Lake-Class Patrol Boat, HMNZS Rotoiti (P3569) (1975)

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Lake-Class Patrol Boat, HMNZS Rotoiti (P3569) (1975)

Description:

HMNZS Rotoiti was one of four Patrol Boats built for the Royal New Zealand Navy in Britain during the cold war. She would be primarily engaged in fisheries patrol, a role which she would serve until her decommissioning.

Designed to replace the aging SDMLs, which were repurposed vessels of Second World War vintage. The lake class were envisioned to patrol the 12 mile NZ EEZ in the early 1970’s. Originally 6 vessels were ordered, but with a change of government, this was reduced to four, as well as the size of the vessels being shrunk due to cost concerns, at the cost of seaworthiness. Notably reducing the length from 50m to 33m, as to fit them on a heavy sea-lift vessel, as if they were to sail to NZ, it was believed they would need refit upon arrival.

This backfired in 1977 when when NZ’s EEZ was expanded to 200 miles, most of which were constantly at a seastate not suitable for the vessels, leading to the class being rearguard as poor sailors, and described as, “rolling on wet grass”. The class as a whole was further beset by vibration problems throughout their life.

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History:

Built by Brooke Marine, Lowesftoft, England with her sisters, HMNZS Rotoiti would be laid down in July 1974, finishing in November the same year. She would ship to NZ with her sister HMNZS Pukaki aboard a heavy lift vessel, being towed to HMNZS Philomel for fitting out.

She would commission into the RNZN by July 1975, specifically into the NZ Patrol Craft Sqadron (NZPACRON) out of Auckland with her sisters. During this time her armament would be carried as needed, and as such would vary greatly.

Most of the time she was un-armed, holding neither mount, however combinations of her twin .50cal mount, and .50cal+mortar mount were carried. Most often she ditched the extra .50 on the mortar mount, but the capability was kept.

Due to fuel economy measures the ships would take turns to be laid up in small refits at HMNZS Philomel. Rotoiti had a large refit in 1984 in an attempt to solve the vibration issues, however this was only partially successful, and she still suffered from poor seafaring qualities.

She would spend all of her time from 1975-1990 within the NZPACRON squadron, patrolling fisheries, and training the Naval Reserve. In 1991 she would be decommissioned and sold as a civilian pleasure vehicle, where she still exists today.

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General Characteristics:
Name: HMNZS Rotoiti
Country: New Zealand
Type: Minesweeper
Class name: Lake class
Year of commission: 1975
Refit: 1975
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Dimensions:
Length: 107.8ft(32.9m) o/a
Beam: 20ft (6.1m)
Draught: 11.1ft (3.4m)
Displacement: 134t
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Propulsion:
Powerplant: 2x 2-shaft Paxman 12YJCM diesels @ 3000 bhp each
Speed: 25kt
Endurance: Unknown
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Armament & sensors:
Compliment: 21
Primary armament: 1x2 .50 M2,
Secondary armament: -1x1 .50 M2 + Mk.2 81mm Mortar
Tertiary armament: - nil
Sensors: Racal Decca 916 Nav Radar
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