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Navy Won’t Repair Fire-Damaged Warship, Saying It Would Cost Billions
A U.S. Navy warship that was engulfed by a fire in July while docked in San Diego will be decommissioned instead of rebuilt, the Pentagon said Monday, deciding to forgo a repair project that could have surpassed $3 billion. The ship, the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard, will be dismantled and some of its spare parts will be used in other naval vessels, officials said. Read more from the New York Times here
EX HMNZS KUPARU – HAULOUT
Scott Perry, owner of Kuparu, has been putting in the ‘hard yards’ doing much needed restoration work on Kuparu. She is currently hauled out at Marsden Cove, Whangarei, Scott found some worm in the keel which had to be attended to and this has extended the time on the hard. She is due to go back in the water next week. The good news is that her hull will be black, the way most of us remember MLs. If you get a chance, Scott would appreciate a hand. It is a big job for one man on his own. If you are in the area give him a call – 027 278 2542.
MEMORIAL SERVICE – 79TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SINKING OF HMS NEPTUNE
Sunday 20 December 2019, 1000 St Christopher’s Chapel, Devonport Naval Base Rig: 1BW (negative swords) On 19 December 1941, HMS NEPTUNE sunk after hitting a mine off the coast of Tripoli in the Mediterranean. All but one of the 764 personnel aboard lost their lives. Amongst the crew were 150 New Zealanders, many of whom were reservists. This event represents the largest loss of New Zealand life at sea and forms a significant event in the history of our Navy and especially of our Naval Reserve. Association members are invited to attend the service which will be led by Padre Michael Berry. Further information can be obtained from the Padre on his civilian address michael.berry@aucklandanglican.org.nz
Wartime recollection: Fateful day still vivid in 95-year-old’s memory
Deciding not to wait in a long queue as his crewmates went single file down to their living quarters, George Billing went to go to an office to finish a letter instead. It was a decision that saved his life because within minutes a torpedo slammed into his ship close to where his bunk was. Read more from the Kapiti News here
Former Royal Navy chief warns of ‘disaster’ after fleet shrinks in size
The former chief of the Royal Navy has warned maritime forces face ‘disaster’ as its fleet shrinks to a historic new low. The size of the Royal Navy has shrunk considerably over the decades. In 1982, the UK had 43 frigates and 12 destroyers; it now has 13 and six respectively. It is now on course to have the smallest fleet in its 474-year history. New Type 31 frigates will not be ready until 2024, when the old ones are on their way out. Falklands War veteran Lord West says with just eight frigates operational by the middle of the decade the Royal Navy is facing ‘disaster’. Read the full story from Plymouth Herald here
HMNZS Aotearoa: Covid-19 again scuppers best-laid plans for Navy’s big new ship
The maiden Kiwi voyage of the Navy’s new ship has been knocked back as coronavirus continues to conspire against HMNZS Aotearoa. Meanwhile, some of its new crew have been siphoned off to help with Operation Protect, the Defence Force’s (NZDF) contribution to the national Covid-19 response, which includes providing security at managed isolation and quarantines facilities. Read more from Stuff.co.nz here
NZ military divers fly out of Christchurch for under ice hydrography mission in Antarctica
A team of NZ military divers will fly out of Christchurch today as they head to Antarctica for a unique mission deep beneath the ice. The team of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) hydrographers will leave Christchurch on Friday to carry out an underwater survey to help Antarctica New Zealand with logistical planning for its $250 million Scott Base redevelopment project. Read more from Otago Daily Times here
Royal Navy’s new patrol ship declared ‘fighting fit’ as she flexes muscles with Royal Marines
Portsmouth-based HMS Tamar received the thumbs up from naval top brass as she served as a springboard for Commandos to board, subdue and search suspect vessels in the Channel Mike Company from 42 Commando in Bickleigh, near Plymouth, and specialist boat drivers from 47 Commando in Devonport Naval Base, plus a Wildcat helicopter from 815 Naval Air Squadron joined Tamar, while survey ship HMS Echo served as her foil. The Marines carried out training raids on a Brittany Ferry passenger vessel off the south coast. Read the full story here
Manawanui ‘at home’ this week
HMNZS Manawanui, the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel that calls Gisborne its home port, arrives here on Thursday for four days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named Gisborne the Manawanui’s home port when New Zealand purchased the vessel in 2018. “It’s common for naval ships to be assigned an honorary home port once they’re commissioned,” said Mayor Rehette Stoltz.
Navy plans 1st Pearl Harbor sub repair facility since WWII
The U.S. Navy is planning the first new submarine repair facility at the Pearl Harbor shipyard in Hawaii since World War II. The military is considering building the dry dock at the site of a pair of basins used during the war for ship work, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Sunday. In addition to what would be Pearl Harbor’s first covered dry dock, the project is expected to provide the shipyard with a massive waterfront production facility. Read the full story from The Navy Times here
Covid-19: Military quarantine personnel moved to Navy base under level 3 rules
Navy personnel assigned to a quarantine facility were quietly moved to new quarters at a suburban military base after the November cluster began. The service members were ordered to observe strict alert level 3 lockdown precautions at the Officer Training School at Narrow Neck on Auckland’s North Shore. The group was moved to the seaside barracks the weekend after news broke on Friday, November 6, of the uniformed Defence Force member having caught coronavirus at Jet Park, in circumstances which remain unknown. Read more from Stuff.co.nz here