NZ Naval Board Report – 1963

EXTRACT TAKEN FROM THE REPORT TO THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BY THE NEW ZEALAND NAVAL BOARD 1ST APRIL 1963 TO 31ST MARCH 1964.

REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND NAVAL BOARD FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 1964
PREFACE
It is particularly important that a small fighting Service like the Royal New Zealand Navy should be sure of its purpose, clear about its plans and efficient in its operation. It has no spare capacity with which it can undertake work that is not strictly relevant to its primary role; nor has New Zealand the resources to permit the use of equipment, which is not entirely suitable and does not therefore represent full value for the money spent in its purchase, upkeep, manning, and operation.

For this reason the New Zealand Naval, Board recently re-examined the pattern upon which the Navy is developing. This pattern was set more than 10 years ago. Since then the world situation has changed, to some extent the defence emphasis has moved and a wide range of new equipment has been produced. I t is important, therefore, to re-examine the lines upon which the Navy is being built.

These lines were set after a century of naval history. Until 1921 New Zealand relied for its maritime defence on the Royal Navy. From 1921 to 1941 the function of maritime defence became that of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, but the type of ship remained predominantly the cruiser selected to meet the threat of surface raiders and, as events were to prove selected correctly. From 1941 until the end of the war the Royal New Zealand Navy developed under war pressure and with whatever equipment could he made available. The cruisers remained in service but the threat of submarines and mines was met by the hasty organisation of a fleet of often-makeshift minesweeping anti-submarine vessels.

After the war careful thought was given to the shape the Navy should take. It was apparent that New Zealand could not support, industrially, financially, or in manpower, a Navy large enough to undertake a full range of activities, so it was decided that the country would be best served by an anti-submarine force supplemented by cruisers. Six Loch class frigates were obtained from the United Kingdom and arrangements were made for the loan of two cruisers.

This policy has remained basically unchanged up till the present. Now however it must be modified in this respect; cruisers are being replaced around the world by more specialised ships and it is apparent that there will be no cruiser replacement available for HMNZS ROYALIST when she reaches the end of her useful life later this decade. The result is that the Royal New Zealand Navy will then become an exclusively frigate navy.

The Loch-class frigates had already seen war service when they were bought and all six subsequently served in the Korean War. They were ideally suited for the Navy’s purpose but their life was clearly limited. In 1950 a decision was taken to replace them progressively and the Type 12 anti-submarine frigates then under development were selected. This was a wise selection. The Type 12 has proved to be one of the outstanding achievements of British post-war warship design and eminently suitable for New Zealand’s requirements.

The keels of the first two of these frigates were laid in 1957 and the ships were delivered in 1960. At the same time a programme of expansion and modernisation was begun in the Devonport Naval Dockyard to meet the need for the vastly more complex maintenance required for modern ships and their weapons, and training was begun so that skilled men were available to service them.

All this represented a complete commitment of the resources available to the Navy and the purpose of the Naval Board’s recent reappraisal was to ensure that the basic decision was right and the reasons for it remained valid.

The Naval Board looked first at the type of navy New Zealand needs. It found nothing to change the original view that as a maritime country we require most urgently ships, which can defend our commerce. In addition, there is a shortage of escort ships in the Pacific, so that the most welcome contribution we can make to the defence of the countries with which we are allied would be anti-submarine frigates.

With the knowledge that the Navy should be basically an anti-submarine force, the Naval Board looked next at the type of ship needed. Apart from the important auxiliary vessels, the Navy has so far concentrated on the Type 12 anti-submarine frigate. This has progressed through a series of improvements of which some of the most important were initiated by New Zealand when it ordered air conditioning, bunks, and cafeteria messing to be fitted in its first two ships. The latest Type 12 carries a helicopter with which it can attack a submarine at ranges, which match the new and greatly improved submarine detection equipment. However, basically the class has remained unchanged; it is extremely successful and well suited to New Zealand needs.

