Navy Ships Arriving Home After Long Deployments

The frigate HMNZS TE KAHA and tanker HMNZS ENDEAVOUR will arrive at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland at 10am this Sunday 2 August, after long overseas deployments. Over 1100 family and friends of the crews will be present to welcome them home.

Gun Salute and Flypast: A Gun Salute will be fired at approximately 9.40am, followed by a helicopter flypast.

HMNZS TE KAHA sailed from the Naval Base on 16 February. After work-up in Australia, highlights of her deployment included:

• Attendance at the Gallipoli centenary commemorations
• A successful counter-narcotics patrol, operating as part of the Combined Maritime Forces in Western Indian Ocean waters, during which she confiscated and destroyed some $235 million worth of drugs
• Participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre, the largest warfighting exercise that Australia conducts with the US military.

HMNZS ENDEAVOUR sailed for Australia on 9 March. While deployed her main activities were:

• Support to the Royal Australian Navy as they prepared ships for deployment
• The Five Power Defence Arrangements Exercise Bersama Shield, held off the coasts of Malaysia and Singapore
• Exercise Talisman Sabre.

The NZDF Maritime Component Commander (head of Naval operations), Commodore John Campbell RNZN, will be aboard HMNZS TE KAHA and will be available for media interviews.

The two Commanding Officers, Commander Simon Griffiths RNZN (TE KAHA) and Commander Sandra Walker RNZN (ENDEAVOUR) will also be available.

The Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral Jack Steer, will also be present.

ENDS

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