S e r v i c e a s
H. M. N. Z. S. R O T O I T I (F 6 2 5)
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge : Or, two huia feathers crossed per saltire proper, in pale
a
sprig
of akatea vine proper of the second, all bound with a
fillet or and gules.
(Note : Approved in February 1951 after rejection of original
complex
design based on a proverb relating to a Maori
Chief, Rangitihi
whose head wound was bound up with akeata vine.
M o t t o
Takaia: 'Bind together'
1 9 4 9
January Under refit.
to
March
April Post
refit trials.
May
7th
Commissioned into RNZN service at Portsmouth.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander A M Seymour DSC RN.
16th Formally
renamed HMNZS ROTOITI by Mrs WH Jordan, wife of the NZ High Commissioner
June Called at
Gibraltar.
Commenced work-up with Mediterranean Fleet ships.
July
7th On
completion of work-up took passage to Aden with HMNZS TUTIRA.
Commenced RNZN operational use.
August Passage in
Indian Ocean to Auckland with call at Singapore.
Joined 11th Frigate Squadron at
Auckland.
September
2nd
Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Commander ACB Bloomfield.
October Deployed for
patrol in SW Pacific.
Visited Raoul.
November Return passage
to Auckland.
to
Deployed with local exercises
December
1 9 5 0
January Local
deployment at Auckland in continuation.
February Deployed for
patrol and visits in North and South Island of New Zealand.
to
March
August Deployed at
Auckland.
May Carried
out Pacific islands patrol with visits to Suva, Ocean Island, Tarawa.
to Return
passage to Auckland with call at
Suva.
July
August Took part in
Flotilla exercises in Hauraki Gulf.
September Prepared for detached service
with UN naval Task Force in Korean waters.
(Note
: On 29th June 1950, in response to an appeal from UN,
New Zealand had
made
two frigates available for UN service.)
18th
Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Commander E E Turner DSC RNZN.
(Later Commodore RNZN)
October
7th Took
passage from Auckland to Hong Kong with call at Darwin to refuel.
Passage from Hong Kong to Sasebo.
November
5th Relieved
sister ship HWZS PUKAKI (Ex HMS LOCH ACHANALT) for UN service.
Passage to Inchon for convoy escort and harbour control duties.
December
Deployed for 'Cigarette Route' Patrol.
Deployed off Inchon for 'Clockwork Mouse' patrol.
Assisted South Korean refugees to reach safety.
Embarked senior UN officers and US news correspondent during visit to Han River.
(Note
: These patrols were shared with HMNZS TUTIRA (Ex HMS LOCH MDRLICH).
1 9 5 1
January
Deployment off west coast of Korea with other Commonwealth warships continued.
(Note : When Inchon and Chinampo were evacuated deployed to intercept shipping
attempting to supply or reinforce enemy troops by sea.
February Resumed
shipping control duties and continued patrol in coastal waters after the re-
to
occupation of Inchon.
June (Note
: Maintenance and leave periods were spent at Kure but UK naval operations
were
controlled at the US naval base in Sasebo, Japan.)
July
17th During
patrol in the approaches to Chinnampo harbour carried out attack on enemy gun
position at Sogon-Ni Point.
Assault Party of 14, supported by gunfire from the ship was landed. Two soldiers
were
captured and brought back on board as PoW.
August
25th Carried
out second raid en gjn positions at Sogon-Ni.
Landed shore party from ship
(Note: Party included Royal Marines provided by HM Cruiser CEYLON.)
During assault at Gorln Chiki, landing party came under fire and an Able Seaman
was killed.
Assault party then returned on board.
(Note
: This casualty was the only sustained by the RNZN casualty during the Korean
War.
September Patrol and
support bombardment duties off west coast of Korea in continuation.
October Completed
first tour of duty with UN.
(Note
: In May 1952 awards were made to the ship’s company for their Korean service.
These
included DSC to the Captain, two to other officers and two DSM.
A
Mention in Despatches was awarded to the Petty Officer Telegraphist.
Able
Seaman Marchioni was awarded a Posthumous Mention in Despatches.
23rd Took
passage from Kure to Hong Kong
25th During
passage received distress message from British ss HUPEH which had been boarded
and
taken over by pirates in the Yangste estuary.
