HMNZS TE MANA
- Homeward Bound
By SLT Jacinda Johnston RNZN
TE MANA & ENDEAVOUR returned to DNB on 4 July. During our passage home, we made port visits to Darwin and Brisbane. For some those ports were opportunities to catch up with family and friends, for others a chance to soak up the sun on the Gold Coast, visit the theme parks and - for the more adventurous - to get up close and personal with a crocodile! Needless to say, we all enjoyed the warm weather before returning to the NZ winter waiting just across the Tasman.
Soon after rounding North Cape a service to commit the ashes of the late CPOREA Kent Smith to the deep was conducted on board on the morning of 2 July. The service was at the request of his wife and family.
CPOREA Smith joined our Navy in February 1978, from the RN, and he served until February 1998. His ships included HMNZS Waikato, and some of his shipmates from those days are serving in Te Mana and were present at the service. CPOET Jamie Hawke read an address from Kent’s wife Phillipa and WO Ray Jensen committed the ashes to the sea. We remembered a valued shipmate and our thoughts were with his family.
Te Mana rendezvoused with Endeavour for what would be the Task Groups’ final RAS of the deployment. After the Break Away, both ships hurried to anchor in the Bay of Islands to await the arrival of Customs and endure a severe thunderstorm. While at anchor the CO took the opportunity to make presentations to three members of Ship’s Company.
LMT Jamieson was awarded Te Mana’s Sailor of the Quarter and a CO’s commendation for his tireless dedication to the ME department, and significant hours given to rectification of recent generator equipment defects.
POET Scott was awarded a CO’s commendation for his longstanding efforts as Te Mana’s LAN maintainer and resident IT expert. This also included revolutionising Te Mana’s web page and distributed a constant flow of up-to-date news, port guides and information to the benefit of our company.
POMED Baker-Clemas was awarded a CO’s commendation for his dedication to running the Medical department and ensuring the welfare and safety of all on board, including extra measures taken to mitigate the danger of H1N1 in high-risk countries.
We arrived home to be reunited with family and friends at the Naval Base at 1000 on Saturday 4 July – a great moment!
Some Deployment Stats:
- Distance steamed: 18,359 nm
- Hours underway: 1491 hrs
- Average Speed: 12.31 kn
- Crossed the equator: 2 times
- Time Zone changes: 9
- Seasprite hours: 75.7
- MOB Exercises: 16
- Paydays and incidental payments: 14
- Pay envelopes: 2088
- Promotions: 17
- Control Room WK certificates: 3
- OOW Warfare Endorsements: 3
- Number of beards grown: 30
- Sports: matches played: 21
- Ship’s Baseball Caps presented/bought: 75
- Hands to bathe: 2
- Ports visited: 9
- Official Receptions: 6
- CO’s formal luncheons: 2
- Flight Deck BBQ’s: 3
- Meals: 50760
- Milk: 3700L
- Baked Beans and Spaghetti: 282 tins
- Eggs: 36000+
- Potatoes: 2500kgs
- Loaves of Bread: 2000
- Packets of Biscuits: 600
- Marmite/Vegemite: 100 jars
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