Dive F69 HMNZS Wellington

About The Dive F69 HMNZS Wellington

The Dive F69 HMNZS Wellington lies in about 21 - 24m of water. She is exposed to southerly and strong northerlies but is still divable on many days of the year. Visability is reasonable here except in extreme conditions where the currents over her are often quite strong. F69 HMNZS Wellington lies close to the boat ramp and this allows for the posibility of making more than one trip each day. The marine life is abundant here and there is a NO TAKE POLICY in place on this wreck.

 

F69 HMNZS Wellington was decommissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy and later sunk off the south coast of Wellingtonon City on the 13 November 2005. F69 is a Leander class frigate that was especially prepared as a dive destination. The forces of nature proved too much for F69 HMNZS Wellington as a storm broke her into three sections shortly after she was sunk (see picture). The major attractions of this ship, such as the forward guns and bridge remain although the superstructure has been reduced in height. She is broken in front of the bridge and in the area of the helicopter hangar.

 

F69 HMNZS Wellington Specifications

Displacement:

2945 Tonnes (Full Load)

Dimensions:

Length:113.4m
Beam: 13.1m
Depth: 5.5m

 

Endurance:

30 days or 5500nm @ 15kts: Max speed 28kts

Complement:

245 crew 15 Officers

 

Machinery:

2 Babcock & Wilcox Boilers - 38.7 cm sq, 454oC, 22.4 MW, 2 Diesel Generators

 

Sensors:

Air Search Radar:

Signaal LW-08 D Band
Range 265km for 2m2 Target
Air Surface Search Radar
Plessey Type 993 E/F Band
Navigation Radar
Kelvin Hughes Type 1006 I band

Hull Sonar:

Graseby Type 750 Medium Frequency Active
Electronic Surveillance:
Argo Phoenix intercept and Jammer, Telegon PST 1288 HVU
IFF system: Cossor Mk XII

Data System:

Plessey / Marconi Nautis F with Link 11
Weapons Control: RCA TR-76 I Band

 

F69 Service History

1969 Commissioned into the RN as HMS Bacchante

1982 Commissioned into the RNZN as HMNZS Wellington at Portsmouth on 4 October, delivery voyage

from United Kingdom via United States, Mexico, Hawaii, arriving at Auckland on 2 December


1983 Extended refit (removal of asbestos)


1984 Extended refit


1985 Extended refit


1986 Extended refit, New Zealand (Trials)


1987 New Zealand, Sydney, New Zealand (funeral for Rear Admiral L. J. Tempero, CB), Fiji (Operation

WELLS), Western Samoa, New Zealand, Australia (Workup), New Zealand


1988 New Zealand, Campbell Island, Auckland Island, New Zealand, Raoul Island, Tonga, Westem

Samoa, Pago Pago, Raoul Island, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand,

Australia (for Bicentennial Naval Salute Fleet Review), New Zealand


1989 New Zealand, Australia, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Federated States of Micronesia, Hong Kong,

Korea, Japan, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, New Zealand, Campbell Island, New

Zealand, Raoul Island, Niue, Rarotonga, Pago Pago, Raoul Island, New Zealand


1990 New Zealand, Westem Samoa (Cyclone OFA relief), New Zealand, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea,

Indonesia, Pandang, Singapore, Bougainville (Operation BIG TALK), New Zealand, Australia, New Zealand


1991 New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Hong Kong, Kuching, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand


1992 NewZealand (refit)


1993 New Zealand (refit and trials), Australia (Workup), Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand


1994 New Zealand, Noumea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand


1995 New Zealand, Australia (Workup), New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Bahrain, North Arabian Gulf (Operation DELPHIC), Kuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Bahrain, Dubai


1996 Dubai, Bahrain, Maldives, Diego Garcia, Australia, New Zealand (reflt)


1997 New Zealand (refit and trials), Raoul Island, New Zealand


1998 New Zealand, Australia, New Zealand, Dunedin (for 150th Anniversary Celebrations), Australia, New Zealand, Australia, Norfolk Island (for Medivac), Australia, Indonesia (for Medivac), Guam, Korea (for Intemational Fleet Review), Japan, china, Manila, Australia, New Zealand


1999 New Zealand, Westem Samoa, Niue, Raoul Island, New Zealand, Wellington (Decommissioning visit), Devonport Naval Base

F69 Past Commanders RNZN

Cdr. J. G. Peddie


Cdr. J. G. Peddie


Cdr. A. D. Clayton-Greene


Cdr. P. M. McHaffie


Cdr. M. J. Wardlaw


Cdr. K. N. Corles


Cdr. G. C. Collier


Cdr. J. R. Steer


Cdr. B. C. McLennan


Cdr. P. D. Gilkinson


Lt. Cdr. A. G. A. Watts

4 Oct 1982 to 8 Dec 1982


9 Jun 1986 to 14 Apr 1987


14 Apr 1987 to 17 Jan 1989


17 Jan 1989 to 24 May 1990


25 May 1990 to 9 Dec 1991


19 Oct 1992 to 23 Dec 1993


24 Dec 1993 to 16 Dec 1994


17 Dec 1994 to 6 Jun 1996


20 Mar 1997 to 21 May 1999


21 May 1999 to 15 Jun 1999


8 Sep 1999 to 17 Dec 1999

 

 

 


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