(Note
: Merchantile was carrying women and children.)
Sighted ss HUPEH and illuminated by starshell.
26th After
threat of reprisals if ss HUPEH were boarded, the pirates agreed to leave ship
if they
were
granted safety during their evacuation to an island near-by.
To
avoid bloodshed this was accepted.
Resumed passage to Hong Kong after pirates left ss HUPEH.
(Note
: Ship was presented with a Rose bowl by the owners of ss HUPEH in March
1952 at
a
ceremony en board mv ANSHUN at Auckland.)
November After call at
Hong Kong, took passage to Auckland with calls in North Borneo and at
Brisbane,
Australia. Arrived at Auckland.
(Note
: Lieutenant Commander BE Turner was later awarded the US Legion of Merit for
his
services during UN service.
He
was the only RNZN officer to be awarded this American distinction.
Statistics - 51,000 miles steamed since October 1950.)
30th Paid-off
and re-commissioned for service in 11th Frigate Flotilla.
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander G O Graham DSC** RN.
Nominated for further detached service with UN in Korea.
December Prepared for
further service with UN off Korea.
1 9 5 2
January Trials and
exercises prior to operational service.
7th Sailed
from Auckland for Second UN Tour.
Passage from Hong Kong after calls at Raoul and Suva.
February
2nd Relieved
HMNZS HAWEA (Ex HMS LOCH ECK) at Sasebo for service in UN Task Force.
12th Passage
to west coast of Korea on completion of exercises off Sasebo.
15th Deployed
for patrol and support duties.
22nd Anchored in
Han River estuary to provide gunfire
support during planned raid on
enemy
positions.
Came
under heavy fire from three shore batteries and withdrew
without casualties.
March Deployment
off west coast of Korea in
continuation.
to
Maintenance and rest periods in
Kure.
April
May
3rd During
patrol in Kirin-Do Channel provided counter battery fire in support of
military
operation.
(Note
: 16 rounds fired with good effect).
During this patrol an appendectomy operation carried out on Cook rating by
ship
Medical Officer.)
June Patrol
and support duties in continuation.
Passage to Hong Kong for maintenance period.
July On
completion resumed UN duties and returned to Sasebo.
August Patrol,
military support and escort of friendly coastal traffic in continuation off
to west
coast Korea.
September Maintenance
period in Kure.
(Note: Duties rotated with HMNZS TAUPO.)
October
6th Returned
to Kure from patrol.
11th Visited
by First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Rhoderick MacGrigor at Kure.
20th Patrol
and support duties in continuation.
November Deployed in
turn with HMNZS HAWEA. for west coast duties.
December Returned to
Kure for Xmas Day.
26th Passage
to reams west coast duties.
28th Deployed
in support of Korean gunboats carrying cut inshore attacks on enemy
shore
positions.
1 9 5 3
January Returned
to Sasebo on relief by HMZS HAWEA.
Resumed west coast escort duties after rest period.
February Final
patrol duty off west coast of Korea.
28th Took
passage from Sasebo for Hong Kong.
March Passage
from Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia.
During stay at Sydney met HMNZS KANIERE on passage to join UN Task Force.
19th
Arrived at Auckland.
April
Paid-off and prepared for refit.
(Note : Three awards of 'Mention in Despatches' were made.
One to an officer and two to ratings for services during UN service in Korean
War.)
Statistics : Steamed 58,000 miles during detached service.)
May Taken
in hand for refit and by HM New Zealand Dockyard, Auckland.
June Under
refit
to
(Note : Ship was not refitted to Full Modernised RN LOCH standard.
December Radar Type
277Q was installed in place of earlier design Type 277P.)
1 9 5 4
On
completion of post refit trials ship was reduced to Reserve status.
Laid-up at Auckland.
1 9 5 5
Laid up in Reserve.
1 9 5 6
Nominated to re-commission for further service.
(Note
: Ship was required to support nuclear weapon trials at Christmas Island.
(Operation GRAPPLE).)
1 9 5 7
January Preparing
for operational service. at
Auckland.
February
Re-commissioned at Auckland.
March On
completion of acceptance trials after Reserve period took passage to join the
GRAPPLE Squadron at Christmas Island.
