View source for HMNZS Wellington (F69)

{{short description|Leander class frigate sunk as artificial reef off Wellington, New Zealand }}
{{other ships|HMNZS Wellington}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Wellington arriving 2.jpg
|Ship caption= HMNZS ''Wellington'' just before she was decommissioned. 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=New Zealand
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|New Zealand|naval}}
|Ship name=HMNZS ''Wellington''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=1982
|Ship decommissioned=1999
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=Sunk as dive wreck in 2005
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Ship class={{sclass|Leander|frigate}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|3200|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} full load
|Ship length= {{convert|113.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam= {{convert|12.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draught= {{convert|5.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship decks=
|Ship propulsion=2 × [[Babcock & Wilcox]] boilers supplying steam to two sets of White-[[English Electric]] double-reduction geared turbines to two shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|28|kn|km/h}}
|Ship range={{convert|4600|nmi|km}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h}}
|Ship endurance=
|Ship complement=223
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*'''As built:'''
* 1 × twin [[QF 4.5-inch Mk I – V naval gun|4.5 inch (114 mm) guns]]
* 1 × quadruple [[Seacat (missile)|Sea Cat]] anti-aircraft missile launchers
* 1 × [[Limbo (weapon)|Limbo anti-submarine mortar]]
* '''From 1980:'''
* 2 × triple torpedo tubes in place of the Limbo
|Ship armour=
|Ship aircraft=*1 × [[Westland Wasp]] helicopter
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''HMNZS ''Wellington''''' was a {{sclass|Leander|frigate|0}} [[frigate]] of the [[Royal Navy]] and the [[Royal New Zealand Navy]] (RNZN). Originally commissioned in 1969 for the Royal Navy as {{HMS|Bacchante|F69|6}}, she joined the RNZN in 1982. She was decommissioned in 1999 and sunk in 2005.

==Refit==
On arrival in New Zealand, ''Wellington'' was decommissioned and entered an extended refit which ended in 1986. The limited modernization proved difficult and took an unexpected 4 years. When inspected prior to purchase in 1981, she was in the condition expected for a [[Royal Navy]] (RN) frigate after a dozen years' service. However, in 1982 the frigate conducted a four-month winter patrol in the postwar [[Total Exclusion Zone|Falklands exclusion zone]] with the other four RN unmodernised ''Leander''s. Sea conditions in the Falkland exclusion zone meant more expensive hull repair was needed. Large-scale energy projects in New Zealand, particularly [[Marsden Point]], resulted in a loss of key dockyard staff and recruitment difficulties. The installation of additional fuel tanks to extend the range of South Pacific operations proved difficult and dirty work. A new gunnery control system (RCA-76) along with surface and navigation radar were fitted, escape hatches were enlarged and asbestos was removed.<ref>Christchurch Star, 1985 & Cmdr R.Martin (1985- interview, Salmond College).</ref> The original estimated cost of transferring and refitting ''Bacchante'' and ''Dido'' to RNZN was $100m in 1981. By 1985 it reached $263m<ref>Christchurch Star 1985)</ref> Other minor changes were also made as a result of practical experiences of British frigates during the [[Falklands War]].

Later refits saw new long-range air surveillance radar in place of the old 965 bedstead, with the Thales LW08 (1994) {{clarify|date=September 2015}} and the original [[Seacat missile]] removed and replaced by the Phalanx CIWS (1998).{{clarify|date=September 2015}}

==Operational history==
[[File:SeaCat on the HMNZS Wellington, 1987.JPEG|thumb|left|Sea Cat missile launcher on HMNZS ''Wellington'', 1987]]
Like her sister-ship {{HMNZS|Canterbury|F421|6}}, ''Wellington'' was stood to during the First Coup in Fiji in 1987 to evacuate New Zealand and other foreign nationals should the need have arisen.

In 1988, ''Wellington'' accompanied HMNZ Ships ''Canterbury'', {{HMNZS|Endeavour||2}} and {{HMNZS|Waikato|F55|2}} to [[Sydney]], Australia to participate in the Bicentennial Salute to mark the 200th Anniversary of the settlement of Europeans in that country. Vessels from the navies of Australia, Britain, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, United States and Vanuatu were represented.

In 1994, ''Wellington'' contributed to the international Peace Keeping initiative in Bougainville along with ''Canterbury''.

In 1995/1996, ''Wellington'' deployed to the [[Persian Gulf]] on the first of the RNZN deployments supporting the MIF (Multinational Interception Force) enforcing UN sanctions on Iraqi trade through the Gulf. ''Wellington'' successfully detained a number of vessels exporting dates from and attempting to import prohibited cargoes to Iraq. The frigate attended peace talks at Bougainville in July and August 1990.  On 23 February 2017, it was announced by NZDF that the ''New Zealand Operations Service Medal'' (NZOSM)<ref>[http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/c/c2.html New Zealand Campaign Medals - The New Zealand Operational Service Medal]</ref> had been awarded to personnel who were in Bougainville for the Operation BIGTALK peace talks.<ref>[http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/templates/custom/mediarelease.aspx@nrmode=published&nrnodeguid=_257b6528fa77-a4bc-4d4e-bb08-addca8198202_257d&nroriginalurl=_252fmedia-centr0b0c7dfe4e.htm Service at Bougainville Peace Talks Qualifies for Medal]</ref>

==Sinking==
[[File:HMNZSWellington1 gobeirne.jpg|thumb|right|HMNZS ''Wellington'' prior to sinking, outside [[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa|Te Papa]].]]
[[File:HMNZSWellington2 gobeirne.jpg|thumb|right|Removal of dangerous fittings and toxic substances, cutting of large holes in the hull.]]
[[File:F69 sinking.jpg|thumb|right|HMNZS ''Wellington'' being sunk.]]
HMNZS ''Wellington'' was deliberately sunk off the south coast of [[Houghton Bay]], [[Wellington]] just east of [[Island Bay]].

Although the ship was due to be sunk at 3pm on 12 November 2005, this was delayed for 24 hours due to weather. The next day, the sinking was delayed by another 30 minutes due to the entanglement of a detonation cable under the frigate. At 3:30pm on 13 November, the ship was scuttled and took a minute and 55 seconds to sink. During a storm in February 2006, the ship broke up and is now lying in two sections on the seabed close to where it was sunk at {{coord|41|21.18|S|174|46.80|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.linz.govt.nz/docs/hydro/ntm/2006/2006127.pdf |title=NEW ZEALAND – North Island – South Coast – Approaches to Wellington Harbour – Taputeranga Island – Wreck. |access-date=3 October 2009 |archive-date=14 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214064837/http://www.linz.govt.nz/docs/hydro/ntm/2006/2006127.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The depth of her keel is approximately {{convert|21|m|ft}}, making the wreck accessible by [[Scuba diving|scuba divers]] using standard equipment.

==See also==
* [[Frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMNZS Wellington (F 69)}}
* [http://www.divewreck.co.nz/Home.php Sink F69!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531165600/http://www.divewreck.co.nz/Home.php |date=31 May 2008 }} (Dive the Trail - Wellington, Waikato, Canterbury)

{{Leander class frigate}}
{{2005 shipwrecks}}
{{Recreational dive sites|wresit}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wellington}}
[[Category:Leander-class frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks of the Cook Strait]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2005]]
[[Category:Wellington]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Tyne]]
[[Category:Ships built by Vickers Armstrong]]