserve/naval-reserve-history/phipps-reserve-hero.htm Royal New Zealand Navy] Official web site]

"Moa" was the first of two boats with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and was named after a native bird from New Zealand

Record of Movement for the Japanese submarine "I-2"

;Extracts [ [http://www.combinedfleet.com/I-2.htm HIJMS Submarine I-2 : Tabular Record of Movement] ]
* 29 January 1943: The I-2's sister, the I-1, runs aground and is sunk off Guadalcanal. The wreck partially protrudes from the water. The Japanese, concerned about the possible compromise of their codes, try to destroy the I-1 by explosives and by bombing. All attempts fail.
* 11 February 1943: The I-2, with the XO of I-1 aboard, departs the Shortland Islands for Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal to sink the wreck of the I-1.
* 13 February 1943: In the dark, the I-2 fails to locate the I-1.
* 15 February 1943: The I-2 makes another try, but again fails to locate the I-1.

ee also

* Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Notes

Reference

* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 59-61. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994

Further reading

* Harker, Jack (2000)"The Rockies: New Zealand Minesweepers at War." Silver Owl Press. ISBN 0959797998

External links

* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Navy-fig-WH2Nav34a.html Photo of the wreck of I-1]