31st Joined
HMNZS PUKAKI at Christmas Island.
April Deployed
for nuclear trials monitoring at
Christmas Island.
to (Note :
Carried out monitoring patrol duties in rotation with HMZNS PUKAKI.
May
June
25th Took
passage for return to Auckland with HMZS PUKAKI.
July Arrived
at Auckland for maintenance and leave period.
August Deployed
at Auckland and prepared for further GRAPPLE duties
off west coast
of Korea.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander L E Hodge RNZN.
September
Return passage for GRAPPLE tests at
Christmas Island.
October Deployed for
nuclear monitoring patrol duties at Christmas Island
November On release from
GRAPPLE duties took passage to Auckland.
December Took part in
Joint RNZN/RAN exercises in Australian waters with RNZN ships.
1 9 5 8
January Deployed for
Squadron duties based at Auckland.
to
February
March Taken in
hand for docking and interim refit at Auckland.
Nominated for detached service with 3rd Frigate Squadron, Far East Fleet in the
Commonwealth Strategic Reserve.
April On
completion of docking prepared for detached service.
Took
passage to work-up with RAN at Sydney.
May Passage
from Sydney to join RN Squadron at Singapore.
June Deployed
with Squadron for exercises and visits programme.
to During
this period visited Hong Kong and Japanese ports.
August Carried out
Joint exercises with US Navy off Japan.
September Routine docking
and maintenance period at Singapore.
On
completion deployed for anti-piracy patrols off North Borneo.
October Deployed
with Squadron for exercises in Singapore area and at Hong Kong.
to
Returned to Singapore
December
1 9 5 9
January
Deployed with RN Squadron at
Singapore.
February Docking
period at Singapore.
Nominated for Guardship and escort duties during Royal Visit to Tarawa in
Gilbert and
Ellice Islands.
Passage to Hong Kong.
March Escorted HM
Royal Yacht BRITANNIA with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh embarked
during passage
to Tarawa.
HRH
transferred by Jackstay for brief visit to ship.
Deployed as Guardship at Tarawa during Royal visit.
April On
release from Royal Yacht escort took passage to Auckland to resume RN2N duties.
May Deployed
at Auckland with 11th Frigate Squadron.
June Took part
in RNZN exercises with Squadron.
July Taken in
hand for extended refit by HM Dockyard, Auckland.
August Under refit.
to
(Note : Completed modifications to same standard as modernised RN LOCH Class
December including
fit of UHF radio equipment.
Accommodation improved and Electronic warfare outfit fitted.
Two Bofor mountings fitted in place of obsolescent 2pdr Pom-pom.
1 9 6 0
January Carried out
Post Refit Trials.
Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Commander R L Harding RNZN.
February Nominated for
further detached service with 3rd Frigate Squadron RN in
the
Commonwealth Strategic Reserve at Singapore.
Took
part in joint RAN/RNZN exercises with 11th Frigate Squadron off Sydney.
March Passage from
Sydney to Singapore to Join Far East Fleet.
April Took part
in Exercise SEALINK with RN ships in South China Sea.
Visited Bangkok with Far East Fleet ships.
May Deployed
with Squadron ships for Fleet Visits and Exercise programme.
to Visit
to Hong Kong and and carried out exercises with US and other Navies in Japanese
June waters.
Visited Kobe.
July Returned
to Singapore.
August Deployed in Malayan sea area
and visited Parang.
September Docking and
maintenance period at Singapore.
October Deployed for
Flotilla duties and Fleet exercises in Malayan area.
Visited Langdau, Port Swettenham and Pangkor.
November Passage to Hong
Kong for Fleet exercises and visited Bangkok.
December Returned to
Singapore.
Passage to Hong Kong.
1 9 6 1
January Took part in
Fleet exercises with US Navy and visited Tokyo.
Return passage to Singapore with
call at Manila.
February Took passage
to return to Auckland with calls at
Port Moresby and Noumea.
March Arrived at
Auckland.
April Resumed
deployment with 11th Frigate Squadron.
May Deployed
with Squadron for exercises and visits in New Zealand
to
Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Commander Q A Lawrence RNZN.
August
September Routine Docking
and Essential Repair at Auckland.
October Resumed RNZN
Squadron duties.