With the type of navy and the type of ship decided, a review was then made of the number required. Modern ships are much more efficient than those they replace but this increase in efficiency is gained at the cost of added complexity and a greater maintenance burden. The Royal New Zealand Navy obtains full value from its frigates, and their availability rate is higher than that, which obtains for comparable ships overseas, but time must still be allowed for regular and time consuming refits.

The Naval Board has calculated the commitment and the need for maintenance. The answer is inescapable. To do all the Navy is required to do, and to continue doing it regularly and without fail requires six operational frigates. Fewer will not be sufficient. This, then, was the conclusion that emerged confirmation of the earlier decision that New Zealand needs a Navy designed for commerce protection, that it should be equipped with modern frigates and that six are needed.

It remains only to compare this with the present situation. Clear progress has been made. We have two modern frigates and a third under construction. We have a cruiser and two older Lochs still in service. This year, in terms of ships and men, of new shore construction (including the first naval accommodation block built to the inter-Service standard and important new developments in the dockyard) the Navy is in a healthy condition.

But there are reservations. There is a point in the life of a ship where it can be kept seaworthy only by substantial expenditure on repairs. But although such ships can float and steam they are no longer effective. They have neither the speed nor the equipment they need and they cannot take part with other navies in the exercises that are so large a part of modern defence preparations.

This stage is approaching with ROYALIST and with the two Loch class frigates, which remain in service. Within a predictable time these three ships must go out of service. Unless they are replaced, New Zealand will fall short of the six ships that it requires. Re-equipment accordingly needs to proceed at a somewhat accelerated pace if an efficient Service is not to deteriorate.

SECTION I-DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY

(i) ORGANISATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Progress was made in re-equipping the Navy with modem warship when the third Type 12 anti-submarine frigate was ordered in June. The ship, to be named HMNZS WAIKATO, is expected to join the, fleet early in 1967. WAIKATO, although basically of the same design as OTAGO and TARANAKl, is fitted with improved equipment developed since the two latter ships were completed.

(ii) DEFENCE RESEARCH
(a) Naval Research Laboratory
During the year the Naval Research Laboratory continued the study of acoustic propagation in waters around New Zealand. Investigation of variations in underwater transmission of sound in different climatic conditions. is necessary for the proper design, assessment, and operation of acoustic underwater detection systems, and previous work was therefore repeated in some areas.

Work also proceeded on the application of earlier results to specific detection systems, involving the techniques of data telemetry and of signal processing by means of digital and analogue computing devices.

A member of the Laboratory staff again attended the United States Acoustics Conference and the United States Navy Symposium on Underwater Research, and was able to visit a number of establishments in the United States working in these fields: The visits once again proved of immense value in bringing the Laboratory up to date with overseas progress, in assisting the solution of particular problems encountered by the Laboratory and in avoiding duplication of work.

The shortage of professional staff, particularly of senior and experienced men, continued to be a major problem. Few trained officers appeared to be available either from New Zealand or from overseas.

(b) Defence Scientific Corps
It was found increasingly difficult to attract suitable graduates into the rather restricted field of defence research. But one additional officer was entered into the Corps and, at year’s end was undergoing postgraduate training in the United Kingdom.

SECTION 2 OPERATIONS

(i) VISITS AND DUTY OVERSEAS
(a) HMNZS ROYALIST
HMNZS ROYALIST, serving with the Far East Fleet, participated in exercise “SEA SERPENT’, described below. The ship also visited Hong Kong, Manila, Hakata, Kure and Tokyo before sailing from Singapore in June for return to New Zealand. Visits were made to Darwin and Townsville en route to Auckland.

ROYALIST sailed from Auckland in August to participate in a joint exercise with Australian warships. Following her return from Sydney, ROYALIST began a New Zealand cruise and. visited Lyttelton, Picton. Nelson, and Napier before returning to Auckland in October.

ROYALIST visited the Bay of Islands in February to participate in the Waitangi Day celebrations and subsequently carried out exercises and gunnery practice in the Hauraki Gulf.

(b) HMNZS OTAGO
HMNZS OTAGO left New Zealand in April for the Far East to relieve ROYALIST. En route OTAGO spent a month at Pearl Harbour working-up with the United States Navy, and achieved an outstanding pass mark of 91 per cent.

