As part of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) 75th Anniversary celebrations, a formation entry into Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour was held Monday, February 8.
The formation entry included a 17-gun salute from HMNZS Canterbury as she passed Devonport Naval Base at midday, and this was reciprocated with an 11-gun salute fired from HMNZS Te Mana, berthed at Devonport Naval Base.
New Zealanders were able to watch the ceremony from ashore, from North Head and other vantage points around the Auckland’s harbour.
Maritime Museum heritage vessels, the scow Ted Ashby and the steam vessel Breeze, also accompanied the RNZN ships.
The salute is a naval tradition in which the Maritime Component Commander of the RNZN is formally acknowledging the newly appointed Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral John Martin ONZM.
Following the formation entry this afternoon, the ships engaged in manoeuvers, including a boarding party deployment from HMNZS Wellington via RHIBs to HMNZS Hawea and a winching demonstration using 6 Squadron’s Seasprite SH-2G helicopters to conduct a transfer between ships.
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Images: Royal New Zealand Navy