Minesweepers: Castle Class

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Brian James
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Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:58 am

Minesweepers: Castle Class

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Built in Auckland, based on the RN's Castle Class Minesweeper/Trawlers...Minesweeper HMNZS Hinau pictured at Waitemata Harbour c1943 and hulked, being used as a breakwater at Kaiaua, Firth of Thames, NZ, where this photo was taken on November 13th 2013..She carried a complement of 26 officers and ratings and was equipped with magnetic minesweeping gear as well as acoustic sweep ‘Kango hammers’ for acoustic mines. Post-war Hinau was laid up at Devonport in reserve and was sold off as surplus on September 6th, 1954.
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Brian James
Posts: 8766
Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:58 am

Re: Minesweepers: Castle Class

Unread post by Brian James »

Castle Class Minesweeper HMNZS Wiaho pictured in Hauraki Gulf c1945...The design for the Castle Class Minesweepers were based on a commercial trawler taken up for service by the Royal Navy in 1915. Between 1916 and 1919 200 of this type of Minesweeper were built. Two served with the New Zealand Division as HMS Wakakura and James Cosgrove. In 1940 facing a requirement for Minesweepers to operate in home waters, the New Zealand government chose this design as it was simple enough to be built with the country’s limited ship construction facilities. She was laid down at Stevenson & Cook Engineering at Port Chalmers. Launched on February 19th 1944, HMNZS Waiho was commissioned into service with the RNZN on June 3rd 1944, the last of her Class to be commissioned. In May 1946 Waiho was sold to Red Funnel Trawlers Pty. Ltd in Sydney. The ship was renamed by her new owners Matong ON 178379. Waiho was delivered to Sydney in September by the Marine Department steamer Matai arriving September 12th. Matong began fishing in June 1947. By December 1958 Matong was laid up and in 1963 was sold for breaking up in Singapore which was carried out between 1964-65. It was said that a portion of Matong’s double bottom survived for some time as a pontoon.
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Brian James
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Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:58 am

Re: Minesweepers: Castle Class

Unread post by Brian James »

Castle Class Minesweepers HMNZS Waiho and HMNZS Waima pictured in the Calliope Graving Dock, HMNB Devonport, Auckland in 1946.
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