HMNZS Koura - Toroa (Q1350)(P3564)

 

HMNZS Koura at Paeroa.

HMNZS Koura at Paeroa.

HMNZS Koura - Tank Farm - Waitemata Harbour Auckland circa 1967

HMNZS Koura - Paeroa

HDML Q1350. HMNZS Koura, P3564.

HMNZS Koura

Built: Ackerman Boat Works, California USA 1942

Type: Harbour/Seaward Defence Motor Launch

Pennant No.: Q1350 / P3564

Named after: catfish

Displacement: 47 tons, 54 tons full load

Length: 72 ft,/22 m Beam: 15.8 ft./ 4.8 m Draft: 5.3 ft./ 1.6 m.

Propulsion: 2-shaft Hercules diesels, bhp 550

Speed: 12 knots

Complement: 10

Armament: 1 x 20mm AA, 1 x 0.5in Colt Browning mg, 2 x .303 mg , depth charges

Q1350 was one of the 16 Harbour Defence Motor Launches (HDML) to be delivered to the RNZN in 1943. She was commissioned on 27 March 1944 and assigned to the Auckland flotilla. Her duties included anti-submarine patrols in the port approaches and the outer Hauraki Gulf north to Cape Brett.

She paid off at Auckland on 28 July 1945 and was laid up for disposal. But in October 1946 she was withdrawn from sale for reserve. In 1948 Admiralty reclassified the HDMLs as Seaward Defence Motor Launches and in 1948 she was commissioned for RNZNVR duties at Dunedin. In 1950 she was renumbered P3564 and named Toroa.

In 1955 the armament was removed and in 1967 she was renamed HMNZS Koura and in early 1968 she transferred to the Auckland RNZNVR. In 1972 she was assigned to the Fishery Protection Squadron for three years before returning to the RNZNVR again. She served there until she returned to Auckland Division in March 1980.

Koura was decommissioned on 3 March 1984 and handed over to the Historical Maritime Park at Paeroa as a museum ship.