- Yes - TT
- Yes - Event/BP
- Yes - Premium
- No - I would not like to see HMNZS Hawea in game.
Discription:
HMNZS Hawea was the fourth of six Loch-Class frigates transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). She served the RNZN in the post second world war environment, fighting in the Korean War among her other duties.
Following the naming convention of the Loch-Class in the Royal Navy, being named for Scottish lakes, it was decided to name the newly acquired RNZN Loch-Class ships after New Zealand lakes. The former HMS Loch Eck was named after lake Hāwea in central Otago, becoming HMNZS Hawea.
This suggestion is for HMNZS Hawea as she was commissioned into the RNZN in 1948.
History:
As Lock Eck:
Ordered as HMS Lock Eck on the 25th of January 1942 for use with the Royal Navy, she was laid down on the 25th of October 1943 in South Bank, England, launching on the 25th April 1944, finishing her fitting out and commissioning on the 7th of November 1944.
In December 1944 after her commissioning she joined the 10th escort group in the Western Approaches for anti-submarine patrolling and convoy escort. In January 1945 the group moved to Scapa Flow for more anti-submarine patrols, this time in the Faeroe-Iceland gap. During this period on the 3rd of February she sank U-327 using her Squid mortar with the assistance of HMS Bayntun and Braithwaite. She also took part in the Sinking of U-989 on the 17th of February, and U-1278 on the 17th of the same month.
The group was redeployed in March 1945 to the Southern Approaches as ‘Force 38’ for patrolling. During this period she damaged her ASDIC dome via grounding, and had to undergo repairs. These repairs were finished by April and she underwent testing of her new ‘SONOBUOY’ equipment that was added during the repair. On the 23rd of May she joined ‘Operation Doomsday’, the allied plan to reoccupy Noway from the Germans. During this time she escorted U-2529 to Loch Eriboll as part of operation deadlight. She underwent a small refit after this operation was complete.
After this refit, she joined the East Indies Escort force, where she carried out escort and guard ship duties. She was present for the Japanese surrender at Bali, and that in Lombok. She returned to England and decommissioned on the 13th August 1946.
She was purchased by the RNZN on the 7th of September 1948 and renamed Hawea.
As Hawea:
The now HMNZS Hawea commissioned into the New Zealand Navy in Devonport, England, on the 1st of October 1948. Sailing with three of her Loch-Class frigates that also had been purchased by the RNZN, she passed through the Suez Canal on her way to Auckland, NZ. She arrived in January 1949, joining the 11th Frigate Flotilla. On the 22nd of March 1949 she participated in the sinking of the coal hulk Occident."
She participated in patrols in the Pacific, visiting Fiji and Samoa. After a small refit from October 1949 to February 1950, she was loaned to the Mediterranean fleet along with her sister Taupo. She joined the fleet at Malta, participating in patrols and cruises, returning to Auckland in November 1950.
On the 25th of June 1950, North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The New Zealand Government decided that only two frigates were needed to support the UN troops on the ground. Hawea’s sisters, HMNZS, Pukaki and Tutira initially sailed for Sasebo. However after in February 1950, Pukaki and Tutira needed to be rotated out, and so Hawea and Taupo sailed for Kure, Japan in February 1951 to join the UN fleet.
On the 18th of May she and Taupo shelled a North Korean Gun Position, of which we have a unique view of due to a armature videographer aboard Hawea during her time in Korea.
From June to December 1951 she provided navigational data for other ships to continue the shelling of the Han River estuary, while also maintaining a blockade. She accidentally sank a small motor boat in the Han River while navigating to a Bombardment position. In February 1952 she was relieved by the HMNZS Rotoiti, yet another Loch-Class. During her time in Korea she fired 21,000 round of ammunition, steamed 55,000 miles and spent 272 days at sea.
After refit and repair in Auckland, she returned to Korea in October 1952, however in July 1953 a armistice was signed, and she returned to Auckland, arriving in August. After another refit, she rejoined the 11th Frigate Flotilla in February 1954. In December 1956 she and Pukaki escorted HMNZS Endeavor to the Southern Ocean, Antarctica.
On the 15th of February 1957, HMNZS Hawea was decommissioned and put into reserve. She was used as a harbor training ship until she was sold for breaking. She left Auckland for the breakers on the 15th of November 1965 with her sister Pukaki. She was broken up in Hong Kong
General Characteristics:
Dismensions:
Length: 307ft (93.7m)
Beam: 39ft (11.8m)
Draught: 14ft (4.3m)
Standard tonnage: 1,435t
Fully loaded tonnage: 2,250t
Compliment: 114
Propulsion:
Type: Oil fired triple expansion steam engines, across two shafts producing 5,500ihp (4,100 kW)
Speed: 19.5kt
Range: 9,500 NM (17,600 km) at 12kt.
Armament:
1x1 QF 4-Inch Mk.V on HA Mk.III**
4x1 QF 2-Pounder Mk.VII on quad-mount Mk.VII
2x1 40mm Bofors on single mount Mk.III|
8x1 20mm Oerlikon on single mount Mk.III
2x Squid triple barreled depth charge mortar
15 depth charges - 2x thrower, 1x rails
Sensors:
Type 277 surface search radar
Type 147B ASDIC
Sources
- McDougall, R.J (1989). New Zealand Naval Vessels. pp. 35–43
- Raymond V B Blackman. Jane’s Fighting Ships 1962-3. pp. 176 (https://archive.org/details/JanesFightingShips196263/page/n239/mode/2up)
- https://www.ngataonga.org.nz/search-use-collection/search/F1478/
- HMNZS Hawea (F422) - Wikipedia
- HMNZS Hawea - Frigate — National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy
- HMS Loch Eck, frigate, later HMNZS Hawae
- Loch class Frigates - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net