After leaving Pearl Harbour. OTAGO visited Kwajalein and Guam before reaching Singapore in June. While on the Far East Station OTAGO participated in exercise “FOTEX” and paid a successful visit to Bangkok in October. OTAGO sailed from Singapore in November and visited Fremantle and Adelaide before returning to New Zealand in December.

(c) HMNZS TARANAKI
HMNZS TARANAKI returned to Auckland on 1 April after a period of duty with the Far East Fleet. The ship visited Sydney in September for anti-submarine training before sailing again for the Far East to relieve OTAGO. Visits were made to Suva and Pago Pago before arrival at Pearl Harbour where six weeks were spent in successful work-up exercises. TARANAKI then visited Kwajalein and Guam and arrived in Hong Kong in December to join the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. In March, TARANAKI represented New Zealand in “JET 64”, a five-nation Commonwealth maritime exercise,

(d) HMNZS PUKAKI
HMNZS PUKAKI left Auckland in May for a seven-week 7,750-mile training cruise to islands in the Central and South Pacific. During the cruise the ship serviced the weather station on Raoul Island for the Civil Aviation Administration and transported Army personnel and equipment to the Tokelau Islands to begin a reef-blasting programme. ‘The ship also visited Western Samoa, islands in the Northern Cook Group, the French Society Islands, Nuie and the Fiji Islands,

During July and August PUKAKI completed a New Zealand cruise during which Naval Reserve personnel, sea cadets and sea scouts were embarked for sea training. Visits were made to eight ports and the Chatham Islands. In September PUKAKI sailed for Sydney to undertake anti-submarine training and then visited Launceston in Tasmania before returning to Auckland in November.

>From January to March the ship carried out ocean weather-ship duties for operation “DEEPFREEZE” at latitude 60 degrees south, in conjunction with USS HISSEM.
(e) HMNZS ROTOITI
HMNZS ROTOITI, the sea training ship for the RNZN, is complemented with a large number of trainees who are being introduced to life at sea.

In April and May ROTOITI visited the ports of Greymouth and Westport during training cruises, and during June and July the ship undertook a training cruise to the Pacific islands. Visits were made to Raoul Island, where supplies were landed for the weather station, and the Tokelau Islands, to deliver stores for the Island Territories Department. The ship also visited the Tonga Islands. Western Samoa, Suva and the French islands of Wallis and Home,

HMNZS ROTOITI carried out two ocean weather-ship patrols in conjunction with USS HISSEM for operation “DEEPFREEZE” during October and November.

In February, ROTOITI visited the Bay of Islands for the Waitangi Day celebrations and then sailed at short notice for Raoul Island to evacuate an injured meteorologist. Afterwards ROTOITI completed a New Zealand training cruise during which visits were made to Timaru, Bluff, and Dunedin.

(f) HMNZS ENDEAVOUR
HMNZS ENDEAVOUR sailed from Auckland on 9 April to begin the longest oceanographic cruise in the history of the RNZN steaming 6,950 miles to the Southern Ocean and back and spending 42 days continuously at sea. Eight scientists from the New Zealand Oceanographic Institute were aboard to collect samples and record data.

Further oceanographic studies were undertaken by ENDEAVOUR in June during visits to Raoul Island, the Cook Islands and Suva, and stores and explosives were transported on behalf of the Civil Aviation Administration and the Island Territories Department. On return to Auckland the ship commenced annual refit.

In November ENDEAVOUR sailed from Auckland at the start of her second Antarctic season, during which two supply trips were made to McMurdo Sound. In addition, ENDEAVOUR undertook a further oceanographic cruise in the Southern Ocean before returning 10 Auckland in March.

