Monday, 17 March 2025

Protector Class – Offshore Patrol Vessel – HMNZS Taupo (P3570)

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HMNZS Taupo

HMNZS Taupo is a Lake-class inshore patrol vessel of our Royal New Zealand Navy. It is one of our Navy’s two Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPV). The ships are designed for maritime surveillance and patrol missions around New Zealand’s 15,000-kilometre coast and out to the 200 nautical mile limit of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).Royal New Zealand Navy's HMNZS Taupō sailing in the ocean on a nice day, blue sky in the background and some hills.

HMNZS Taupo’s primary mission is to ensure the security and prosperity of New Zealanders by undertaking maritime security patrols, surveillance, boarding operations, navigation training and response to search and rescue call-outs.

Conceived as part of Project Protector, the ships were built in Whangarei by BAE Systems Australia (formerly Tenix Shipbuilding).

Taupo is the last of the four IPVs that were delivered to the Ministry of Defence and was commissioned into the Royal New Zealand Navy on 29 May 2009. Taupo is the third ship of this name to serve in the Royal New Zealand Navy and is named after Lake Taupō.

Our two Inshore Patrol Vessels, HMNZS Taupo and HMNZS Hawea, have fully automated control and navigations systems, powerful engines, modern communications and surveillance systems, active stabilisers and comfortable accommodation. Using the two RHIBs (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats) onboard, both ships can undertake boarding operations, surveillance and transport personnel. The RHIBs are launched using two automatic davits near the stern of the vessels. The ships are highly manoeuvrable and capable of speeds up to 25 knots (46 kilometres per hour). 

They regularly work with government agencies such as Primary Industries (fisheries), Customs, Police and the Department of Conservation and frequently visit ports throughout the country. Taupo regularly undertakes patrols around New Zealand’s major fishing grounds, including the West Coast of the South Island, Marlborough Sounds, Cook Strait, Northland and the North Island East Coast.

Homeport: Whangārei
Ship Sponsor: Lady Susan Satyanand

Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Samara Mankelow

Ship’s Badge 

HMNZS Taupō Badge

HMNZS Taupō’s Badge

Motto: Kia U (standfast).

Designed by personnel in the WWII Loch Class Frigate, the first to bear the name, the badge features a Māori canoe, with wavy lines representing the sea. The canoe is double-hulled, the type of construction which brought the Arawa people to Aotearoa New Zealand, eventually to settle in the area including Lake Taupō.

Taupō was named by Ship Sponsor, Her Excellency Lady Susan Satyanand and is affiliated to the Whangarei / Northland region.

Operations

  • Surveillance and reconnaissance around NZ coastline
  • Counter-terrorism
  • Search and Rescue
  • Interception and boarding
  • Apprehension and escort of vessels
  • Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief
  • Support for other government agencies, including Police, Primary Industries, Customs and Department of Conservation
  • Vertical replenishment by helicopter
  • Pollution patrol
  • Sea training for the Navy

Specifications

PENNANT # P3570
Displacement 340 tonnes
Beam 9 metres
Draught 2.9 metres
Length 55 metres
Speed 25 knots
Range 3,000 nautical miles
Complement 24 (core crew), 4 (Govt. agencies), 10 (additional personnel) Total 38
Propulsion 2 x MAN B&W 12V P185 Diesel Engines

Armament

Main Gun Nil
Helicopter Vertical replenishment (no flight deck)
Small Arms Numerous small arms ranging from .50-calibre machine guns to 9mm pistols


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