538:
65:
427:
530:, conducting anti-submarine operations and carrying out escort missions from December 1942. They also disrupted the Japanese supply efforts, destroying a number of landing barges. The ships were considered to have weak defences against attacking aircraft, and they were unofficially up-gunned with
674:
returned to
Auckland for refits in 1944 during which the previously unofficial 20 mm Oerlikon guns were made a permanent feature of their armament. The flotilla was released from service in the South Pacific in mid-1945 and returned to New Zealand. After the war, both
975:
491:
Upon commissioning, each ship worked up in
Scotland before being dispatched to New Zealand with the first leg being a North Atlantic crossing as part of an escort to a convoy. They steamed, via the
590:
for repairs. Once completed she went back to the
Solomons but not long after her return to service she suffered damage from a friendly fire incident which necessitated more repairs at Auckland.
1005:
375:
of 607 standard tons and when fully loaded displaced 923 standard tons. They were 168 ft (51 m) in total length, 157.5 ft (48.0 m) in length at the
743:
495:, to the west coast of the United States and then crossed the Pacific with stops at various islands along the way. On arrival in New Zealand, from April (
343:, in 1935 and 1938 respectively, and this experience influenced the design of the Bird-class vessels. Although similar in appearance to the later
325:
707:
in 1952, as training vessels for Navy personnel undergoing compulsory military service and then later for men preparing for service with RNZN
958:
1000:
359:. They were slightly larger and more powerful than the Isles-class minesweepers. Indeed, by 1943, the Bird-class ships were referred to as
418:
Their design complement was to be between 33 and 35 men, although this increased as the war progressed and the ships were upgraded.
613:(later Vice Admiral), who had a bomb penetrate the roof of his cabin and pass through the floor where it exploded beneath him.
537:
651:
scored hits with her main gun and these were followed up with depth charges from the US aircraft, resulting in the sinking of
662:
As the
Japanese abandoned Guadalcanal and withdrew to the north, the flotilla's area of operations moved as well, to around
455:, all named for native bird species of New Zealand. The three Bird-class vessels, designated build numbers 314 to 316, were
659:
picked up six survivors who confirmed that her earlier depth charge attack had forced the submarine to the surface.
388:
238:
21:
403:. Propulsion was through a single-shaft reciprocating steam engine that burned oil, providing a top speed of 13
832:
625:
871:
610:
565:
480:
279:
244:
70:
767:
919:
531:
522:
The flotilla was offered for service in the South
Pacific and the offer was accepted by Vice Admiral
479:
respectively, were completed on 28 October and 5 December. They were commissioned directly into the
734:
for a number of scientific institutions. She was scrapped in 1969, having been laid up since 1967.
663:
635:
had detected the submarine and depth charged it. Contact with the submarine had then been lost and
372:
344:
148:
80:
523:
510:
s transit of the North
Atlantic resulted in some damage and she had to have repairs completed in
464:
979:
954:
605:. The attack killed five seamen and wounded another 15. One of the wounded was the captain of
438:
392:
287:
328:. These vessels were intended for training naval personnel in seamanship, gunnery skills and
969:
450:
444:
299:
293:
283:
426:
621:
527:
380:
723:
in
Auckland in 1964. After ending her military career and having her armament removed,
994:
731:
720:
321:
275:
728:
684:
492:
400:
384:
329:
256:
526:
the commander of South
Pacific. The ships of the flotilla began operations in the
602:
572:
456:
404:
127:
712:
688:
583:
468:
408:
356:
317:
51:
17:
983:
598:
250:
155:
391:, supplemented with two quick firing 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and one twin
304:. All were named for New Zealand native birds and were also referred to as
587:
412:
360:
305:
140:
708:
597:
was sunk when it was attacked while refuelling at Tulagi
Harbour, by
511:
463:, launched on 15 April and completed on 19 August 1941. She had been
363:
when official reports were submitted to the New
Zealand parliament.
16:"Bird-class" redirects here. For the taxonomic class for birds, see
536:
425:
396:
225:
144:
503:) 1942, the minesweepers joined the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla.
376:
976:
Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45
807:
805:
803:
801:
799:
797:
795:
793:
791:
789:
639:
departed the scene. However, passing Kingfishers directed
20:. For the minesweeper class sometimes called "Bird", see
953:. Wellington, New Zealand: Government Printing Office.
335:
Henry Robb Ltd had built the minesweeping trawlers HMS
387:
of 15.3 ft (4.7 m). The main armament was a
316:
In late 1939, the New Zealand government contracted
286:. A total of three vessels in the class were built:
699:The ships were recommissioned a few years later,
483:(RNZN), which had been formed on 1 October 1941.
978:. Wellington, New Zealand: War History Branch.
926:. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage
320:, a Scottish shipbuilding firm, to build three
882:. New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage
839:. New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage
774:. New Zealand Ministry of Culture and Heritage
575:after several depth charges had been dropped.