(ii) EXERCISES AND RNZN SHIPS PARTICIPATING
(a) “SEA SERPENT (April)-SEATO exercise in likely maritime operations – HMNZS ROYALIST.
(b) “FOTEX” (July)-RN, RAN, and RNZN exercise with a weapon-training period followed by a tactical exercise – HMNZS OTAGO.
(c) “CARBINE” (August/September)-Australian maritime exercise off the east coast of Australia involving all three Australian armed services, the RN, and the RNZN – HMNZS ROYALIST.
(d) “ACHERON” {January)-The annual tactical and training exercise for personnel of the RNZNVR – motor launches from the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Divisions with HMNZ Ships MAKO and MANGA.
(e) “JET 64” (March)-Commonwealth naval exercise on the Far East Station involving warships from the navies of five nations – HMNZS TARANAKI.

(iii) THE FISHERY PROTECTION SQUADRON
It was decided to increase the Fishery Protection Squadron from three motor launches, HMNZ Ships PAEA, MAKO, and MANGA, to six vessels over a period of two years. The three additional vessels were used to service HMNZS TAMAKI before the training establishment was transferred from Motuihe Island to Fort Cautley. HMNZS HAKU was commissioned as the fourth member of the Squadron in January.

During the past year the Squadron carried out whale surveys and fishery protection patrols extending from North Cape to the Bluff, cruising a total of 31,000 miles.

The Squadron participated in Anzac Day celebrations at Whitianga, the ceremonies marking the 194th anniversary of Captain James Cook’s landing in Poverty Bay, and the Waitangi Day celebrations in the Bay of Islands.

HMNZS PAEA also transported personnel from the Wildlife Division of Internal Affairs Department to and from the Three King’s Islands.

(iv) CEREMONIAL
(a) Visit of the King and Queen of Thailand to HMNZS OTAGO
Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit of Thailand paid an official call on OTAGO during the ship’s visit to Bangkok in October. A precedent was set in that Their Majesties had not previously visited a foreign ship in Thailand.
(b) Waitangi Day
The RNZN played its customary part in February .at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. HMNZ Ships present were ROYALIST, ROTOITI. PAEA, MAKO. MANGA, TAKAPU, TARAPUNGA, and ML P3555.

SECTION 3-HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES

(i) GENERAL
An agreement integrating the charting activities of Britain, Australia and New Zealand in appropriate waters was signed in Wellington in April 1963. In accordance with the agreement, integrated editions of Notices to Mariners were published jointly by the three countries from August. More than 27,000 copies of Notice to Mariners; including a bound annual summary, were distributed during the year, and 16 Hydrographic Notes containing information for the correction of charts were received from naval and merchant vessels.

New charts were published for Manukau Harbour, Approaches to Onehunga. Castle Point to Wellington, and Bay of Islands. Seven others were revised and reprinted opportunity being taken to show relief by shading.

Daily tidal records for six ports were microfilmed for the Tidal Library. The Hydrographic Supplies Depot, Auckland, sold 6,409 chart, through officially appointed agents in New Zealand and overseas.

(ii) HMNZS LACHLAN
Following a visit to the ship earlier in the year by the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy, Rear-Admiral E. G. Irving, C.B., O.B.E., HMNZS LACHLAN proceeded to survey the waters off Taranaki, breaking off the survey as required for other purposes.

In May and June the ship surveyed Manukau Bar and in October whilst preparing for two days exercises in the Hauraki Gulf it was ordered to proceed with all dispatch to stand by the survey vessel HMS COOK that had been damaged by grounding in Fiji. Opportunity was taken then to carry out a small survey at Natewa Bay.

In November the ship sailed from Wellington at short notice to assist in a search for the missing ketch Hunakai off Hawke’s Bay. Finally towing the ketch into Gisborne.

His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Fergusson embarked in November for a visit to the West Coast and Fiordland and circumnavigated the South Island.

A small party carried out a survey of the West Arm of Lake Manapouri in connection with the hydroelectric power project there.

The Taranaki area survey was later completed, having beeu delaved by much bad weather off Taranaki during the year.

(iii) HMNZ SHIPS TAKAPU AND TARAPUNGA
The survey motor launches worked during the year in Hauraki Gulf in waters off Whangarei and Great Barrier Island, and in Picton Harbour. They also took part in several ceremonial occasions, investigated reports of shoals and uncharted rocks and surveyed specific areas of coastline to be defined in charts under preparation.

