HMNZS Hinau with Auckland central visible in the background.
History
New Zealand
NameHinau
BuilderSenior Foundry Ltd. Auckland
Launched28 August 1941
Commissioned23 July 1942
Decommissioned1954
IdentificationPennant number: T17
FateSold to become a breakwater in 1954.
General characteristics
Class and typeCastle-class minesweeper
Displacement625 tons
Length135 ft (41 m)
Beam23 ft (7.0 m)
PropulsionSingle screw, triple reciprocating engine
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)

HMNZS Hinau was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class ships commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

Background

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country's limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]

Operational history

Hinau was the first of three composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 23 July 1942. The other two were Rimu and Manuka. She served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary minesweeping division)[2] which was located at Auckland. She occasionally visited Wellington and the South Island. After the war she was laid up at Devonport Naval Base.[3] In 1954 she was sold off as military surplus to be scrapped.[4] She was saved and purchased by Parry Bros LTD located in Whakatīwai, to become a breakwater and shingle bin, where she remains today.

Hinau as of 2023

References

  1. ↑ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-06. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  2. ↑ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  3. ↑ "HMNZS Hinau Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
  4. ↑ "Three Navy Craft Scrapped". The Press. 2 February 1955. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
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