Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Undated...Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Southland (Ex HMS Dido) pictured conducting a RAS procedure with Fleet Oiler HMNZS Endeavour in 1988.

Broad beam Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

3 Squadron Westland Wasp HAS.1 NZ3903 from Frigate HMNZS Canterbury, on the wharf at Devonport Naval Base after engine failure on November 30th 1973, crashing into Waitemata Harbour...crew were uninjured.

Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Waikato, River Class Destroyer Escort HMAS Yarra, Destroyer Tender HMAS Stalwart and Daring Class Destroyers HMAS Vendetta and Duchess pictured at Garden Island in 1969.

Broad Beam Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

Broad beam Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

Batch 3B Broadbeam Leander Class Frigate HMNZS Wellington (Ex HMS Bacchante) On arrival in New Zealand in 1982, Wellington was decommissioned and entered an extended refit which ended in 1986. The limited modernization proved difficult and took an unexpected 4 years. When inspected prior to purchase in 1981, she was in the condition expected for a RN Frigate after a dozen years' service. However, in 1982 the Frigate conducted a four-month winter patrol in the postwar Falklands exclusion zone with the other four RN unmodernised Leanders. Sea conditions in the Falkland exclusion zone meant more expensive hull repair was needed. (Of course the RN were not going to admit to this)..another marine inspection should have been ordered at the time... Large-scale energy projects in New Zealand at the time, resulted in a loss of key dockyard staff and recruitment difficulties. The installation of additional fuel tanks to extend the range of South Pacific operations proved difficult and dirty work. A new gunnery control system (RCA-76) along with surface and navigation radar were fitted, escape hatches were enlarged and asbestos was removed. The original estimated cost of transferring and refitting Bacchante and Dido to RNZN was $100m in 1981. By 1985 it reached $263m Other minor changes were also made as a result of practical experiences of British Frigates during the Falklands War. Later refits saw new long-range air surveillance radar in place of the old 965 bedstead, with the Thales LW08 (1994) and the original Seacat missile removed and replaced by the Phalanx CIWS (1998). She was sunk as dive wreck in 2005.

Broad beam Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

Batch 2TA broad-beam Leander Class ASW Frigate HMNZS Waikato pictured during the 1992 Auckland Anniversary Regatta.