- Yes - In the Tech Tree.
- Yes - Event/BP.
- Yes - Premium.
- No - I would not like to see HMNZS Southland in game.
HMNZS Southland visiting Bluff in July 1983
Description:
HMNZS Southland was the final Leander-class frigate to be operated by the Royal New Zealand Navy, and one of two of the class to be formerly operated by the Royal Navy, initially being the HMS Dido. She would serve the RNZN in the late cold war period, serving through to the mid 1990s.
Although she would eventually prove to be a useful ship, she was not initially wanted by the RNZN, who only wanted a single type of ship to replace the aging pair of Otago-class (Type 12M) frigates. The NZNB initially indicated to the MOD that they wanted two broad-beam gun armed Leanders purchased from the UK. Many ships were offered by the UK MOD, however most were rejected due to their poor condition, age, or lack of helicopter capability.
Eventually the HMS Bacchante would be selected, however, the British Admiralty refused to sell her individually. Forcing the NZNB to purchase a package deal for two ships, the broad-beam and gun armed HMS Bacchante, which they actually wanted, and the narrow-beam Ikara armed HMS Dido, which they were stuck with. However it allowed for a good fleet balance of four vessels, allowing for one to be at sea at all times, and it gave the RNZN an excellent training platform, due to her computerised systems.
Her purchase also went back on the 1983 New Zealand Defense whitepaper, which stated that the RNZN should only acquire Gas-turbines powered vessels, as the Southland (Former HMS Dido) and Wellington (Former HMS Bacchante) both being powered by geared steam turbines.
Although she officially was rated to 28kt like her gun armed sisters, she could reach 30+kt in trial speeds, due to her narrow-beam and Ikara armament, which improved her hydrodynamic form and lightened her displacement compared to the other vessels.
This suggestion is for HMNZS Southland’s fit in 1988.
HMNZS Southland at Bluff Harbour around 1984
History:
Royal Navy Service:
Originally laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glascow, Scotland, as the Rothesay-class Frigate (Type 12M) named Hastings on the 2nd of December 1959, she would be completed as the third vessel of the improved Type 12I design. To represent these changes her name was also changed to Dido mid construction. She would launch on the 22nd of December 1961, finally fitting out and commissioning on the 18th of September 1963.
Upon commissioning, she would join the Far East Fleet, joining the 22nd Escort Group in 1964, participating in the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation, then later becoming the leader for the 21st Escort Group. She would only move from this area in 1969, as she was assigned to the NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic, participating in a fleet review at Spithead during this time. Her service during this time would be mundane but active, as although it was peacetime, she would constantly be on training cruises during the high tension of the Cold War.
From July 1975 through to October 1978, the Dido was in a very large refit. As with eight other Batch 1 Leanders, she was being converted to carry the Ikara ASW system in place of her 4.5" guns. She would have an additional Sea-Cat missile system fitted, bringing her total up to two quad mounts. The two single 40mm Bofors mounts were moved amidships, next to the funnel. The ADAWS 5 computer aided combat direction system was also fitted. Her Radar systems were also overhauled, removing the Type 965 radar. When this work was finished, she would join the 3rd Frigate Squadron, then was laid up due to budget cuts. She would rejoin the Standing Naval Force Atlantic in 1983 for a brief amount of time.
By late 1983, her sale to New Zealand along with her sister, HMS Bacchante was confirmed.
HMNZS Southland refueling from the fleet oiler HMNZS Endeavour
Royal New Zealand Navy service:
Immediately upon her selection’s confirmation, she would be sent to Southampton for another large refit and modernisation. During which her helipad was expanded by the removal of the Limbo mortar and its systems, and the torpedo tubes were replaced by Mk.32 12.75" types. This would be completed in December 1983, with the HMNZS Southland commissioning on the 21st of December that year.
She would sail for Bluff, New Zealand, in mid 1984 via the US east coast, arriving in July.
