HMNZS Kiwi (T102)

HMNZS "Kiwi" (T102) was a "Bird" class minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy.

She was commissioned in 1941 for minesweeping and anti-submarine roles. From 1948 to 1956 she functioned as a training ship.

On 29 Jan 1943, with her sister ship "Moa", "Kiwi" rammed and wrecked [* Waters, Sydney David (1956) "The Royal New Zealand Navy", [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2Navy-c20.html#n307 Page 307-309] , Historical Publications Branch, Wellington.] the Japanese submarine "I-1". At the time "Kiwi" was under the command of Lieutenant Commander Gordon Bridson who was awarded the DSC and the United States Navy Cross [ [http://www.homeofheroes.com/valor/1_Citations/03_wwii-nc/nc_06wwii_foreign.html Full Text Citations for award of the Navy Cross] ] for this action.

"Kiwi" was the first of two boats with this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after the national bird of New Zealand.

ee also

* Minesweepers of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Notes

References

* McDougall, R J (1989) "New Zealand Naval Vessels." Page 59-61. Government Printing Office. ISBN 9780477013994

Further reading

* Harker, Jack (2000)"The Rockies: New Zealand Minesweepers at War." Silver Owl Press. ISBN 0959797998

External links

* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Navy-fig-WH2Nav35b.html Photo of HMNZS "Kiwi's" company]
* [http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/WH2Navy-fig-WH2Nav35a.html Photo of damage to the bow of "Kiwi"]