- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMNZS Te Kaha in game.
HMNZS Te Kaha arrives in Wellington Harbour, 2024
Description:
HMNZS Te Kaha is one of two ANZAC-class Frigates currently in service with the Royal New Zealand Navy. She would be the first Frigate directly ordered for New Zealand Service since 1982, as her predecessors were used vessels purchased second hand. She along with her sister, Te Mana, are currently the most powerful systems in the NZDF inventory.
The ANZAC-class of frigates were a join procurement project between Australia and New Zealand, custom built to both nations shared requirements. As both nations were looking to replace their aging Type 12 (River-class and Leander-class) frigates, it was seen as appropriate to replace them with a shared class, as to cut down on cost due to economies of scale, and ease of interoperability.
It would be based of the German MEKO 200 platform, however with large modifications. It was named after the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, signifying the shared history and military experience of both nations.
However the NZ and Aus vessels would eventually evolve to fill different roles through their respective mid-life refits, as the Australians would fit Harpoon, and later the Naval Strike Missie, but no CIWS, and would replace their RIM-7 with the Evolved Sea Sparrow. While NZ would not fit Harpoon, they would fit the CIWS, and replaced their RIM-7 with Sea-Ceptor. Their sensors would also change, currently NZ and Aus Anzac’s operate differing RADARs and systems, although completing with nearly identical systems.
Te Kaha alone would replace two of the RNZN Leander-class frigates due to severe budget cuts, cutting down the number of frigates from four to two, however two further vessels of the ANZAC-class were offered to the NZ Government in addition to the Te Kaha and Te Mana, but were refused on cost grounds.
This suggestion is for the HMNZS Te Kaha as she commissioned from her mid-life FSU (Frigate Systems Upgrade) in 2020.
HMNZS Te Kaha refueling from RFA Tidespring as part of the UK CSG, 2025
History:
HMNZS Te Kaha would be laid down as the 2nd vessel of the class by AMECON (Later Tenix Defence), at Williamstown, Victoria on the 19th of September 1994. Her hull would be completed by Tenix Defence, however her superstructure would be constructed in six pieces in Whangarei, New Zealand. Final assembly would be done at Williamstown. She would launch on the 22nd of July 1995, and finally commission into the RNZN on the 22nd of July 1997.
Soon after commissioning she would undergo a small refit, adding the CWIS and torpedo tubes. However due to cost saving measures, her CWIS and Torpedo tubes would be recycled from the Leander-class which preceded her, the CWIS coming from the HMNZS Waikato, and the torpedo tubes from the HMNZS Southland. She would also initially use the Wasp helicopter, as the Super Seasprite helicopter had just been chosen, and loaner SH-2F air frames where only used from 1998-2001.
Her first operation would be to combat poachers in the Ross Dependency in February 1999, after working up trials, then from the 19th to the 26th of September the same year, she would take part in the INTERFET deployment to East Timor. During this time her turbine would be replaced under warranty. She would then move to the Persian Gulf, as part of the Multinational Interception Force. In June of 2000 she would sail to the Solomon Islands as a Guardship, returning to NZ in September.
By August 2001 she would sail to Asia for a tour of Duty, however she would divert to Persian Gulf, as to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom, being replaced by HMNZS Te Mana in February 2003. In early 2002, micro cracks were discovered in the bilge keel and hull plating, but were fixed. By March 2003 she would provide fire support to the Royal Marines, then engaged in the Battle of Al Faw.
She would then go into a series of refits, where she would spent a year or two in refit during maintenance then back and commissioned for another year, before going back into refit and repair. The first refit would be in 2006, when two .50 M2HB in two Mini Typhoon mounts were fitted to the bridge roof. In 2007 she would undergo her Platform Systems Upgrade (PSU refit). Her stability would be improved, her original TB83 diesels were replaced with TB93 types, giving more power, her quarterdeck was also enclosed. This was in addition to the replacement of the Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS). These works would be complete in two batches, in 2009 and 2012, allowing her to still operate in the time being.
HMNZS Te Kaha with her FSU refit underway at CFB Esquimalt, 2019
She would continue standard operations from 2012 onward, as she had between refits during the 2007-2012 period, albeit without the change in armament. On the 14th of April 2014, the Frigate Systems Upgrade program was approved, and with plans completing in March 2018, she would sail for CFB Esquimalt, Canada, for refit.
However in the meantime, her deployment to the Western Pacific in 2017 as part of the US 7th Fleet would be extended, as she would provide escort to the USS Nimitz at the time of the USS USS Fitzgerald - MV ACX Crystal collision. She was would be awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation.
