HMNZS Tui (1970)

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For other ships of the same name, see HMNZS Tui.

Career (United States)	United States Navy

Name:	Charles H Davies
Builder:	Christy Corp, Wisconsin
Laid down:	15 June 1961
Launched:	30 June 1962
Commissioned:	25 Jan 1963
Career (New Zealand)	Royal New Zealand Navy
Commissioned:	11 Sep 1970
Decommissioned:	1997
Fate:	scuttled two km from Tutukaka Heads, Feb 1999.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Conrad class oceanographic ship
Displacement:	1200 tons standard, 1380 tons full load
Length:	63.7 / 58.4 m (208.9 / 191.5 ft)
Beam:	11.4 m (37.4 ft)
Draught:	4.7 m (15.3 ft)
Propulsion:	1-shaft diesel electric 10,000 bhp (7400 kW) A 620 hp (420kW = 6.5 kts) gas engine was housed in the funnel for quiet running during sound experiments 175 hp bow thruster
Speed:	13.5/12 kts
Complement:	(NZ) 36 plus up to 10 scientists
Armament:	not armed

HMNZS Tui was one of nine Conrad class oceanographic ships built for the United States Navy. These ships were designed to perform acoustic experiments on sound transmission underwater, and for gravity, magnetism and deep-ocean floor studies. She was originally commissioned into the US Navy in 1963 as the Charles H Davies

In 1970 she was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy and renamed Tui. After a partial refit and scientific equipment had been installed and tested, she began a program of work for the Defence Scientific Establishment in Auckland. For years Tui went unobtrusively about the kind of work she was designed for, primarily underwater acoustics.

Tui worked in Australian, Indian Ocean and South Pacific waters. She worked on Auckland University research, with DSIR scientists, and with other oceanographic ships. Tui also took part in several American research programs. Her acoustic research was mainly to do with the detection and tracking of submarines.

During the 1970s she made an extensive search for the Maria Theresa Reef.

In 1997 she was decommissioned and was replaced by the hydrographic ship HMNZS Resolution.

In February 1999 the Tui was deliberately scuttled two kilometres from Tutukaka Heads to serve as a tourist attraction and wreck for divers, following a period of work on her which removed any objects in danger of breaking free and welding shut any areas that may have posed a hazard for wreck divers.^[1] Her anchor was presented to the City of Napier. ^[2]

Tui was named after the Tui bird from New Zealand and was the second of two ships with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy.