HMNZS Gale (T04)

HMNZS "Gale" (T04) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper. She was the first New Zealand vessel to go into action against Japan.

"Gale" was owned by the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company. She was one of four ships requisitioned as a consequence of the "Orion" minefield and the loss of the liner "Niagara", the others being "Matai", "Puriri" and "Rata". She was taken over on 10 October 1940 and handed to the dockyard for conversion. She was a sister ship to "Breeze".

War career

"Gale" joined the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla in April 1941, sweeping for German mines in the Hauraki Gulf.

On 14 May 1941 she rescued the survivors of the "Puriri" sinking.

Later in 1941 the flotilla swept susceptible minefield areas such as near Cuvier Island and Farewell Spit.

In December 1941 "Gale" detached to relieve "Viti" in Fiji. and returned to refit in February 1942.

In June 1942 "Gale" was deployed to Noumea for port minesweeping duties where she was the first New Zealand vessel to deploy with
COMSOPAC, the United States Navy's South Pacific Command, then taking over command of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla

On 5 August 1942 "Gale" located a missing US amphibian aircraft, rescued the crew, and towed it back to Noumea. This earned her a US commendation.

She sailed back to New Zealand on 30 October 1942 and was a port miesweeper at Wellington with the Second Minesweeping Group.

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

From time to time 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 "Gale" and her twin "Breeze". COMSOPAC released her on 20 September 1944.

Fate

"Gale" was sold to a Malayan buyer in 1962 and renamed "Jasa" of Hong Kong, later Panama. Reported in 1970 as broken up.

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

Further reading

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