Frigate For Weather Ship In Antarctic

Press, Volume C, Issue 29633, 2 October 1961, Page 12

Frigate For Weather Ship In Antarctic

(fIZ. Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 1. The New Zealand frigate, Rotoiti, will sail south from Auckland tomorrow to take up station about 900 miles south of New Zealand, acting as a radio beacon, weather ship, and rescue vessel for American aircraft flying to and from the Antarctic.

The Rotoiti will be stationed at latitude 60 degrees south and longitude 170 degrees east, and will make three cruises to and from this position. While on station, she will help to add much to knowledge of the southern ocean, as well as fulfilling her main role as a weather ship. On at least one of her three cruises, the Rotoiti will carry a number of Government scientists, who will make surface and deep-sea oceanographic recordings. The frigate has been fitted with a special winch and boom system, capable of carrying 3000 fathoms (about three miles and a half) of oceanographic wire, for lowering apparatus and collecting samples.

The Rotoiti has also had her two guns aft removed, to make room for a large balloon hut and helium store. While on her 10 or 15-day station, radiosonde balloons for determining conditions in the upper atmosphere will be sent up every 12 hours. Every three hours reports will be made on the surface weather to help in aircraft flight predictions. “This is the first time the Royal New Zealand Navy has provided patrols of this sort to help in the United States Antarctic pro-

gramme,” said the captain of the Rotoiti (Lieutenant-Com-mander G. A. Lawrence) today. “For both the ship and most of the officers and men, it will be the first trip to southern latitudes.”.

The Rotoiti, which will operate out of Dunedin, will take about four days after leaving New Zealand to reach her station. Once there, she will have to keep within 10 miles of the central point of the station — something of a. navigation problem in Antarctic waters.