SECTION 4 NAVAL VISITS TO NEW ZEALAND
(i) VISITS BY DISTINGUISHED PERSONS
In March, Admiral Sir David Luce, G.C.B., D.S.O, O.B.E., paid his first visit to New Zealand since assuming the post of First Sea Lord. Admiral Luce discussed defence matters with the Naval Hoard and visited the Naval Base at Auckland.

Admiral Sir Varyl Begg, KC.B., D.S.O., Commander-in-Chief, Far East and Vice-Admiral Sir Desmond Dreyer, K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.C., Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Far East Fleet, visited New Zealand for discussions in June and October respectively.

(ii) COMMONWEALTH NAVIES
(a) HMS COOK, the British survey ship, visited Auckland during April And May to undertake self-refit and docking.
(b) HMAS GASCOYNE, the Australian survey ship, paid a visit to Auckland in July during the course of a Pacific oceanographic cruise.
(c) RFA BRAMBLELEAF called at Auckland in October.

(iii) UNITS OF OTIIER. NAVIES
(a) The French escort sloop COMMANDANT RIVIERE paid an informal visit to Auckland in August and also carried out exercises in the Hauraki Gulf with HMNZS TARANAKI and RNZAF aircraft.
(b) FS LA DUNKERQUOISE, a French minesweeper, visited Auckland in December during an oceanographic cruise.
(c) United States ships attached to operation “DEEPFREEZE” visited Lyttelton, Dunedin, Wellington, and Auckland for replenishment of stores, repairs, and recreation during the 1963-64 Antarctic season.
(d) The submarine USS REDFISH paid an operational visit to New Zealand in March, calling at Wellington and Napier.

SECTION PERSONNEL

(i) OFFICERS The officer strength of the RNZN reached 308 during the year. The recruitment of General List cadets still remains far below the annual intake of seven to eight cadets required to maintain a balanced career structure in the RNZN. The intake over the past three years has been regrettably low, as follows: 1962, two (one since discharged); 1963, nil; 1964, two.

An encouraging feature in 1963 was the promotion of seven ratings to the Special Duties List and the entry of seven Supplementary List (Short Service) officers of various specialisations. The period under review, one medical officer and two instructor officers entered the RNZN.

(ii) RATINGS
On 31 March the total strength of male ratings was 2,623, of whom 368 were undergoing initial training.

There were three Royal Navy ratings on loan to the RNZN for specialised duties.

(iii) WRNZNS
The Women’s Royal New Zealand Naval Service continues to play a most useful part in manning shore establishments of the RNZN.

On 31 March the total strength was nine officers and 95 ratings, with a trainee class of 14 awaiting entry. These 14 were expected to bring the WRNZNS to the maximum number able to be accommodated. Recruiting continued to be most satisfactory.

(iv) RECRUITING
The total number of entries during the year was 394 including 12 former RN personnel recruited in the United Kingdom and three ratings transferred from the RN on compassionate grounds. The total showed an increase of 70 from the previous year and included 16 artificer apprentices.

(v) HEALTH
The standard of health in the RNZN during the year surpassed that of the previous year, the average time lost per member through illness being 1509 days, compared with 1655 days in the previous year.

Three deaths were recorded, all through misadventure.

Invaliding -Twenty-seven cases were invalided from all causes during the year, a decrease of nearly half on the previous year’s figures. More than half of these patients were of the psychiatric or psychoneurotic type. This very low rate of invaliding, 0.97 per cent of the total force was due mainly to other avenues of discharge being- open and utilised at an early stage,

Medical Manning – One doctor entered the RNZN during the year. The Dental Branch continued to attract suitable candidates in sufficient numbers the conditions of service being similar to those prevailing in civilian practice. The standard of dentistry remained high and comparatively new techniques in oral surgery were able to be used resulting in favourable comment both in New Zealand and overseas,

RNZN Hospital -The RNZN Hospital continued to meet the requirements of the RNZN and the local cold surgery requirements of the Army and RNZAF. Pensioners and naval dependants were admitted for treatment, as well as former RNZN personnel. In all, 1,370 cases were admitted for in-patient treatment during the year, representing a total of 9,679 treatment days and 350 major operations were performed. The status of the RNZN Hospital as a general hospital and its role as the all-Services establishment were thus confirmed by the year’s work but additional administrative space was seen to be an urgent necessity if the best use is to be made of the facilities available.