This would include a new Combat Management System, based on that of Canada’s Halifax-class. 20 Sea Ceptor cells would replace the 8 Mk.41 quadpacked RIM-7s. Her radar and systems would be modernised, including SSTD, MASS, and a new Inertial Guidance system. Her new Radar was the Thales SMART-S Mk.2. Other improvements include to the IFF, and Laser Warning. These works would be heavily delayed by COVID in 2019, however by this time works were mostly complete, finally completed in December 2020.
In 2021 she would deploy to SEA, during which she would operate in the UK CSG in the area. She would do this in tandem with the fleet oilier, HMNZS Aotearoa. In may 2024, she would accidentally collide with the warf at the Kauri Point Ammunition Depot, with repairs finishing soon after for a cost of $220,000 NZD.
On the 12th of February 2025 she would again deploy to the Middle East, conducting a PASSEX with the Indian navy by April as the leader of CTF-150.
During her Carreer she would (and continues to) visit many friendly ports and Nations, including Australia, Japan, Canada, India, Singapore, the Philippines, and the US. She continues operations to this day, being slated to be replaced by either the Type 31, or Mogami-class frigates by 2030.
| General Characteristics: | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMNZS Te Kaha | |||||||||
| Country: New Zealand | |||||||||
| Type: Frigate | |||||||||
| Class name: ANZAC | |||||||||
| Year of commission: 1997 | |||||||||
| Refit: 2020 (NZ FSU) | |||||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||||
| Dimensions: | |||||||||
| Length: 118m (387ft) | |||||||||
| Beam: 14.8m (49ft) | |||||||||
| Draught: 4.35m (14.3ft) | |||||||||
| Displacement: 3,600t full | |||||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||||
| Propulsion: | |||||||||
| Main Powerplant: 1x GE LM-2500-30 Gas Turbine @ 30,172hp (22,499kW) across two shafts, | |||||||||
| Secondary Powerplant: 2x MTU 12V1163 TB93 diesels @ 10,740hp (8,008 kW) ea | |||||||||
| Speed: 27+kt | |||||||||
| Endurance: 6,000 nmi @ 18kt | |||||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||||||
| Compliment: 178 | |||||||||
| Primary armament: 1x1 5-Inch/54 Mark 45 Mod 2 | |||||||||
| Secondary armament: 20 cell GWS.35 VLS w/ Sea Ceptor | |||||||||
| Tertiary armament: 1x1 Phalanx CIWS, 6x1 .50M2HB, 2x1 .50M2HB on Mini Typhoon mount, 2x3 12.75" Mk.32 Torpedo Tubes w/ Mk.46 Mod 5 torpedo | |||||||||
| Radar: Smart-S Mk2 air and surface search, 2x Furuno 3320 Navigation, CMS 330 Fire Control, SSB-1005 surveillance | |||||||||
| Sonar: Spherion B bow sonar, Petrel TSM 5424 3D mine detection and avoidance | |||||||||
| Decoy and ESM Systems: Eibit/Elisra ESM, Mk.36 SRBOC, Sea Sentor SSTD, DLF Floating Decoys, SLQ-25A towed decoy, Centaur ESM | |||||||||
| Other systems: Vampir IRST Targeting, Elbit Systems LWD, Rheinmetall MASS, CMS 330 Link 16 Combat Management System, Mk XII IFF, PST-1720 Telegon 10 radar intercept | |||||||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||||||
| Aircraft Specifications: | |||||||||
| Type: SH-2G (I) Super Seasprite | |||||||||
| Armament Carried: 1x1 7.62mm FN MAG, 2x AGM-119, or 2x 12.75" torpedoes, or 2x depth charges, 2x external fuel tanks | |||||||||
| Systems: Flares&Chaff, AN/LN 66 HP Radar, AN/ALR 66 RWR, TACAN, GPS, ADF, IFF | |||||||||
| Engines: 2x GE T-700, producing 1,723hp (1,285 kW) each | |||||||||
| Crew: 3 | |||||||||
| Main Rotor Diametre: 13.4m | |||||||||
| Length: 15.9m | |||||||||
| Height: 4.5m | |||||||||
| Range: 1,000 km clean | |||||||||
| Max Speed (Never exceed speed) : 278 km/h | |||||||||
| Empty Weight: 4,170 kg |
HMNZS Te Kaha under Sea Acceptance trials in the Hauraki Gulf, 2024
Sources:
P.Greener (2009) TIMING IS EVERYTHING: The Politics and Processes of New Zealand Defense Acquisition Decision Making (pp. 23-59, 77-87)
HMNZS Te Kaha - Wikipedia
Anzac class Frigate Royal New Zealand Navy RNZN
Seasprite Helicopters — National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
https://kaman.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/kaman-sh-2g-super-seaprite-brochure-english-09-08.pdf
https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/anzac/?cf-view