F421 - ZMCR 
40th Anniversary Reunion -
It is proposed to hold a Reunion at Labour Weekend 2011 in Christchurch to celebrate the 40th anniversary of HMNZS Canterbury. Registrations of Interest in the first instance to the Secretary please at ajkildare@xtra.co.nz
Dimensions: 372ft x 43ft x 18ft.
Displacement: 2450 tonnes standard, full load higher, depending on fitout.
Propulsion: 2-shaft double reduction steam turbines, 30,000 hp.
Auxiliary machinery: Turbo-alternators/diesel generators providing 1400 kW at 440V.
Speed: 30 kts.
Complement: 245 – 260
Armament: 2 x 4.5” DP guns, 1 x quadruple Seacat SAM launcher, two x 20mm Oerlikons, 2 x 3 stack torpedo tubes.
Aviation: one Westland Wasp A/S helicopter armed with homing torpedoes. Replaced with the SH-2G Seasprite helicopter.
Sonar: the original Type 184 was replaced with the Graseby Dynamics Type 750 sonar.
Radar: Type 993 early warning – foremast
MRS3 x 2 gunnery radar – seacat and turret
Type 965 – long range air early warning – mainmast. Replaced with a Signaal LW-08 D Band.
Going down the slip
Canterbury (Batch 3) commissioned at Scotstoun 22 October 1971, worked up at Portsmouth and Portland and sailed for NZ 1 June 1972, arriving at her home port, Lyttelton 4 August 1972. Decommissioned end of March 2005. Sunk in the Bay of Islands as a diving attraction 3 November 2007.
Delivery voyage from UK 1971
* Canterbury was the RNZN's longest serving ship - 34 years. During this time, over 4,000 sailors and airmen have served on her.
* She was the last steam driven warship in the RNZN.
* She was the last operational Leander class frigate in the world.
* Canterbury was one of the RNZN's most decorated ships -
Qualified for the following:
(A) 1973 Mururoa - NZ Special Service Medal
(B) 1982 Operation Armilla - NZ General Service Medal - Gulf of Oman
(C) 1983 Operation Armilla - NZ General Service Medal - Gulf of Oman
(D) 1996 Persian Gulf - NZ General Service Medal
(E) 2000 East Timor - NZ General Service Medal
(F) 2000 East Timor - Interfet Medal
(G) Because of (B) through to (F) qualified for the NZ Operational Service Medal 5 times
Total 11 medals plus awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace for Operation Armilla
In addition to the above, Canterbury was also involved in:
1977 Represented NZ at the Royal Fleet review at Spithead in the UK
1987 With HMNZS Wellington, stood by in Fijian waters after the first military coup in the event that NZ citizens had to be evacuated.
1997 Was part of the Peace Monitoring Group at Bougainville.
Between 1977 and 1987, Canterbury contributed a total of 361 days toward NZ's commitments in Southeast Asia.
Paying off March 2005
Canterbury seen below on her way to her final resting place in Deepwater Cove, 3 November 2007.
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