May 2012, Issue 166 - Royal New Zealand Navy

FLEET PROGRESS
hmnzs wellington
L-R: LMT Bedford, AMT Tuck,
SLT Mexted, SLT Bone.
February 2012 saw HMNZS WELLINGTON
head south in support of the Department of
Conservation (DOC) on Operation ENDURANCE.
After a busy start to the year, WELLINGTON’s
crew were looking forward to getting under
way on operations in the Sub-Antarctic (see
article on page 10).
Before ENDURANCE started, we spent time in
Bluff. This proved an enjoyable time for Ship’s
Company. The Engineer, LT Matthew Lee, was
named second-best dressed at the Invercargill
races Fashion in the Field, while SLT Malcolm Barry
was able to secure third. Ship’s Company were
able to enjoy southern hospitality and enjoyed
runs ashore into Invercargill.
However, we had a tasking to complete and
we said our farewells to Bluff and headed into
Foveaux Strait. We experienced good conditions
all the way to the Auckland Islands, where the
ship supported DOC in the survey of birdlife there.
This involved lengthy boat operations working in
very cold conditions, the average air temperature
remaining at 3-4 degrees Celsius. Despite the cold,
WELLINGTON was able to assist DOC conduct
the required surveys, during which 15 colonies
of Rockhopper Penguins were recorded (three
of which have never been recorded) and 12 new
colonies of shag.
While at anchor in Tagua Bay, members of
Ship’s Company went ashore to explore the
remains of a World War II coastwatchers’ hut.
This was an excellent opportunity to explore
the heritage of the island and that of a relatively
unknown group of men who spent time in the
sub-Antarctic during WWII.
L-R: LSCS Robertson, ASCS Rewi, ASCS Allen. Manning a 0.50cal
on WGNs PORT gundeck during a Close Range Firing Exercise
30nm west of Taranaki having just engaged a 'killer tomato'.
Due to the early completion of all the identified
tasking in Carnley Harbour, the ship sailed to
conduct the final phase of the Auckland Island shag
survey, up the east coast of the Auckland Islands.
Due to inclement weather, WELLINGTON anchored
that afternoon at the western end of Port Ross, in
between Terror Cove and Shoe Island.
During this time the weather continued to
worsen. We moved to our next anchorage in
Sandy Bay off Enderby Island. Given the gravel
bottom and winds gusting to 45 knots it was
decided to use both anchors. This was a new
evolution for the ship and proved very successful.
This afforded Ship’s Company an opportunity to
go ashore on Enderby Island and experience the
varied wildlife of the region.
Having completed our tasking and with an
approaching low pressure system, the decision
was made to make our way to Dunedin to
disembark the DOC personnel. While in Dunedin
WELLINGTON embarked members of the Taylor
family to say goodbye to an old shipmate J20409
ME (1) Allan Wayne (Buck) TAYLOR who served in
the RNZN from 1971 to 1977.
It was then time to head home. WELLINGTON
returned to DNB via the west coasts of the South
Island and North Island, calling into the sounds
of Fiordland to conduct pilotage training for the
numerous trainee Bridge Watchkeepers onboard
and to see what crayfish could be found. It was
during a crayfish exploration mission that LT
Adam Flaws, Navigation Officer, was required to
save a member of Ship’s Company from a shark.
Or so the story goes.
Having left the sounds with a couple of large
crayfish and tales of sharks, we continued our
passage experiencing very large seas, with
reports of 10-metre swells and winds in excess
of 40 knots. After an aborted attempt to send a
boat across the bar in Westport, we stopped in
Nelson for a final run ashore to allow the crew to
unwind after successfully completing Operation
ENDURANCE. A good weekend was had by all and
it was an upbeat and motivated ship that sailed
for DNB on Monday.
26 NT165april-may12
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