NEW MINESWEEPER FOR NAVY

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27705, 8 July 1955, Page 8

NEW MINESWEEPER FOR NAVY

STAVVELL TO REPLACE TUI “The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, July 7. The ocean minesweeper Stawell will be commissioned for service with the Royal New Zealand Navy on Tuesday. She will replace the anti-submarine minesweeper, Tui, which is passing into reserve. • Lieutenant-Commander J. E. McKenzie, R.N.Z.N., will be captain of the new ship. He was commanding officer of the Tui. Larger and slightly faster than the Tui. the Stawell is more modern and has the most up-to-date types of minesweeping gear on board. She will also be manned by a slightly larger complement. The Stawell is the first of four Eathurst-class minesweepers, given to New Zealand by the Australian Gov-' ernment in 1952, to go into service. It is understood that a second, the Kiama, will be brought forward from reserve later this year. She will replace H.M.N.Z.S. Kiwi, a sister-ship of the Tui. By passing into reserve, the Tui will end almost 14 years’ continuous service with the R N.Z.N. Built by Henry Robb. Ltd.. Leith, she was completed in 1941 and went straight into war service. In October, 1943. helped by an American aircraft, she sank a Japanese submarine, which was carrying about 100 men.

The Tui spent some time in reserve after the Second World War, but was recommissioned to carry out reservist training. She continued to carry out this useful work until recently, when she returned to Tlevonport naval base lo pass into reserve.