November Took part in
RNZN Exercise and Visits programme.
1 9 6 2
January Squadron
deployment in continuation.
to Visited
Raoul Island.
March
April Visited
Sydney and took passage for Pacific Islands patrol.
May Visited
Suva and returned to Auckland.
June Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Auckland.
July Under
refit.
to
August
September Carried out
post refit trials.
Prepared for DEEP FREEZE patrol deployments.
(Note
: This was a US operation in
the Antarctic to investigate meteorological conditions
and
carry out survey work.)
October
8th Took
passage from Auckland to Lyttelton for briefing at Expedition Headquarters.
20th Arrived
on Station.
November
1st Took
passage to Dunedin for R&R period.
12th Resumed
duties on Station.
21st Passage
to Wellington on relief from DEEP FREEZE patrol.
December Deployed for
meteorological and Oceanographic duties off west coast of South Is.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander DJ Cheney, RNZN
(Note
: Captain was promoted Commander RNZN during Commission).
11th On
arrival in Omeha Bay painted ship for return entry to Auckland.
12th Returned
to Auckland.
(Note
: 31 Trainee seamen ratings were embarked during DEEP FREEZE duties.)
1 9 6 3
January Flotilla
duties in continuation in New Zealand waters.
to
Attended Waitangi Day celebrations (February).
March
April Took part
in RNZN Fleet exercises.
May Deployed
for local duties based at Auckland.
June Carried
cut Pacific Islands patrol with visits to Apia, Lifuka, Atufu. Wallis Is,
Home
Island and
to Suva.
July Returned
to Auckland.
August Carried out
Pacific patrol including visited Fakofa and Apia.
September Routine Docking and Maintenance
at Auckland.
Nominated for further meteorological reporting and Air-Sea Rescue duty in
support of US
Operation
DEEP
FREEZE. (See above)
October Flotilla
duties with detachment for DEEP FREEZE patrols.
to
November
December Returned to
Auckland from DEEP FREEZE patrol duty.
Nominated for Guardship duty during forthcoming visit to New Zealand by HM The
Queen
Mother.
(Note
: HMNZS PUKAKI deployed in place of ship for planned DEEP FREEZE patrol duty.)
1 9 6 4
January Deployed at
Auckland and prepared for Royal escort duty.
February
3rd Took
passage to Fiji to join HI Royal Yacht BRITANNIA as escort during the Royal
visit to
Fiji
and New Zealand.
10th Joined
HMS BRITANNIA at Latoka
Return passage to New Zealand as
escort for HMS BRITANNIA.
14th Deployed
as escort during visits to Wellington, Timaru, Bluff and Dunedin.
28th Detached
from IMS BRITANNIA on departure from Lyttelton, South Island when HM The
Queen
Mother had disembarked for air transit to Australia.
March Future
deployment to be as a training ship for New Entry Seamen ratings
to (Note
Ship was not required for further detached service with Commonwealth Strategic
April
Reserve.).
May Training
duty including period with HMNZ Cruiser ROYALIST at Suva.
(Note
about 30 trainees were embarked for sea experience.)
June Deployed
for Pacific islands patrol including visits to Raoul, Lautoka, Rotuma, Funfuti,
to Land
Harbour,
Lambasa.
July Return
passage to Auckland via Suva.
August Maintenance
Period at Auckland.
October Deployment
for training in continuation
November Under refit at
Auckland.
to
December
1 9 6 5
January Resumed
Training duties.
Commanding Officer : Lieutenant Commander K C H Cadman RNZN.
February Training
deployment in continuation.
Carried out trials rubber dinghy off North coast, North Island with HMNZ Cruiser
ROYALIST
.
(Note: Dinghy was fitted with VHF radio beacon to assist in location.
Trials were sponsored by Civil Aviation Search and Rescue authority.)
March Training
duty in continuation.
to
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.
July
August Paid-off and
reduced to Reserve at Auckland.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMNZS ROTOITI was laid up at Auckland until 1966 when placed on the Disposal
List. The ship was sold to the Hong Kong Rolling Mills for demolition. She was
towed to Hong Kong where she arrived in February 1967. The name was carried
forward when given to an RNZN Patrol Craft built in UK.
