HMNZS Breeze (T02)

HMNZS "Breeze" (T02) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper.

"Breeze" was owned by the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company. She was taken up on 3 March 1942 under protest to replace the "Puriri" which had sunk in a minefield. She was a sister ship to "Gale".

War career

"Breeze" joined the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla at Tulagi in April 1943. On her arrival she was also formed, with "Matai" and her sister ship "Gale", into the 9th Auxiliary Minesweeping group within the flotilla. They carried out night-time patrol and escort duties under COMSOPAC control. The Japanese were well north by this time, but occasionally made sudden attacks into American strongholds around Guadalcanal.

In July 1943, prior to being fitted with radar, "Breeze" collided with [http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/dafs/LST/lst895.html USS "LST895"] off Guadalcanal while patrolling in a monsoon rainstorm. Grazing port to port, she had a boat wrecked.

During convey escort duty in Ironbottom Sound she was attacked, but not damaged, by dive-bombers.

From time to time the flotilla boats would return to Auckland for refits, usually escorting freighters bound the same way.

By mid 1944 the owners were demanding the return of "Breeze" and her twin "Gale". COMSOPAC released her on 10 November 1944.

Fate

She was sold to the Philippines in 1964 and renamed "Balabac" in 1966

ee also

*Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy

References

* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 69-78. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994

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-WH2Nav20b.html Picture of "Breeze"]
* [http://warart.archives.govt.nz/node/133 "Boiler cleaners"] Watercolour by Russell Clark