HMNZS Waikato

HMNZS Waikato was purposefully sunk in November 2000 and now lies 30 metres down and bolt upright on the seabed. She has large holes cut in the side to make entry and exit very safe and less experienced divers will gain valuable wreck diving experience from the vessel. The shallowest part of the wreck is only 8 metres from the surface.

	The Waikato, just before being sunk off the Northland coastline
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Built by Harland & Wolfe Ltd, Belfast, the Waikato was launched by HRH Princess Alexandra on 18 February 1965. She was the first Leander Class frigate to be built for the Royal New Zealand Navy. The ship took her name from the North Island province of Waikato and was the first New Zealand commissioned naval vessel to bear the name. She was adopted by the Waikato city of Hamilton and the ships company participated in a final Charter Parade in the city as part of the decommissioning.

In her service days the Waikato was fitted with modern air and surface warning radar and navigation aids along with undersea detection equipment. The ships twin 115mm guns had a long range and a high rate of fire. The ships crest features a Taniwha, a water monster and legendary guardian of the Waikato people and their river.

Specifications

Displacement: 3182 Tonnes
Length: 113.4 metres
Beam: 12.4 metres
Draught: 5.6 metres
Machinery: Twin steam turbines driving twin shafts 30,000 horsepower total
Armament: Twin 115mm guns Wasp helicopters carrying homing torpedoes Two twin barreled torpedo tubes. One Phalanx closed weapon system.
Maximum speed: 30 knots
Complement: 239 (19 Officers)