Axis naval activity in New Zealand waters

A small number of Axis surface raiders and submarines operated in New Zealand Waters during World War II.

urface raiders

The following German surface raiders operated in New Zealand waters:
* "Orion" (13-19 June 1940, late August 1940, late September 1940, November 1940, March 1941)
* "Komet" (November 1940, June 1941)
* Small auxiliary raider "Adjutant" (June 1941)
* Tanker "Ole Jacob" (March 1941)

The "Orion" and "Komet" sank four ships in New Zealand waters during these operations. [ Sydney David Waters [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1Epi-c1-WH2-1Epi-j.html 'German Raiders in the Pacific'] in "Episodes & Studies Volume 1". Historical Publications Branch, Wellington. Page 31.]

ubmarines

Imperial Japanese Navy submarines submarines operated in New Zealand waters in 1942 and 1943:
* The "I-25" operated off New Zealand in early March 1942. Nobuo Fujita from the "I-25" in a Yokosuka E14Y floatplane conducted reconnaissance flights over Wellington on 8 March and Auckland on 13 March before departing for Fiji. [Sydney David Waters (1956), [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy.html "The Royal New Zealand Navy"] . Historical Publications Branch, Wellington. Pages 214-215.]
* The "I-21" briefly operated off the northern tip of New Zealand in May 1942. The "I-21"'s floatplane conducted a reconnaissance flight over Auckland on 24 May. [Waters (1956). Page 215.]
* An unknown Japanese submarine operated off New Zealand in February 1943 [Waters (1956). Page 219.]

Neither the "I-21" or "I-25" attacked any ships during their brief periods in New Zealand waters. [Waters (1956). Page 217.]

U-862

The German submarine "U-862" sailed down the east coast of New Zealand in January 1945. "U-862", under the command of Korvettenkapitän Heinrich Timm, entered New Zealand waters on 1 January 1945 after operating off Australia. The boat rounded the tip of North Island on 7 January and proceeded down the east coast. [David Stevens (1997), "U-Boat Far from Home". Allen & Unwin, Sydney. Page 179.] She encountered a merchant ship off Cape Brett on 10 January but was not able to intercept it. The U-boat continued south and failed to reach firing position on another merchant ship off East Cape on 13 January. [Stevens (1997). Page 180.]

On 15 January "U-862"'s Timm took his submarine very close to Gisborne in search of viable targets. While the submarine was not detected, Timm did not find any worthwhile ships to attack. [Stevens (1997). Page 181.] Timm also sailed close to the shore of Napier on 16 January and attempted to torpedo a small merchant ship off the city. This attack was not successful, with the torpedo missing its target. Timm believed that "U-862" had been sighted during this attack and left the area. This belief was not correct, however, and the New Zealand government remained unaware of the submarine's presence. [Stevens (1997). Pages 182-183.]

Shortly after the attack off Napier "U-862" received orders to return to her home base at Batavia. Timm immediately ceased his patrol and proceeded along the east coast of the South Island. "U-862" rounded Stewart Island on 21 January and the submarine left New Zealand waters shortly thereafter. [Stevens (1997). Page 183.] Claims that members of the submarine's crew landed in New Zealand are not correct, and this story appears to have been started by Timm as a joke. [Stevens (1997). Page 221.]

Notes

References

*
* David Stevens (1997), "U-Boat Far from Home". Allen & Unwin, Sydney. ISBN 1-86448-267-2
* Sydney David Waters (1956), [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy.html "The Royal New Zealand Navy"] . Historical Publications Branch, Wellington.
* Sydney David Waters (undated), [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1Epi-c1-WH2-1Epi-j.html 'German Raiders in the Pacific'] in "Episodes & Studies Volume 1". Historical Publications Branch, Wellington.

ee also

* Axis naval activity in Australian waters
* Coastal Forces of the Royal New Zealand Navy
* Coastal fortifications of New Zealand