October 2011 - Operation Render Safe - Papua New Guinea
By Ensign Alisha King
In October 2011, HMNZS WELLINGTON deployed for Operation Render Safe, a joint operation of the defence forces of New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Our task was to remove remnants of war around the former provincial capital of Rabaul and to render its circular harbour safe.
LT CDR Trevor Leslie carrying a 155mm shell
During World War II, the island of Rabaul was the most heavily defended target in the South Pacific. Around 110,000 Japanese soldiers were based on the island in 1943 and they made prisoners of war dig up to 700km of tunnels into the hills. The Japanese used the tunnels as hospitals as well as to evade air attacks from Allied forces and to store artillery and ammunition for submarines.
HMNZS RESOLUTION surveyed Simpson Harbour in early October, mapping subsurface contacts for the Australian mine hunters HMAS GASCOYNE and HMAS DIAMANTINA to further investigate.
HMNZS WELLINGTON worked as an operational platform for the New Zealand Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams and the Mine Counter Measures team, providing support both at sea and ashore. The task of the Explosives Ordinance disposal team was to locate, neutralise and dispose remnants of war. Many bombs were found near schools, alongside soccer fields and in small East New Britain villages.
On 31 October, about 115 five-inch shells were found in a remote tunnel in the town of Kokopo, a suburb of Rabaul. Explosive Ordinance Teams from the three countries, together with several crew from HMNZS WELLINGTON, carted the explosives through about a kilometre of forest and sand. The munitions were then disposed at a demolition range located about 10km from an active volcano. The detonation sent ash about 500m into the air, caused shock waves up to 1km away and left a hole 5m deep and 15m wide on the hillside.
HMNZS Wellington and our Australian counterparts worked closely together during Operation Render Safe. There were personnel transfers between RNZN and the Royal Australian Navy ships and personnel that went ashore to assist the Explosive Ordinance Teams.
The disposal of wartime explosives was just one of the highlights of the operation. NZDF personnel, armed with paint brushes, also gave the Rabaul community school a fresh coat of paint . Community residents were so grateful, they prepared them meals and gave them fruit baskets. The day was capped by a lolly scramble for the children.