Canterbury due for refit

Press, 12 September 1987, Page 38

Canterbury due for refit

PA Wellington H.M.N.Z.S. Canterbury is due to enter Auckland’s naval dockyard early next year for a refit intended to extend her life past the year 2000. The refit will keep the Canterbury in the dockyard for up to two years, and so the Navy has asked the Government for permission to have the frigate Southland undergo more routine work overseas. The Navy’s public relations officer, Lieutenant Lawrence Tye, said the Canterbury’s modernisation would be similar to the work done on H.M.N.Z.S. Wellington before she was formally commissioned last year. This would involve a new gunnery director, new sonar and a new

chaff shti-missile defence system; but not th? longrange fuel tanks installed in the Wellington. ’ Although the Wellington and Southland, both former Royal Navy ships, are the Royal New Zealand Navy’s most irecent purchases, the Canterbury is still the newest ship, bought new in 197 L; The Southland’s refit is expected to keep her at sea for another five to six years. /? Lieutenant Tye slid the Navy hoped that \ firm decision would have been made on replacement warships by then. , ! The navy was stil waiting for Government permission to refit th( Southland overseas, bit Lieutenant Tye was utable to say where this w'rnld be done.