Crew Of New Frigate Gradually Assembling

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 6

Crew Of New Frigate Gradually Assembling

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, Jan. 12. The crew which will man ithe New Zealand frigate I Waikato when it is commisI sioned in September is gradual ally being built up in Britain. | Already there are two officers and 23 ratings overseas, J half of them in Belfast, II where the frigate is being . | built, and the others taking . 1 courses to prepare them for 11 the equipment they will have . to control. The first man to join the Waikato was Engineering Lieutenant R. M. Simmonds, I already in London on the i staff of the Naval Liaison ; Office, who will be chief engineer in the new ship. He was > joined early last year by the i weapons and radio engineer- . ing officer, Lieutenant Com- : mander J. M. Coleman. i Since then there has been .ia slow build-up in numbers > which will continue throughi out the first half of this year

until June, when there will be eight officers and 47 ratings , in Britain. . In August a party of 35 ’ will be taken to Britain and the remainder of the crew, about 160, will follow early ’ in September. While not taking training , courses the men will discuss ; fitting out their ship with the ; shipyard, install equipment • and stores and generally i familiarise themselves with the vessel. ' One of the last men to join 1 the Waikato will be its first . commander. Captain S. F. ‘ Mercer. Next month he will i begin six months of courses • to prepare him for his comi mand. s After it is ready for action ■ the Waikato will undergo an • intensive working-up period with the Royal Navy at Porti land. Its voyage to New Zea ; land will be a final shakedown cruise and it will arrive • in Auckland early next year