(vi) WORK STUDY
Only one team was available to the Fleet Work Study Organisation and progress on studies was accordingly limited. A properly trained work-study officer was not available to reconstitute the second team.

A successful Work Study Symposium was conducted at HMNZS PHILOMEL and attended by all work study officers and non-commissioned officers of the three Services.

(vii) HONOURS AND AWARDS
The following honours and awards to RNZN and RNZNVR personnel were made during the year:

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVY
Ordinary Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent order of the British Empire:
Commander C. F, Cutts.
Surgeon Commander (D) A. C. Horne.

Ordinary Member of the Military Division of the’ Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:
Lieutenant H. L. D. A. Gee.
British Empire Medal (Military Division):
Shipwright Artificer First Class O. M. Cox.
Chief Engine Room Artificer P. J. Hyde.
Chief Radio Electrical Artificer C. N Jeffries,
Chief Petty Officer G. T. Lawrence.
Chief Petty Officer B. T. Price.
Chief Radio Electrician T. Robinson.
Chief Radio Supervisor V. J. Stewart-St. Clair,

ROYAL NEW ZEALAND NAVAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE
Ordinary Member (Military Division) of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire:
Temporary Lieutenant Commander (SP) P. M. Sanders.
British Empire Medal (Military Division)
Chief Petty Officer F. H. Jefferies.

(viii) HOUSING AND SHORE ACCOMMODATION
Eight houses of the currently programmed total of 50 were completed in Auckland during the year, these eight being on the Ocean View Estate at Takapuna, bringing the total built by the Navy in Auckland in recent years to 411.

The new Store and Accommodation Block at HMNZS PHILOMEL was completed and occupied. The ground floor is for naval stores and the four upper floors provide accommodation for 188 junior ratings in cubicles four to each, which conform in every way to the inter-Service standard. Improvements were also made 10 the existing accommodation in HMNZS PHILOMEL by converting large dormitories into comfortable cubicles.

In order to accommodate the increasing number of new entrants in HMNZS TAMAKI, two barrack blocks were moved from Papakura Military Camp to Narrow Neck. These together with a new ablution block provide for about 80 additional new entrants. Alterations were made to the existing mess room and galley to provide more comfort and greater efficiency.

SECTION 6- TRAINING

(i) WITHIN NEW ZEALAND
A total of 430 ratings received initial disciplinary and technical training in HMNZS TAMAKI and HMNZS PHILOMEL during the year, and 63 officers and 1,474 ratings underwent advanced training at PHILOMEL.

At 31 March 1964, 65 artificer apprentices were under training in Royal Navy establishments and in HMNZS PHILOMEL.
HMNZS TAMAKI moved from Motuihe Island to Narrow Neck in August.

(ii) OVERSEAS TRAINING
The training of officer cadets and advanced courses for some officers continued to be undertaken in the United Kingdom and in Australia.

SECTION 7-NON REGULAR FORCES
(i) RESERVES
The strength of the reserves at 31 March 1964 totalled 720 officers and 3,279 ratings.

The Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve, which is composed of Merchant Navy officers, had a strength of 11.

The approved strength of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve is 140 officers and 600 ratings, At 31 March 1964. 121 officers and 397 ratings were under training in the four divisions. Recruiting was not satisfactory, no appreciable increase in numbers being made during the year.

The annual sea training was carried out in HMNZ Ships ROYALIST. PUKAKI, ROTOITI, OTAGO, LACHLAN, and ENDEAVOUR. Eight officers and 50 ratings carried out extended training in HMNZ ships. .

The strength of the inactive reserves was 588 officers and 2,882 ratings. of whom 1,727 ratings belonged to the Royal New Zealand Fleet Reserve, most having a reserve liability until they reach the age of 40 years.

