HMNZS TE KAHA started 2009 with a patrol south to Campbell and Auckland Islands, supporting the Department of Conservation (DoC) and conducting an EEZ patrol. And our spirits were high as well, as we proudly flew the RNZN Efficiency Pennant, awarded to TE KAHA at the Navy Divisions on 23 January, along with the CHATHAM Rose Bowl.
Our visit to the Sub-Antarctic Islands was an opportunity to take 30 tonnes of stores and about 30 passengers to Campbell Island. The DoC is building a boardwalk on the Island and most of the timber was lifted ashore by our Seasprite helicopter. The passengers included members of the Royal Society of NZ and Southland District Council staff (in whose area the islands are).
The weather was rough with strong winds, but we achieved our tasks. Embarked newsmedia personnel meant that the story was well covered in newspapers and on television. While our year has started with the passage south, it’s also timely to look back at how 2008 finished up for the mighty TE KAHA too.
On completion of Exercise BERSAMA LIMA off Malaysia, and some time ashore in Singapore, our frigate sailed for Fleet Base West for the Fleet Concentration Period with the RAN. The 11 day passage between Sout East Asia and Western Australia proved a great opportunity for training with many of our ship’s company developing the skills they had acquired during the recent exercise period.
Among those working on their skills were a group of junior Seaman Officers practising the ancient but essential skill of navigation by the stars. Under the watchful eye of the ship’s navigator, ENS Scott Ward and SLT Katie Gibson were able to navigate us safely to Australia, which saw the Commanding Office awarding them their Ocean Navigation Certificates - an essential step on the way to becoming fully qualified Officers of the Watch. On arriving in Fleet Base West we all enjoyed the break in the thriving metropolis that is Rockingham before heading back out to sea for a series of exercises with the RAN.
The Fleet Concentration Period was an excellent period for individual and Ops Department training. The many CASEXs, ADEXs and other warfare serials provided the perfect environment to build the ship’s war-fighting skills. During this period many of the Ordinary Ratings in the Ops Department completed their taskbooks and earned their promotion to Able Rating. While this is a milestone for each of them, moving from the ‘training force’ to the ‘trained force’ you can’t help but think that for many the best part was finally being off Cinderella leave and able to stay off the ship past midnight!
Our whole team performed well at FCP (West); now, refreshed by our leave and our trip down south, we are heading West across the ditch to another fleet concentration period with the RAN, this time on Australia’s East coast.