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HMNZS Matai (T01)

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History
New Zealand
NameHMNZS Matai (T01)
Launched11 June 1930
Commissioned1 April 1941
Decommissioned25 April 1945
General characteristics
Tonnage1,050 GRT, 383 NRT
Length66.8 m (219 ft)
Beam10.7 m (35 ft)
Propulsiontriple expansion steam reciprocating, 1,050 ihp, twin shaft, oil
Speed10 to 13 knots (19 to 24 km/h; 12 to 15 mph)
Complement81
Sensors and
processing systems
asdic
Armament1 × 4-inch gun, 2 × 20 mm Oerlikons, 2 machine guns, 40 depth charges,

HMNZS Matai (T01) was a Marine Department lighthouse tender which was requisitioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) and converted into a minesweeper.

Operational history

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Matai was the government's lighthouse tender servicing the marine lights around New Zealand and offshore islands, and had been used for cable laying in the 1930s. She was named after the native mataī tree.

She was requisitioned on 3 March 1941 and handed over to a dockyard for conversion.

After commissioning on 1 April 1941, Matai took over as the flotilla leader of the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla from Muritai and the flotilla began clearing a German minefield in the Hauraki Gulf.

See also

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References

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  • McDougall, R J (1989) New Zealand Naval Vessels. Page 69–78. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-477-01399-4

Further reading

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  • Harker, Jack (2000)The Rockies: New Zealand Minesweepers at War. Silver Owl Press. ISBN 0-9597979-9-8