(ii) SEA CADET CORPS
The strength of the Sea Cadet Corps on 31 March 1964 was 89 officers and 1,310 cadets, of whom 26 officers and 626 cadets were from the school units and the remainder from the open units.

Sea cadet camps were held at HMNZS PHILOMEL in August and January and at Ripa Island in January. Three cadets sailed in HMNZS ENDEAVOUR to the Antarctic.

The future development of sea cadet units in schools remained under consideration by the Government and no further expansion took place.

(iii) NAVAL RELATIONS OFFICERS
There are 25 Honorary Naval Relations Officers throughout New Zealand. They continued to provide valuable assistance in welfare work and recruiting and in representing the Naval Service in communities outside the four main centres.

SECTION 8-COMMUNICATIONS

(i) SHORE COMMUNICATIONS
A standby power plant for the transmitter station at HMNZS IRIRANGI has been completed, and work proceeded on a similar plant at the receiver station so as to enable the whole wireless station to carry on its normal functions in the event of failure of the local main power supply.

Replacement of equipment in the receiver station is now being planned receiving aerials have been improved, and a VHF relay between HMNZS IRIRANGI and Wellington is under construction. When these items are completed HMNZS IRIRANGI and the Naval Communication Centre in Wellington will be capable of providing an even more efficient service as one of the vital links in the Commonwealth strategic network of military communications.

Communications links were maintained with Australia. Canada and Pearl Harbour, as well as with ships at sea on the New Zealand Station, and during the year some 67,000 naval and 89,000 commercial messages were handled.

(ii) SHIPBORNE COMMUNICATIONS
A new generation of communications equipment was ordered for the frigates HMNZ Ships OTAGO and TARANAKI to enable the vessels to continue to operate effectively with ships of allied navies similarly equipped, and to maintain their high efficiency on the Far East Station. Limited modernisation of other ships continued.

(iii) EXERCISE COMMUNICATIONS
No major exercise involving both ships and shore stations were held during the year, but communications in ships of the RNZN played a full part in Commonwealth and SEATO exercises held on the Far East Station. The communications of HMNZ Ships OTAGO and TARANAKI were thoroughly tested during their periods of refresher training with the United States Navy at Pearl Harbour.

Communication exercises were carried out wherever possible when ships were in company, and exercises in cooperation between ships and RNZAF aircraft provided many opportunities for-improving the standard of ship-to-air communications.

SECTION 9-HMNZ DOCKYARD

(i) GENERAL
Ship refitting commitments imposed a heavy strain on most key personnel of the Dockyard. This was because of the large number of emergency repairs carried out to older ships not due for refits and to a reduction in the numbers of certain key tradesmen instead of the planned increase. This reduction could not be halted even though all avenues of recruitment were continuously pursued.

Considerable dockyard work was undertaken in connection with the new school at HMNZS PHILOMEL for instruction in passive defence measures against various forms of attack.

An increase of docking requirements for naval ships at Calliope Dock was foreseen. and repairs to the dock were sought. .

(iil REFITS

(a) Major Vessels
(1) HMNZS TARANAKI was given her first refit since commissioning and fitting of the “Seacat” guided weapon system successfully completed. The refitting and overhauling of the modern, engineering, electronic, and weapon equipment again taxed the resources of the Dockyard staff, and inadequate workshop facilities hampered progress.
(2) HMNZS OTAGO commenced her second main refit, scheduled to take three months, in January, and preparatory work was undertaken for the installation of a more modern communication system.
(3) HMNZS ROYALIST was given an intermediate docking, and throughout the year numerous operational defects were remedied.
(4) HMNZ Loch-class frigate’s ROTOITI and PUKAKI were both given routine dockings and also emergency dockings to effect essential hull repairs necessitated by age and fatigue. Ocean weather reporting equipment was transferred from HMNZS ROTOITI to HMNZS PUKAKI when the latter was assigned to duty with operation “DEEPFREEZE”.
(5) HMNZS LACHLAN was given a routine annual refit and docking.
(6) HMNZS ENDEAVOUR received a routine docking and operational defects were remedied. The unavailability of steel hull plates to replace those damaged in the Antarctic ice last season necessitated postponement of this work.