8:
744:List of ship classes of the Second World War
471:on 12 August. The second and third ships,
811:
647:, which had surfaced some distance away.
459:on 19 March 1940 with the first of them,
1006:World War II minesweepers of New Zealand
913:
911:
909:
826:
824:
822:
820:
761:
759:
755:
355:, the Bird-class ships had an extended
900:
857:
571:, which had surfaced off the coast of
532:20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon guns
326:New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy
28:
586:had been damaged and she returned to
407:(24 km/h; 15 mph) at 1,100
7:
541:The wreck of the Japanese submarine
347:minesweeping trawlers, derived from
207:13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
691:before being deactivated in 1946.
371:The ships of the Bird class had a
14:
383:of 30 ft (9.1 m) and a
199:1,100 ihp (820 kW) oil
173:157.5 ft (48.0 m) keel
63:
534:scrounged from wrecked ships.
170:168 ft (51 m) overall
683:were involved in clearing the
1:
624:floatplanes jointly sank the
437:The Bird-class vessels were
282:and which served during the
154:923 long tons (938 t) (
1001:Mine warfare vessel classes
643:to the crippled submarine,
1022:
971:The Royal New Zealand Navy
15:
951:New Zealand Naval Vessels
949:McDougall, R. J. (1989).
191:15.3 ft (4.7 m)
118:
34:
22:Lapwing-class minesweeper
626:Japanese submarine
620:with some United States
566:Japanese submarine
389:4-inch (102 mm) gun
609:, Lieutenant Commander
564:rammed and wrecked the
183:30 ft (9.1 m)
119:General characteristics
968:Waters, S. D. (1956).
833:"Early wartime duties"
553:
481:Royal New Zealand Navy
434:
280:Royal New Zealand Navy
272:Bird-class minesweeper
71:Royal New Zealand Navy
540:
429:
373:standard displacement
872:"The sinking of the
556:On 29 January 1943,
409:indicated horsepower
395:. The ships carried
903:, pp. 327–328.
860:, pp. 307–309.
715:. Laid up in 1956,
31:
768:"Pocket corvettes"
631:. With her ASDIC,
616:On 19 August 1943
554:
524:Robert L. Ghormley
518:South Pacific duty
435:
222:processing systems
29:
960:978-0-477-01399-4
920:"Peacetime years"
814:, pp. 55–61.
514:, Massachusetts.
393:Lewis machine gun
268:
267:
77:Succeeded by
1013:
987:
964:
936:
935:
933:
931:
915:
904:
898:
892:
891:
889:
887:
867:
861:
855:
849:
848:
846:
844:
828:
815:
809:
784:
783:
781:
779:
763:
581:
509:
284:Second World War
69:
67:
66:
32:
1021:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1014:
1012:
1011:
1010:
991:
990:
967:
961:
948:
945:
940:
939:
929:
927:
918:McLean, Gavin.
917:
916:
907:
899:
895:
885:
883:
870:McLean, Gavin.
869:
868:
864:
856:
852:
842:
840:
831:McLean, Gavin.
830:
829:
818:
810:
787:
777:
775:
766:McLean, Gavin.
765:
764:
757:
752:
740:
727:was used as an
697:
687:of German-laid
593:In April 1943,
579:
528:Solomon Islands
520:
507:
489:
487:Service history
430:The pennant of
424:
369:
367:Characteristics
314:
274:was a class of
221:
64:
62:
25:
12:
11:
5:
1019:
1017:
1009:
1008:
1003:
993:
992:
989:
988:
965:
959:
944:
941:
938:
937:
905:
893:
862:
850:
816:
812:McDougall 1989
785:
754:
753:
751:
748:
747:
746:
739:
736:
696:
693:
519:
516:
488:
485:
423:
420:
368:
365:
322:naval trawlers
318:Henry Robb Ltd
313:
310:
278:built for the
276:naval trawlers
266:
265:
262:
261:
260:
259:
253:
247:
245:Hotchkiss guns
241:
233:
229:
228:
223:
217:
216:
213:
209:
208:
205:
201:
200:
197:
193:
192:
189:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
175:
174:
171:
166:
162:
161:
160:
159:
152:
135:
131:
130:
125:
121:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
104:
100:
99:
96:
92:
91:
88:
84:
83:
78:
74:
73:
60:
56:
55:
52:Henry Robb Ltd
49:
45:
44:
41:
37:
36:
35:Class overview
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1018:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
998:
996:
985:
981:
977:
973:
