Although the German raider Adjutant did lay acoustic mines off Wellington and Lyttleton, they were laid too deeply for them to be effective. Her service was unspectacular and very mundane. Post-war Hinau was laid up at Devonport in reserve and was sold off as surplus on 6 September 1954 for breaking up. As soon as the war ended she was tied up as there was a shortage of coal for the coal-fired minesweepers. She mostly operated in the Auckland region but did voyage to Wellington and the South island. She had refits in March 1943, August 1943, and October 1944. In April 1943 the designation was changed to 194th Auxiliary Minesweeping Group.

She served with the LL Group located in Auckland alongside HMNZS Manuka & Rimu. 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. She was a Castle-class minesweeper built in Auckland and commissioned as HMNZS Hinau on 23 July 1942 and was paid off 4 September 1945. SA acoustic sweep (Kango hammers) Ship History: Machinery: Single screw triple reciprocating engine = 10.5knots Included are details about the modern and currently active Seasprite Helicopters.Ĭlass: Castle-class composite minesweeper

Aviation Read about military air power in both the Royal Navy and the Royal New Zealand Navy.

Find out what naval terms like “Splice the Mainbrace” mean and read about Mascots in the Navy – including HMS New Zealand’s mascot- a bulldog named Pelorus Jack

Customs & Traditions The Navy is steeped in customs and tradition and these play an important role in Navy life today.

Read about the history of NZ Coastal Defences and Enemy Operations in NZ Waters.

Technology & weapons The Royal New Zealand Navy has a long history of technology and weaponry including radar, torpedoes and minesweeping.

The Museum takes great responsibility in handling these unlocked memories. The recounting of the testimony can be emotional for an interviewee who may never have discussed the details of his or her experiences with anyone before. These testimonials provide a unique insight into the naval life of men and women during war and peace. The recorded and transcribed interviews help to create a fuller understanding of our past.

Oral history is an important method of collecting unique and personal recollections – historical evidence that might otherwise be lost forever. The oral histories include veterans’ memories from as early as WW1 and include personal stories of naval personnel recently returned from duties in Bosnia, Afghanistan, Cambodia, East Timor and the Sinai. Oral Histories The Oral History Project commenced in 1991 as part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy.Places Read about the history of ‘Elizabeth House’ -the home of the Women in the Navy during WWII and ‘HMNZS Tamaki’ – a training establishment for personnel in WWII.Read about ‘HMNZS Gambia’ – the ship known to have fired the last shots of WWII and ‘HMHS Maheno ‘– a hospital ship that carried injured men back home to New Zealand in WWI. Ships New Zealand’s naval ships have undertaken a range of tasks and operations.

Minesweeper ship