Like the other RNZN frigates of this time, she would mostly be on training, fleet escort, fisheries protection duties, or visiting friendly ports as to show the flag. By November 1984 she was exercising around the Tasman sea with the RAN. Her Ikara systems were first fired by the RNZN a full year after she commissioned, in July 1985.
From 1985 through to 1987 she would visit many Australian ports, including Sydney, Darwin, and Adelaide, as well as visiting friendly nations such as Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, and Singapore. She would also visit China, sailing to Shanghai. During this time she would participate in operation WELLS off Fiji.
She was in a small refit in March 1988, when she would finally gain the Wasp Helicopter, albeit without the SS.12 missiles, due to their French origin. After this refit in August that year she would join the New Zealand Force South East Asia, visiting Singapore, Western Samoa, and Niue. She would leave this area of operations around mid 1989 when that group disbanded.
She would instead be deployed for the Southern Ocean Patrol, visiting the far south of New Zealand, such as the Campbell and Auckland Islands. Around this time the RNZN would drop the Ikara system, due to a perceived lack of usefulness of the Mk.44 Torpedo it carried. The launcher would be maintained, albeit without anything to launch. She would receive a minor refit to allow her to operate as a general purpose frigate.
After this refit she would continue her usual patrol areas, visiting Australia and participating in operation OCTANUS. By August 1994 she was put into reserve, being finally decommissioned on the 1st of March 1995 to be scrapped.
| General Characteristics: | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: HMNZS Southland | |||||
| Country: New Zealand | |||||
| Type: Frigate | |||||
| Class name: Leander (Type 12I) | |||||
| Year of commission: 1983 | |||||
| Refit: 1983 | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Dimensions: | |||||
| Length: 372ft 1in (113.4m) | |||||
| Beam: 41ft (12.5m) | |||||
| Draught: 19ft (5.8m) | |||||
| Displacement: 2,990t full, 2,350t standard | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Propulsion: | |||||
| Powerplant: 2x oil fired double reduction geared steam turbines @ 30,000 hp (22,370kW) overall, 2 shafts | |||||
| Speed: 30kt (trial speed, offical speed: 28kt) | |||||
| Endurance: 5,300nm @ 12kt | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Armament & sensors: | |||||
| Compliment: 260 | |||||
| Primary armament: 1x Ikara Launcher GWS40 | |||||
| Secondary armament: 2x1 40mm Bofors, 2x4 Sea-Cat GWS22 | |||||
| Tertiary armament: 2x1 .50 M2 MGs, 2x3 Mk.32 12.75 ASW torpedo tubes | |||||
| Radar: Type 993 search, 2x Type 903 & 904 Fire-Control, Type 1006 Nav | |||||
| Sonar: Type 184P search and attack, Type 199 VDS | |||||
| Misc Systems: UAA-8/9 Warning receiver, Type 668 & 669 Jammers, IFF, Decoys | |||||
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |||||
| Aircraft Specifications: | |||||
| Type: Westland Wasp HAS.1 | |||||
| Armament Carried: 2x Mk.44 12.75" ASW torpedoes, or 2x Depth Charges, 2x MGs. | |||||
| Engines: 1x RR Nimbus 103 providing 710shp (530kW) | |||||
| Crew: 2 | |||||
| Main Rotor Diametre: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m) | |||||
| Length: 40 ft 4 in (12.29 m) | |||||
| Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) | |||||
| Range: 263nmi | |||||
| Max Speed: 96kt | |||||
| Empty Weight: 3,452lb (1,566kg) |
HMNZS Southland firing her Ikara ~ 1987
Extra Photos
Sources:
P.Greener (2009) TIMING IS EVERYTHING: The Politics and Processes of New Zealand Defence Acquisition Decision Making (pp.23-25)
HMS Dido (F104) - Wikipedia
HMNZS Southland — National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Type 12I Leander class Frigate Royal New Zealand Navy RNZN
Technical Specs – HMS DIDO
Wasp Helicopter — National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Leander class Type 12I Frigate - Royal Navy Seacat Seawolf Exocet