HMNZS Canterbury (F421), HMNZS Southland (F104), HMNZS Endeavour (A11). HMNZS Waikato (F55), HMNZS Wellington (F69)
laststandonzombieisland
Weapons, Wars, Preparation and Security from a recovering gun nut turned bad writer
Most certainly remember that day, it was Day One of our deployment. I was in CANTERBURY (F421) and ENDEAVOUR (A11) and ourselves had just started our deployment to the Battle of Atlantic Celebrations in the UK. Having all five Major Fleet Units at sea in close proximity to each other was a ‘never to be repeated’.
I think I was on the bridge manning our tactical voice circuit when we started hearing all this commotion on the speaker monitoring the aircraft. In quick succession there was a PAN PAN, and then our helo became a water feature. The Pilot and Air Force Photographer were the only two occupants.
A feature of the Wasp was that it had flotation devices that would keep the cockpit partially above the water. When she ditched the Pilot had to recover the photographer who was still strapped in in the back. Both were then successfully recovered to the ship.
ENDEAVOUR continued on her way to Pitcairn while the rest of us headed back to port with our aircraft firmly secured to one of WAIKATO’s davits. A quick COI and replacement aircraft and we were off again the next day to catch up with ENDEAVOUR.
On that deployment we circumnavigated the World, up through the Panama and back through the Suez. Great times, great memories!