HMAS Lachlan (K364/F364) (later HMNZS Lachlan (F364)) was a River-class frigate that served the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) from 1945 to 1949. The vessel was later transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy serving as surveyor until 1975 and was eventually scrapped in 1993.

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HMNZS Lachlan as HMAS Lachlan shortly after the end of World War II

HMNZS Lachlan as HMAS Lachlan  1945

HMNZS Lachlan in Sydney

HMNZS Lachlan and V bomber

Late 1945: Frigate HMAS LACHLAN arrives in Fremantle

In 1948, the New Zealand government sought for a survey ship to temporarily use until a new one could be constructed in Britain. After negotiations, Lachlan was offered on loan for an initial time of three years and on 31 May 1949 was paid off from RAN service and was immediately given to the Royal New Zealand Navy the next day. Following trials through September 1949, on 5 October 1949 HMNZS Lachlan was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy.[2]

The ship was fully disarmed at the dockyard at HMNZS Philomel and the ship's chart room enlarged for surveying. The ship was rushed into service so quickly that some of the finishing touches were done at sea. Her first survey was started on 18 November 1949 surveying the Wellington harbour entrance, taking three weeks to complete with assistance of a survey motor boat from Australia. To assist with the creation of the hydrographic service, on earlier voyages part of the ships company included personnel from the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Navy.

HMNZS Lachlan surveyed over fifty percent of New Zealand's coastline over her twenty-years commissioning. Some of her service included surveys in Australia and the rest of the pacific, and she even helped clear mines around the Gilbert & Ellice islands from the Second World War. Her bow was damaged in a collision with the Napier wharf in October 1954. In 1963 the New Zealand government purchased the vessel for 16,000 pounds. By 1970, she was due to be decommissioned but in May 1970 the Royal New Zealand Navy was ordered by the government by an extra five years.

In 1975, HMNZS Lachlan was painted all grey and docked at HMNZS Philomel to house ship's companies whose frigates were undergoing refits. In September 1975, her engines were removed and sold, and in 1993 the hulk of HMNZS Lachlan was sold to a Philippines company for scrapping.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Lachlan_(K364)