HMNZS Waiho
History
New Zealand
NameWaiho
BuilderStevenson & Cook, Port Chalmers
Launched19 February 1944
Commissioned3 June 1944
Decommissioned1946
IdentificationPennant number: T34/T403
FateSold to Red Funnel Trawlers
Australia
NameMatong
OwnerRed Funnel Trawlers
Acquired1946
In service1946
Out of service1958
FateScrapped in 1963
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 Waiho was one of eight steel New Zealand-built Castle-class ships built and commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. She was the last Castle-class trawler built for any navy.

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

Waiho was the last of nine minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 3 June 1944. the others being Aroha, Awatere, Hautapu, Maimai, Pahau, Waima, Waipu, and Waikato (never commissioned). She served with the 97th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group, located at Auckland.[2]

The day she was commissioned, she ran aground and was towed off after two hours, suffering a twisted rudder and popped rivets.[1][3] In 1944, the Waiho was struck by the Tui.[3] In 1945, she struck the Auckland ferry Makora, with damage to the ferry. [3] In 1946, she was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers, and was towed to Australia by the Matai.[4][3]

She began fishing in 1946, and was laid up in 1958.[3] She was sold for scrap in 1963.

References

  1. 1 2 "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 2023-12-29.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 McDougall, R.J. (1989). New Zealand Naval vessels. ISBN 0-477-01399-6.
  4. ↑ "MATAI DELAYED". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
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