Unsleeping Navy patrols N.Z. coastline

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33965, 4 October 1975, Page 12

Unsleeping Navy patrols N.Z. coastline

I found the commanding officer, Lieutenant Shelley Yates, at breakfast in the wardroom. He told me that for the next three days they would be patrolling from Banks Peninsula to Otago Harbour.

Their task would be to compile information on maritime activity and conditions in various patrol sectors, and to practice detection and boarding procedures. “Our primary duty is to protect fisheries from foreign boats operating inside the New Zealand fishing zone and from any commercial fishing in restricted spawning areas,” said Lieutenant Yates. “Before qualifying for fisheries protection we must learn the regulations and qualify as honorary fisheries officers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. “Foreign vessels are normally only permitted within New Zealand waters if they are on passage or sheltering from the weather,” said Lieutenant Yates. Roll and pitch “Our radar and high speed usually let us intercept unidentified craft without much trouble. Sometimes it is necessary to board a vessel to establish whether or not it is acting within the law. Because a vessel may refuse to slow down or allow us aboard we hold regular exercises in which we simulate various boarding situations.”

By mid-morning Rotoiti was patrolling at about 12

knots in a slight south-eas-terly swell to the east of Banks Peninsula. I asked the coxswain, Petty Officer Phillip Smith, about the pronounced roll and pitch of the ship in view of the slight seas conditions. He explained: “The hull is designed for high speed, but we patrol at 10 to 12 knots in order to conserve fuel. At this speed the motion takes a bit of getting used to.” The former loch-class frigate, H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti, which served with distinction in the Korean War in commemorated in the name of the present Rotoiti. A picture of the frigate and her battle honours, are displayed in the forecastle messdeck. We went topside and had a look at the twin gun turret on the foredeck and the 81mm mortar on the quarterdeck. Just forward of the quarterdeck I noticed a sailor working on an out-board-powered boat under a small swivel crane. Phillip told me it was referred to as the Z boat and that the skipper had ordered boarding exercises for that day. Boarding party The boarding party, commanded by Sub-Lieutenant Gary Collier, would leave the ship in the Z boat and then attempt to board Rotoiti — which would simulate a vessel refusing to stop for inspection. Later, I saw this manoevure being carried out. The next day as we patrolled southwards into the Canterbury Bight I asked Lieutenant Yates about the radar equipment aboard. He explained that it was a high definition type radar with a range of about 50 miles. He operated a control to move the distance indicator to a small blip on the screen. Electronic numerals flashed up on the rangefinder panel. “That contact is a small vessel and the rangefinder indicates that it is 6.53 miles from us on the same

bearing as the ships head. It’s most probably a local fishing vessel but I’d like Sub-Lieutenant Collier to pay her a visit and also follow the exercise of boarding an unknown vessel.” Full ahead He pressed a switch and spoke into the general address system: “All hands stand by to launch the Z NEIL MACKINNON, of Auckland, recently travelled in H.M.N.Z.S. Rotoiti on fishery patrol. He joined the vessel on a cold, dark winter’s morning in Lyttelton. This is his story. boat. Boarding party muster on the upper deck.” He immediately pushed both throttles to full ahead. With a surging roar Rotoiti lifted her bow and took off like a burnt boot with a high rooster tail of spray plumming from her stern.- In minutes the Z boat had been swung out over the port rail ready to launch as the trawler Ava out of Timaru loomed up off the starboard bow. Sub-Lieutenant Collier and Petty Officer Smith were well received aboard the Ava by her skipper, John Kenton, who was pleased to offer not only considerable information about the local fishing scene but also a large box of flatfish for Rotoiti’s mess. Rotoiti remained at sea all night patrolling southwards into a slight southeasterly swell. I awoke about 1.00 a.m. and made my way to the upper deck. Cold and dark Conditions outside were cold and dark so I went in to the wheelhouse where I found Lieutenant Yates and Able Seaman Martelletti on watch. Although the temperature in the wheelhouse was comfortable it was almost as dark as outside. The only illumination was from a few dim lights on the control panel and

the glow from the Ship’s 24-hour lookout, the radar screen, which showed a sharp image of the 20-mile distant coast-line from Moeraki to Shag Point. The rest of the screen was completely clear without even a trace of cloud interference. Later in the day, as we approached Dunedin, I asked Petty Officer Smith about leisure activities onboard. He replied: “Most sailors enjoy reading; they need to, because on patrol in rough weather the bunk is the safest place for an offduty sailor in a small ship like Rotoiti. Of course, ukkers (Navy ludo), is always popular and we have local, radio programmes piped to all cabins from the main aerial; and there’s television.” Good meals I personally found conditions onboard comfortable. The air-conditioning made the outside temperatures of little concern and the meals were of good quality and quantity.. Although there were a few gripes, such as the long absences away from families and some worries about prospects for the future, I felt the presence of a strong team spirit.