After 4 months away and 80,000 hours of refurbishment undertaken in Singapore, the Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN’s) multirole vessel HMNZS Canterbury (L421) proudly sailed into Waitemat? Harbour yesterday after a two-week transit, prepared and keen to tackle any operation. HMNZS Canterbury completed an roughly two-month upkeep interval at ST Engineering’s marine division in Benoi, Singapore. A variety of refurbishment actions undertaken, a few of which may solely be performed whereas the ship is in dry dock. There are not any dry dock services in New Zealand that may accommodate a ship of Canterbury’s dimension.
HMNZS Canterbury is a multi-role vessel (MRV) of the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was commissioned in June 2007, and is the second ship of the Royal New Zealand Navy to hold the identify. Conceived as a part of Mission Protector, the ship was constructed within the Netherlands by Merewede Shipyards and fitted out by Tenix Shipbuilding (now BAE Techniques Australia) in Williamstown. She can be New Zealand’s first purpose-built strategic sealift ship. Canterbury was delivered to the Ministry of Defence and commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 12 June 2007. Canterbury is the second ship of this identify to serve within the Royal New Zealand Navy. Canterbury supplies the New Zealand Defence Pressure with the power to move personnel, automobiles, and provides round New Zealand’s and abroad.
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As a sealift ship, Canterbury just isn’t supposed to enter fight, or conduct opposed landings underneath hearth. The ship’s armament consists of a single 25 mm M242 Bushmaster cannon fitted to an MSI DS25 stabilised mount, two .50 calibre machine weapons, and a variety of small arms. These are supposed for self-defence towards different smaller craft, and for ocean patrol duties (for instance the intercepting of suspicious civilian craft) throughout a naval blockade. The ship is provided to embark as much as eight containers of ammunition and as much as two with hazardous supplies, and likewise has an intensive hearth sprinkler system. The ship additionally comprises a gymnasium, workshops, an armoury and journal, in addition to workplaces for presidency officers embarked (resembling Division of Conservation or NIWA scientists).
HMNZS Canterbury is ready to accommodate as much as 4 NH90 helicopters for deployment ashore in assist of New Zealand Military operations and catastrophe reduction actions. She can be able to working the SH-2G Seasprite and the helicopter deck is ready to deal with a Chinook-size helicopter. The ship has cargo area of 1,451 sq. metres (15,620 sq ft), which will be unloaded through two ramps, both from the starboard facet or the strict. The indicative cargo would embody (as one doable loadout): 14 Pinzgauer Gentle Operational Autos, 16 NZLAV mild armoured automobiles, 7 Unimog vehicles, 2 ambulances, 2 flatbed vehicles, 7 automobile trailers, 2 tough terrain forklifts, 4 ATV-type automobiles and as much as 33 20 ft TEU containers.
