HMNZS Te Kaha
 HMNZS Te Kaha in 2016
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 New Zealand | |
| Name | HMNZS Te Kaha |
| Namesake | Kaha |
| Builder | Tenix Defence |
| Laid down | 19 September 1994 |
| Launched | 22 July 1995 |
| Commissioned | 22 July 1997 |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | He Ponanga Kaha (Māori: "Service with strength") |
| Honours and awards | Meritorious Unit Commendation (United States) |
| Status | Active as of 2024 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Anzac-class frigate |
| Displacement | 3,600 tonnes full load |
| Length | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Beam | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Draught | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 27+ knots (50+ km/h; 31+ mph) |
| Range | 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) |
| Complement | 178 Officers and ratings (25 Officers, 153 ratings) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | One Kaman SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopter |
HMNZS Te Kaha (F77) is one of ten
Kaha
).
Design and construction
During the mid-1980s, the RNZN began considering the replacement of their four
economic exclusion zone (EEZ) patrols expected to be the RNZN's core operations.[12] Despite ongoing debate, the New Zealand government agreed to purchase two frigates in addition to the RAN's eight, and had an option for two more.[13][14] This option expired in 1997 without New Zealand exercising it; there were proposals to buy a new or second-hand Anzac outside the terms of the original contract, but a lack of political support stopped this developing, and the number built for the RNZN remained at two.[15] The drop in capability and the issue of tying up the Anzacs on EEZ patrols when they could be deployed more suitably elsewhere were factors leading to the RNZN's Project Protector acquisition program.[16]
The Anzacs are based on Blohm + Voss' MEKO 200 PN (or
controllable-pitch propellers driven by a single General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbine and two MTU diesel engines: initially the TB83 model, but these were replaced in 2009 with more powerful TB93s.[11][17][18] Maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), and maximum range is over 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph); about 50% greater than other MEKO 200 designs.[11][17][19] The standard ship's company of an Anzac consists of 22 officers and 141 sailors.[17]
As designed, the main armament for the frigate is a
Mini Typhoons from 2006 onwards), two quad-canister Harpoon missile launchers, and a second Mark 41 launcher (neither of which have been added to the New Zealand ships).[11][20][21] The New Zealand Anzacs initially operated with a Westland Wasp helicopter, which were later replaced by Kaman SH-2 Seasprites, then Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters.[11][22]
Te Kaha was laid down at
Whangarei, New Zealand, and hull modules were built at both Williamstown and Newcastle, New South Wales, with final integration at Williamstown.[11] She was launched on 22 July 1995, and commissioned into the RNZN on 22 July 1997.[13] In early 2002, microscopic cracks in Te Kaha's bilge keel and hull plating were discovered.[20][23] This problem, which was common to the first four ships of the Anzac class, was later rectified.[23]
Operational history
In 1999, Te Kaha pursued
The frigate was also involved in the Solomon Islands conflict during 2000 and 2001, with several periods as guardship at the capital, Honiara.[24]
In 2002, Te Kaha returned to the Persian Gulf, this time as part of
flag-showing deployment in Asian waters.[24] The frigate was replaced in the Gulf by Te Mana in early 2003.[24]
In 2010 Te Kaha and HMNZS Endeavour became the first RNZN ships to Visit the USA Mainland since the dissolution of the ANZUS treaty.
In 2012 Te Kaha attended Exercise RIMPAC.
On 16 February 2015, Te Kaha sailed from New Zealand to
Exercise Talisman Saber. The ship returned to New Zealand on 2 August 2015 to family members, senior naval staff and the Maori Cultural group who performed a haka. Also involved in Talisman Saber 2015 was the multi-role vessel, HMNZS Canterbury
and the fleet tanker, HMNZS Endeavour.
In June 2017, the ship's deployment in the western Pacific was extended to provide support to the US
7th Fleet after USS Fitzgerald collided with the container ship MV ACX Crystal, killing seven sailors and causing extensive damage to the destroyer.[26] The frigate directly contributed to the escort of USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier replacing USS Carl Vinson in the region.[27]
In September 2021 HMNZS Aotearoa and Te Kaha sailed for an international defence exercise in South East Asia and also interact with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) as it conducts engagement activities in the Indo-Pacific region.[28]
Refit
In March 2018, Te Kaha arrived in Victoria, British Columbia, to undergo a major upgrade of her combat management system to the Lockheed Martin CMS 330, as well as replacing the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow with the new Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missile.[29][30] The upgrade is expected to cost NZD639 million.[30] In September 2020, the refit of Te Kaha was reportedly complete and the ship began post-upgrade sea trials in preparation for a return to active service.[1]
In December 2020 Te Kaha completed initial refit upgrades and sea trials and sailed back to Auckland,[31][32][33] arriving at the Devonport Naval Base on 20 December.[34] While she has finished the upgrades she has not completed her maintenance routine.
Honours
In November 2018, the
US Navy awarded Te Kaha the Meritorious Unit Commendation for supporting the 7th Fleet after the Fitzgerald collision.[35]
Gallery
-
Moored at the Devonport Naval Base -
The 5-inch main gun and bridge of Te Kaha -
Te Kaha alongside at Devonport, in Auckland in 2008
.jpg)
See also
Citations
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 23–5
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 26–7
- ^ Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, pp. 244–5
- ^ Fairall-Lee, Miller, & Murphy, in Forbes, Sea Power, p. 336
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 27–9
- ^ Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 244
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, p. 30
- ^ a b Jones, in Stevens, The Royal Australian Navy, p. 245
- ^ a b Greener, Timing is everything, p. 31
- ^ a b c d e f g h Grazebrook, Anzac frigates sail diverging courses
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 31–2
- ^ a b c d Wertheim (ed.), The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 504
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 43–4
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 81–6
- ^ McKinnon, New Zealand's navy follows a new heading
- ^ a b c d e f Sharpe (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships 1998–99, pgs. 25, 470
- ^ Scott, New Zealand invests in ANZAC upgrade path
- ^ Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 505
- ^ a b Greener, Timing is Everything, p. 46
- ^ Scott, Enhanced small-calibre systems offer shipborne stopping power
- ^ Greener, Timing is everything, pp. 46–7
- ^ a b Wertheim, The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World, p. 21
- ^ a b c d Greener, Timing is Everything, p. 47
- ^ Stevens, Strength Through Diversity, p. 14
- ^ Graham, Euan (29 June 2017). "A silver fern lining to Fitzgerald collision". The Interpreter. Lowy Institute. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "NZ Navy's Te Kaha to support US Seventh Fleet after fatal collision near Japan". One News Now. NZ Newswire. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "NZDF exercises with international counterparts in South East Asia". 9 September 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha arrives in Canada for combat system upgrade". Naval Today. 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
- ^ HMNZS Te Mana.
- user-generated source]
- ^ @NZNavy (2 December 2020). "Home before Christmas" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "HMNZS Te Kaha Sails Back to New Zealand with New Capability". December 2020.
- ^ "Navy ship returns to New Zealand just in time for summer". 20 December 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand Defence Force presented rare award by US Navy". Stuff.co.nz. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
References
Books
- Fairall-Lee, Sam; Miller, Kate; Murphy, David (2007). "The Royal Australian Navy in 2030". In Andrew Forbes (ed.). Sea Power: Challenges Old and New. Ultimo, NSW: Halstead Press. ISBN 978-1-920831-44-8.
- Greener, Peter (2009). Timing is everything: the politics and processes of New Zealand defence acquisition decision making. Canberra Papers on Strategy and Defence. Vol. 173. Canberra, ACT: ANU E Press. ISBN 978-1-921536-65-6. Archived from the originalon 7 April 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
- Jones, Peter (2001). "A Period of Change and Uncertainty". In Stevens, David (ed.). The Royal Australian Navy. The Australian Centenary History of Defence (vol III). South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. OCLC 50418095.
- Sharpe, Richard, ed. (1998). Jane's Fighting Ships 1998–99 (101st ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Information Group. OCLC 39372676.
- Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise (PDF). Working Papers. Vol. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. ISSN 1834-7231. Archived from the original(PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- Wertheim, Eric, ed. (2007). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Systems (15th ed.). Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. OCLC 140283156.
Journal articles
- Grazebrook, A.W. (1 November 1996). "Anzac frigates sail diverging courses". Jane's Navy International. 101 (9). Jane's Information Group.
- Scott, Richard (12 December 2007). "Enhanced small-calibre systems offer shipborne stopping power". International Defence Review. Jane's Information Group.
- Scott, Richard (22 September 2009). "New Zealand invests in ANZAC upgrade path". International Defence Review. Jane's Information Group.
External links
- "Te Kaha", Royal New Zealand Navy. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
- "Navy ship to support Auckland Anniversary Day", press release of 24 January 2007 by NZ Defence Force. Retrieved 8 February 2007.
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