19 Gun salute for Navy’s last steam driven frigate
Monday 21 March 2005
Firing a 19 gun salute, HMNZS CANTERBURY will ensure that her last voyage into Wellington Harbour as a commissioned Naval frigate is a memorable one.
HMNZS CANTERBURY will fire a 19 gun salute to the Chief of Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, at 08:05am Tuesday 22 March.
This will be returned with a 17 gun salute at Point Jerningham by 16 Field Regiment. The Regimental Sergeant Major of 16 Field Regiment, Warrant Officer Class 1 Kemp Solomon, is an ex-sailor who served on HMNZS CANTERBURY in 1974.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Lieutenant Commander Barbara Cassin, Navy Public Relations Officer, Ph: 021 2440638
Background
HMNZS CANTERBURY was launched by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne (the Princess Royal) on 6 May 1970 and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 22 October 1971. She will decommission on 31 March 2005.
HMNZS CANTERBURY is the last of the Leander-class frigates commissioned into service in the Royal New Zealand Navy and her decommissioning will mark the end of the steam turbine era.
Under the command of Commander Peter Kempster, the crew of 247 Officers and ratings have recently taken HMNZS CANTERBURY on a Farewell Tour of her home port areas of Timaru, Akaroa and Lyttelton/ Christchurch.
Particulars of HMNZS CANTERBURY
- Length: 113.4 m
- Draught: 5.6 m
- Displacement: 3,182 tonnes
- Machinery: Two steam turbines driving twin shafts
- Speed: 30 knots
- Complement: 240 (Officers and Ratings)
- Pennant Number: F421
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