From the Magazine: How can the RNZN recover lost capabilities?

The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is in crisis. Three of its ships are tied up alongside for lack of crews and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is has serious personnel retention issues. As a small navy the RNZN finding it increasingly difficult to sustain large numbers of different types of ship. The RNZN currently operates two Anzac-class frigates HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Wellington, two Lake-class Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) HMNZS Hawea and HMNZS Taupo, the multirole sealift ship HMNZS Canterbury, the replenishment tanker HMNZS Aotearoa and the diving and hydrographic vessel (DHV) HMNZS Manawanui. This means the RNZN has a fleet of nine ships spread across six different classes. Whilst this offers the NZDF an impressively wide range of capabilities unmatched by many other countries with smaller sized navies, this does not lend itself to efficiencies either in terms of support or personnel. Terence Johanson, a Lecturer at Massey University’s Centre for Defence and Security Studies told APDR: “Perhaps the biggest issue for the RNZN is its personnel.” This is an excerpt from APDR. To read the full story click here. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]