(b) Minor Vessels
(1) RNZFA TUI was given a routine annual refit and docking and major boiler repairs and renewal of the cold and cool rooms were carried out.
(2) HMNZS INVERELL was docked for inspection of her sonar underwater detection apparatus.
(3) The Diving Tender MANAWANUI was docked and given an annual refit.
(4) The Fishery Protection Motor Launches MAKO, PAEA, and MANGA were slipped for routine refits. A further vessel was modernised and converted for these duties and renamed HAKU. Two others are scheduled to follow.
(5) The Survey Motor Launches TAKAPU and TARAPUNGA were slipped for routine annual refits.
(6) The RNZNVR Launch NGAPONA was given a. routine slipping and another such craft. TOROA given a major refit and improved training equipment.

(c) Auxiliary Craft
Routine maintenance was performed on the craft used by the Dockyard and by HMNZ Ships PHILOMEL and TAMAKI. The Oil Barge 01 was refitted in preparation for its conversion to a tank-cleaning vessel on the arrival of special machinery.

(iii) MISCELLANEOUS WORK
Work was undertaken for other Government Departments and for private firms when the special facilities of the Dockyard were required.

(iv) STORES AND TRANSPORT
The removal of HMNZS TAMAKI from Motuihe Island to Narrow Neck occasioned unusual motor transport requirements. The cost of extra vehicles and staff will be more than offset however, by the elimination of the costly sea transport service previously necessary.

Improvements were made in the stowage and cataloguing of spare parts for ships. Disposal of surplus stores, including HMNZ Ships KIWI and MAORI and two auxiliary vessels, continued.

Machine accounting was successfully introduced for an stores item not previously so handled.

During the year Navy Office arranged shipment to Singapore on behalf of the Admiralty of £36.000 worth of meat and £20,000 worth of butter and cheese.

SECTION 10 -ADMINISTRATION

(i) PUBLIC SERVICE STAFF
Recruitment remained at a high level during the year and little difficulty was found in obtaining staff of a suitable calibre. A shortage of junior administrative staff persisted, however, and again only one male cadet was recruited during the year. A number of promotions to junior graded positions were made from among younger applicants, but most were filled by appointees from a higher age group than was deemed desirable.

Departmental staff training has been adequate and good progress has been made towards overtaking arrears of training. During the year induction courses were held at the Dockyard and at Navy Office and a series of management training courses was organised for senior supervisors at the Dockyard. Four efficient reading courses were run for the benefit of officers having to contend with a large volume of reading matter.

A comprehensive training scheme for the Dockyard has been evolved and is being implemented.

(ii) DOCKYARD WORKMEN
There was still a shortage of trained Dockyard tradesmen and technicians, particularly in the electrical field. The shortage in this group is general in New Zealand, and it was still found necessary to recruit from the United Kingdom. Refitting work is increasing as well as becoming more complex, with a corresponding necessity for the assimilation of new techniques. The value of overseas training of personnel continued to be very apparent, and the continuance and even the extension of the programme for this training was regarded as essential to enable the Dockyard to handle the introduction and maintenance of new equipment.

(iii) DOCKYARD APPRENTICES
Twenty-three apprentices were recruited this year, including two youths from the Maori youth apprentice training scheme and the Dockyard now employs 146 apprentices in 17 trades.

Training in the apprentice workshop was intensified and the instruction given in the most modern machine shop techniques showed good results when the apprentices reached the production stage.

Dockyard apprentices took full advantage of the technical education at Auckland Technical Institute where they gained many prizes.

CONSTITUTION AND MEMBERS OF THE NAVAL BOARD
(a) Constitution_The New Zealand Naval Board is constituted under the Navy Act 1954.
(b) Members as at 31 March 1964
Hon. Dean J. Eyre, M.P., Minister of Defence (Chairman).
Rear-Admiral R. E. Washbourn, C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E. (First Naval Member).
Commodore C. C. Stevens (Second Naval Member and Chief of Naval Personnel).
Third Naval Member – vacant.
D. A. Wraight, Esq. (Navy Secretary and Member).