HMNZS Puriri (T02)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career (NZ)	Royal New Zealand Navy

Name:	HMNZS Puriri (T02)
Builder:	Henry Robb Ltd, Scotland
Launched:	1933
Commissioned:	19 April 1941
Status:	Sunk by mine 14 May 1941
General characteristics
Displacement:	927 tons gross, 423 tons net
Length:	57.4 m (188.2 feet)
Beam:	10.7 m (35.2 feet)
Propulsion:	diesel, 740 bhp, two shaft
Speed:	10/8.5 knots
Complement:	32
Armament:	1x4 inch gun, ? Lewis MGs, depth charges,

HMNZS Puriri (T02) was a coastal cargo boat which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper. She was sunk by a German mine 25 days after she commissioned.

Puriri was owned by the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company. She was one of four ships requisitioned as a consequence of the Orion minefield and the loss of the liner Niagara, the others being Matai, Gale and Rata. She was taken over on 20 November 1940 and handed to the dockyard for conversion.

1 War career
2 Her sinking
3 See also
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links

[edit] War career

On 27 November 1940 Puriri put to sea urgently to assist Archilles in the search for the raiders Orion and Komet, which had sunk the liner Rangitane. She returned to port three days later and resumed conversion.

She was commissioned on 19 April 1941 into the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla in April 1941, joining Matai and Gale sweeping for German mines in the Hauraki Gulf. Rata was later commissioned into the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla two hours before Puriri was sunk.

[edit] Her sinking

On 14 May 1941 Puriri was sunk by a German mine at position 35°46′15″S 174°43′00″E / -35.77083, 174.716667, eight miles NE of Bream Head. The sinking should not have happened. The mine she struck had been boughed by the launch Rawera the day before and Puriri and Gale were sent to deactivate it. Gale passed the mine without seeing it, but Puriri found it in an explosion which sank the ship in a few minutes. Five lives were lost including her commanding officer. Gale rescued 26 survivors including 5 injured.

[edit] See also

Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy

[edit] References

McDougall, R J (1989) New Zealand Naval Vessels. Page 69-78. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994
Tonson, A.E. HMS Puriri 1938, NZ Navy, article in Naval Historical Review - March 1983