New Zealand Navy in 1980. New Zealand continues to shake. An excerpt characterizing the New Zealand Navy
Traditionally, New Zealand maintains a special relationship with Great Britain, which is modeled after the construction and training of the country's armed forces. Due to its geographical location, the main partner of this state militarily and economically is Australia.
Equipping the New Zealand armed forces with weapons and military equipment is carried out with the active assistance of the United States, Australia and Great Britain. The country's military budget for the 1978/79 financial year is set at over 250 million New Zealand dollars.
Currently, the New Zealand Armed Forces consists of the (Army), Air Force, Navy and Reserve components. They are designed to conduct combat operations primarily in cooperation with the armed forces of their allies. According to foreign press reports, the number of personnel in the regular armed forces is about 12.6 thousand people, in the reserve there are over 12 thousand. The armed forces are recruited by recruiting volunteers. Officer training for all branches of the armed forces is carried out in military educational institutions in the USA, Great Britain and Australia.
The Supreme Commander of the New Zealand Armed Forces is the Governor-General. The highest military body is the Defense Council (collegial body), which includes: the Minister of Defense (chairman), his deputy, the Chief of the Defense Staff, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Finance.
The main military administrative body of the armed forces is the Ministry of Defense. The operational control of the country's armed forces is entrusted to the defense headquarters, which is responsible for the construction of the armed forces, their mobilization deployment, logistics and combat use. The Chief of Defense Staff exercises control over the troops through the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Air Force and Navy and is effectively the Commander-in-Chief of the country's armed forces.
The control bodies of the branches of the armed forces (headquarters of the army, air force and navy) are responsible for the construction of the corresponding troops, their recruitment, combat and mobilization readiness, logistics and operational use.
The main and most numerous type of armed forces. They are designed to conduct combat operations both independently and in cooperation with the Air Force and Navy, as well as to participate in joint operations with allied armies in military blocs. The ground forces consist of regular troops (5.7 thousand people) and reserves.
According to reports in the foreign military press, the New Zealand army is armed with weapons and military equipment made in the United States and England, many of which are outdated. The ground forces include about ten M41 light tanks, up to 70 - the main means of transporting infantry, ten Ferret reconnaissance armored vehicles, 17 94-mm cannons (obsolete models), about 30 105-mm mountain howitzers and ten 139.7-mm howitzers -guns, as well as over 20 106-mm recoilless anti-tank guns.
Air Force designed to provide direct air support to ground forces and naval combat operations, provide air defense, conduct aerial reconnaissance in the interests of the armed forces as a whole and for other tasks. The number of regular air force personnel is approximately 4.2 thousand people, reserves - over 1.2 thousand.
Organizationally, the New Zealand Air Force has two functional groups: operational and support.
According to the foreign press, the operational composition of the task force located on the territory of New Zealand includes: squadrons of fighter-bombers (13 Skyhawk aircraft), a combat training squadron (16 Strikemaster aircraft) and a squadron of base patrol aircraft (five reconnaissance aircraft). Orion aircraft). Transport aviation includes three squadrons with 21 aircraft (five C-130 Hercules, three Bristol, ten Andover and three Devon), and one squadron of transport helicopters (ten UH-1 Iroquois and ten light helicopters). The aviation units are armed with about 30 aircraft and helicopters of other types, including training ones. In addition, a transport squadron (three Bristol aircraft and four UH-1 Iroquois helicopters) is stationed in Singapore.
The support group is directly responsible for the condition of air bases and airfields, organizing and conducting combat training of flight and technical personnel, as well as for the logistics of aviation units. The group has six air bases and airfields in New Zealand and one air base in Singapore.
Naval forces designed to conduct combat operations both independently and in cooperation with ground forces and air forces, as well as together with naval formations and ships of allies in blocks. The number of naval personnel is 2.7 thousand people, reserves are over 3.5 thousand.
According to foreign press reports, the basis of the Navy consists of four frigates equipped with Sea Cat anti-aircraft missiles. Two of them have Wasp anti-submarine helicopters. One of the frigates, in accordance with the five-party agreement, is located in the Malaysian area for most of the year. The fleet also includes four patrol boats, hydrographic, research and other auxiliary vessels and boats. The most prepared fleet bases are Auckland, Wellington and Otago.
Captain S. Anzhersky
The New Zealand Navy paid more than $700,000 to the company Glenn Defense Marine Asia, whose owner Leonard Glenn Francis is involved in the largest corruption scandal involving high-ranking officers of the US Navy.
According to US law enforcement agencies, Francis, also known as “Fat Leonard,” used his connections in the US Navy command to obtain government contracts. In exchange, the head of the company gave large bribes, organized luxurious trips and meetings with prostitutes for his accomplices. In addition, in Glenn Defense Marine Asia they falsified invoices, set inflated prices and practiced kickbacks.
The New Zealand Navy admitted that it paid the company Glenn Defense Marine Asia for servicing warships during their calls to ports in Southeast Asia from May 2007 to December 2011.
Despite the scandal in the United States, the New Zealand Navy is not going to investigate the circumstances of the conclusion of agreements with Glenn Defense Marine Asia, since the command did not sign permanent or long-term contracts with the company.
