 HMNZS Rimu In the Hauraki gulf.
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 New Zealand | |
| Name | Rimu |
| Builder | Seagar Bros. Ltd. Auckland |
| Launched | 9 September 1941 |
| Commissioned | 15 July 1942 |
| Decommissioned | 1954 |
| Identification | Pennant number: T18 |
| Fate | Sank by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1958. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Castle-class minesweeper |
| Displacement | 625 tons |
| Length | 135 ft (41 m) |
| Beam | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Propulsion | Single screw, triple reciprocating engine |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
HMNZS Rimu was one of three composite Castle-class minesweepers commissioned by
Background
The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-classs design because it was simple enough to be built with the country's limited ship construction facilities at the time.[1]
Operational history
Rimu was second of three composite minesweepers constructed for the Royal New Zealand Navy and was commissioned on 23 July 1942. The other two were Hinau, and Manuka. She served in the LL Group (later renamed to the 194th Auxiliary minesweeping division)[2] which was located at Auckland.
After the war she was laid up due to coal shortages, and in 1955 she was sold to a private firm in Auckland.
In 1958 she was offered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force as a target ship.[3] Rimu was to be hit with depth charges, machine gunned, and rockets from four Vampire jet fighters.[3] On the day of her sinking, Rimu was machine gunned, and had depth charges dropped on her. Breaking the ship in half, sinking her instantly.[4]
References
- ^ "HMNZS Waiho Castle-Class Minesweeper". National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy. 2015-10-06. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
- ^ "CHAPTER 18 — The Minesweeping Flotillas | NZETC". nzetc.victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-07.
- ^ a b "R.N.Z.A.F. WILL SINK HULK". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ^ "HULK SUNK TOO SOON". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-11-11.