HMNZS WAIKATO

GALLERY

WAIKATO HISTORY

The frigate ex HMNZS Waikato was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland, launches on February 18, 1966, and commissioned into the Toyal New Zealand Navy on September 15, 1966. At 113.4m long, 12.5m bea and draft of 5.5m she was the first Leander Class frigate built for the navy. She had top speed of 30 knots, and was powered by twin steam turbines developing 30,000hp. She was armed with twin guns in the turrel, two 20mm Orlikeon machine guns on the wings, a quad Seacat anti-aircraft missile launcher, six 12.75in anti submarine torpedo tubes, one anti-submarine warefare Limbo mortar Mark 10 and a Wasp Helicopter capable of delivering depth charges and a Mark 46 anti-submarine torpedo.

She served the RNZ Navy until decommissioning in 1998. Tutukaka Coast won teh tender and prepared the ship for divers during 1999/2000. Finally the ship was sent to her final resting place on the 25th November 2000 in a world record time of 2 mins 40 secs. She now rests in 30m of water. She is the only purpose sunk frigate in the Southern Hemisphere with her turret and one propeller left on the ship.

The dive

Having completed a little over 100 hours on (and in) this wreck still takes my breath away. I dont know what it is about this wreck but time and time out it never ceases to deliver the goods. Todays dive was no different. Uncharacteristically I spent 98% of the dive outside the wreck. With my new camera in tow, wide angle lense, dome port and tripod I was out to do some damage!! Making a beeline for the bow I set up shop just off the port bow. It must have been an interesting sight to see someone purched on the sand with a camera and tripod! Anyway...... Right on cue Andrew and Scott turned up and hung around the bow section and let me rattle off a few shots. With all these dives on the wreck in the past I had never really looked and appreciated the beauty of the ship from this angle. It was quite exquisite!

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Click on the above image to get the Feb 09 image library of the waikato.

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