"Tugs Glenn Defense Marine Asia provided escort for ships in ports, and the company also provided the fleet with garbage collection and removal services. This is a common practice when visiting foreign ports. The total cost was 710.24 thousand US dollars,” Radio New Zealand quotes a statement from the New Zealand Navy command.
It is also noted that Glenn Defense Marine Asia provided services in accordance with the requirements of the host countries.
Labor Party spokesman Ian Lee-Galloway said the navy's decision not to investigate the circumstances surrounding the contracts with Glenn Defense Marine Asia completely unacceptable: "Significant taxpayers' money was wasted, and there was strong evidence from overseas that the company was involved in corruption schemes. At a minimum, we should have ensured that New Zealand Navy officers were not involved in any way."
Representatives of the New Zealand Ministry of Defense declined to be interviewed by journalists.
Company Glenn Defense Marine Asia For a quarter of a century, it was engaged in coastal servicing of American ships in Asian ports, but in 2013, US authorities had questions for its leader.
A corruption scandal erupted in February 2015, when investigators arrested a former customer representative for US Navy contracts, Paul Simpkins, who was suspected of receiving bribes when concluding contracts to service American ships and vessels in the Pacific Ocean.
A number of people involved in the case are under arrest. Some, in addition to this, are already in the Navy.
Last week, a federal district court in the US state of California sentenced Robert Guilbault to one and a half years in prison in this case.
In January 2016, the first of nine defendants, US Navy officer Daniel Laig, .
On April 15, Kaman announced the start of factory flight testing at its Bloomfield (Connecticut) facility of the first SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite ASW helicopter intended for the New Zealand Navy.
Once testing is completed, the helicopter will be used to train New Zealand Navy crews and technical personnel. In May 2013, Kaman Aerospace signed a contract worth $120 million to supply the New Zealand Navy with 10 SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite anti-submarine helicopters, spare parts, a simulator and related logistics.
Previously, the government approved the purchase of 8 helicopters (plus two for spare parts), a trainer, Penguin anti-ship missiles and related equipment for a total of N242 million. USD (206 million US dollars), including 147 million new. USD (USD 120 million) for the supply of the helicopters themselves.
Delivery of the first three vehicles is scheduled for the end of 2014. The complete transfer of helicopters is planned to be completed in mid-2015. All SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite helicopters will begin performing combat missions as intended during 2016. The helicopters will replace five similar machines that have been in operation since the late 1990s. The helicopters purchased by the New Zealand Navy were originally intended for the Australian Navy.
However, in March 2008, the government of this country canceled the contract signed with the American company Kaman Aerospace in 1997 for the supply and modernization of 11 SH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters. Despite the fact that at that time about $1 billion had been spent on the implementation of the program, it was canceled due to the recognition of the futility of integrating modern equipment onto an outdated platform.
In accordance with the agreement reached by the parties, the helicopters, equipment and spare parts were returned to Kaman for sale on the open market. The Australian government will receive at least 50% of the proceeds from any sale of this batch of helicopters, with a guaranteed return of $39.5 million. In addition, the $30 million planned for spare parts for the SH-2G will be used by Australia to purchase equipment for the Sea Hawk and Black Hawk helicopters.
The replacement for the SH-2G Super Seasprite for the Australian Navy was the MH-60R helicopters, the purchase contract for which was signed in 2011. In January 2012, New Zealand began searching for helicopters to replace similar machines in operation since the late 1990s. Direct negotiations with the Kaman company began at the end of May 2012.
Helicopters stored in Connecticut are required under the contract to be modified to meet New Zealand Navy requirements. The helicopters will be equipped with upgraded sensors, communications and flight control systems. The service life of the updated machines will be extended until 2025. The upgraded helicopters will be used on board Anzac-class frigates.
The second strong earthquake - with a magnitude of 6.2 - occurred in New Zealand. Less than a day ago, an earthquake of magnitude 7.8 occurred there with a series of aftershocks. According to preliminary data, two people died as a result of the first earthquake.
The epicenter of the tremors was located about 90 km northeast of the city of Christchurch, which was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 2011. The source of the earthquake lay at a depth of 23 km.
New Zealand police and armed forces have been deployed to search and evacuate residents. HMNZS Canterbury (L421) and HMNZS Wellington (P55) were sent to the disaster area, which were supposed to take part in the naval parade in Auckland dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the creation of Her Majesty's New Zealand Navy.
At the request of the country's leadership, the US Navy allocated a P-3C Orion base patrol aircraft from patrol squadron VP 47 (Pearl Harbor, Hawaii), which was involved in the Mahi Tangaroac exercises held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the creation of Her Majesty's New Zealand Navy. In addition, two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters from the USS Sampson (DDG 102) participating in the same exercises were allocated for rescue operations.
Japan offered to send JS Takanami (DD-110) to the disaster area, which arrived in New Zealand to participate in the celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Navy. Also, ships from the navies of India, China, Canada, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Chile, Indonesia and Samoa arrived in New Zealand to celebrate Navy Day, which will take place from November 18 to 20. 