Minesweepers: Bird Class
Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 7:31 am
Bird Class Minesweeper HMNZS Kiwi pictured departing Wellington c1950.Built at Henry Robb Ltd Shipyard at Leith,Edinburgh and commissioned in 1941 for Minesweeping and ASW roles. From 1948 to 1956 she functioned as a Training Ship.
On January 29th 1943, with her sister ship Moa, Kiwi rammed and wrecked the Japanese J 1 Type Submarine at Kamimbo Bay,Guadalcanal. I-1's wreck lay partially protruding from the water.Critical materials remained on board and the Japanese command tried unsuccessfully to destroy the boat with air and Submarine attacks. The U.S. Navy reportedly salvaged code books, charts, manuals, the ship's log, and other secret documents, as well as equipment.At the time she was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson who was awarded the DSC and the United States Navy Cross for this action.
On January 29th 1943, with her sister ship Moa, Kiwi rammed and wrecked the Japanese J 1 Type Submarine at Kamimbo Bay,Guadalcanal. I-1's wreck lay partially protruding from the water.Critical materials remained on board and the Japanese command tried unsuccessfully to destroy the boat with air and Submarine attacks. The U.S. Navy reportedly salvaged code books, charts, manuals, the ship's log, and other secret documents, as well as equipment.At the time she was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson who was awarded the DSC and the United States Navy Cross for this action.