N.Z. Frigate Jumps Lines And Hits Two U.S. Ships

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30535, 2 September 1964, Page 9

N.Z. Frigate Jumps Lines And Hits Two U.S. Ships

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. While testing its main engines before going to sea this morning at Pearl Harbour, the frigate H.M.N.Z.S. Otago parted its lines and hit two American warships lying berthed ahead. The Otago’s hull was damaged above the waterline on both sides of the ship but there was “no apparent major damage” to the American vessels, according to the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre). No-one was hurt.

Mr J. A Bell, constructer at the Devonpoit naval dockyard, left Auckland by air tonight to inspect the damage to the Otago and to decide where repairs to the ship should be made.

H.M.N.Z.S. Otago has been working-up and exercising with the United States Navy over the last four weeks. The Otago’s skipper, Captain E. C. Thorne, said the collision was due to a “fault” in the ship’s engine room which caused the frigate to “jump ahead” and run between the sterns of two destroyers docked in front of the frigate, says a Reuter message from Honolulu. Captain Thorne would not elaborate on cause of accident. “We’ve had a bump but I don’t think it will be long before we can continue,” he said. The two American ships hit were the destroyers Jenkins and Walker. Damage to all three ships is

estimated unofficially at about 50,000 dollars. The Otago was the first of the New Zealand navy’s new fast frigates. It was built by Thornycrofts at Southampton, launched by Princess Margaret in December, 1958, and commissioned in June, 1960. It is basically an anti-sub-marine frigate but has had new equipment and improvements in living conditions. The complement is 220 officers and men. The frigate’s top speed is more than 30 knots and it is armed with a twin 4.5 inch radar controlled turret, antisubmarine mortars, and torpedo tubes. Since the Otago was commissioned, the navy has received a second frigate, Taranaki; and a third frigate is being built.

Engineering Journals.—A complete run of journals of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London, from volume 1, 1925, owned by Mr H. M. Reid, former chief engineer of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, has been presented to the Canterbury University engineering library by his widow.