972:
966:
962:
956:
952:
947:
946:
942:
925:
921:
914:
912:
910:
906:
902:
897:
894:
881:
877:
875:
866:
863:
859:
854:
851:
838:
834:
827:
825:
823:
821:
817:
813:
808:
806:
804:
802:
800:
798:
796:
794:
792:
790:
786:
773:
769:
762:
760:
756:
749:
745:
742:
741:
737:
735:
733:
732:research ship
730:
729:oceanographic
726:
722:
718:
714:
710:
706:
702:
695:Later service
694:
692:
690:
686:
682:
678:
673:
669:
665:
660:
658:
654:
650:
646:
642:
638:
634:
630:
629:
623:
619:
614:
612:
608:
604:
600:
596:
591:
589:
585:
578:
574:
570:
569:
563:
559:
552:
548:
544:
539:
535:
533:
529:
525:
517:
515:
513:
506:
502:
499:) to August (
498:
494:
486:
484:
482:
478:
474:
470:
466:
462:
458:
454:
453:
448:
447:
442:
441:
433:
428:
421:
419:
416:
414:
410:
406:
402:
401:depth charges
398:
394:
390:
386:
382:
378:
374:
366:
364:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
333:
331:
327:
323:
319:
311:
309:
307:
303:
302:
297:
296:
291:
290:
285:
281:
277:
273:
264:
263:
258:
257:depth charges
254:
252:
248:
246:
242:
240:
236:
235:
234:
231:
230:
227:
224:
219:
218:
214:
211:
210:
206:
203:
202:
198:
195:
194:
190:
187:
186:
182:
179:
178:
172:
169:
168:
167:
164:
163:
157:
153:
150:
146:
142:
138:
137:
136:
133:
132:
129:
126:
123:
122:
117:
113:
110:
109:
105:
102:
101:
97:
94:
93:
89:
86:
85:
82:
79:
76:
75:
72:
61:
58:
57:
53:
50:
47:
46:
42:
39:
38:
33:
27:
23:
19:
970:
950:
928:. Retrieved
923:
896:
884:. Retrieved
879:
873:
865:
853:
841:. Retrieved
836:
776:. Retrieved
771:
724:
716:
704:
703:in 1949 and
700:
698:
685:Hauraki Gulf
680:
676:
671:
667:
664:Bougainville
661:
656:
652:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
627:
617:
615:
611:Peter Phipps
606:
603:dive bombers
594:
592:
576:
567:
561:
557:
555:
550:
546:
542:
521:
504:
500:
496:
493:Panama Canal
490:
476:
472:
465:commissioned
460:
451:
445:
439:
436:
431:
422:Construction
417:
370:
352:
348:
340:
336:
334:
330:minesweeping
315:
300:
294:
288:
271:
269:
220:Sensors and
134:Displacement
26:
901:Waters 1956
858:Waters 1956
573:Guadalcanal
345:Isles-class
128:Minesweeper
81:Isles class
54:, Scotland.
30:Bird class
995:Categories
943:References
924:NZ History
880:NZ History
837:NZ History
772:NZ History
713:Korean War
622:Kingfisher
545:, sunk by
469:Royal Navy
411:(820
357:forecastle
251:Lewis guns
239:4 inch gun
212:Complement
196:Propulsion
143:(617
87:In service
43:Bird class
18:class aves
984:800613100
599:Aichi D3A
467:into the
457:laid down
361:corvettes
306:corvettes
156:full load
141:long tons
95:Completed
90:1941–1967
59:Operators
930:11 March
886:11 March
843:11 March
778:11 March
738:See also
721:scrapped
709:frigates
588:Auckland
379:, had a
339:and HMS
324:for the
232:Armament
149:standard
48:Builders
711:in the
666:. Both
399:and 40
385:draught
353:Mastiff
341:Mastiff
188:Draught
111:Retired
982:
957:
601:"Val"
512:Boston
349:Basset
337:Basset
332:work.
312:Design
243:2 × 1
165:Length
68:
750:Notes
689:mines
580:'
508:'
405:knots
397:ASDIC
249:Twin
226:ASDIC
215:33–35
204:Speed
980:OCLC
955:ISBN
932:2020
888:2020
845:2020
780:2020
719:was
717:Kiwi
701:Kiwi
679:and
677:Kiwi
672:Kiwi
670:and
653:I-17
645:I-17
628:I-17
577:Kiwi
560:and
558:Kiwi
549:and
547:Kiwi
505:Kiwi
475:and
473:Kiwi
449:and
440:Kiwi
432:Kiwi
381:beam
377:keel
351:and
298:and
289:Kiwi
270:The
237:1 ×
180:Beam
139:607
124:Type
103:Lost
40:Name
874:Moa
725:Tui
705:Tui
681:Tui
668:Tui
657:Tui
655:.
649:Tui
641:Tui
637:Tui
633:Tui
618:Tui
607:Moa
595:Moa
584:bow
568:I-1
562:Moa
551:Moa
543:I-1
501:Tui
497:Moa
477:Tui
461:Moa
452:Tui
446:Moa
415:).
301:Tui
295:Moa
255:40
147:) (
997::
974:.
922:.
908:^
878:.
835:.
819:^
788:^
770:.
758:^
582:s
443:,
413:kW
308:.
292:,
986:.
963:.
934:.
890:.
876:"
847:.
782:.
158:)
151:)
145:t
114:2
106:1
98:3
24:.
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