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NAVY NEWS NEW ZEALAND NAVY BUYING UNSAFE HELICOPTERS? New Zealand is bargaining to buy 11 naval helicopters that the Australian military considers too unsafe to fly. The Super Seasprite SH-2G(I) would replace the existing five earlier model SH-2G choppers which are facing maintenance issues. No prices have been disclosed but when the Australians signed a deal in 2008 for the SH-2G(I) they were worth a total of $1.4 billion. Aviation media is speculating New Zealand could get the package for $230 million including 11 helicopters, a full motion flight simulator, training aids, spares inventory, publications and the introduction into service and through-life support of the aircraft. Only two other military forces, Egypt and Poland, now fly the SH-2G(I). US manufacturers Kaman Corporation said the US State Department had authorised the negotiation of the sale. Kaman say, "These helicopters would significantly enhance New Zealand's vertical lift capabilities with exceptional performance and low operating costs." Australia ordered the helicopters in 1997 but the project was delayed when modifications ordered by Australia failed to meet performance targets or were too difficult to implement in the refurbished air frames, and they cancelled the contract on safety grounds. Last year, a New Zealand Defence Department study said the Navy's $350 million, five SH-2G helicopters were un-flyable much of their time because of maintenance issues with corrosion and vibration damage. New Zealand is the only country flying this model. Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said, "We're not considering any other types of helicopters at this stage." NAVY FRIGATE TRAVELS AS FAR AS THE MOON AND BACK The speedo on HMNZS Te Kaha has just clicked over 500,000 nautical miles, the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back, or circumnavigating the globe 23 times. The milestone is all the more significant when considering the contribution this ship has made to New Zealand's defence. Te Kaha was commissioned for service on July 22, 1997, and in the intervening 15 years she has been deployed all around the world, including being on operational service in East Timor (1999), the Arabian Gulf (1999), the Solomon Islands (2000- 2001) and the Gulf of Oman (2002-2003). In addition to her operational missions she has travelled to 63 degrees south in the Southern Ocean, and north through the Asia Pacific region as a regular contributor for New Zealand's commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements that include the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. Current Commanding Officer, Commander Jon Beadsmore, is proud to be at the helm at this milestone, RIGHT: HMNZS Te Kaha getting up close and personal to an iceberg during her Southern Ocean Deployment in 1999 "This was the first ship I served in with the RNZN and as such is something of an alma mater for me," he said while preparing the ship for her next task at Exercise Rim of the Pacific off the coast of Hawaii. "I suspect the current crew is very much like all those before us, a broad range of ages and backgrounds and all immensely proud of our ship." In order to keep up with the times the ship has undergone a number of equipment improvements, most recently a set of powerful new engines. Next on the list are improvements to the way equipment on board is controlled, and then a sensors and weapons upgrade to keep her eyes and teeth sharp. Te Kaha is currently participating in the world's largest naval exercise and is in the company of 42 ships, six submarines and over 200 aircraft from 22 different nations. She is joined by the RNZN Operational Dive Team, Mine Counter Measures Team, a Rifle Platoon from one RNZIR, a P3K maritime patrol aircraft with two crews, and personnel working ashore and afloat in a number of headquarters. HMNZS OTAGO PATROLLING THE SOUTH PACIFIC One of the Navy's newest ships, offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago, is having a busy few months deployed in the South Pacific supporting agencies of New Zealand's Pacific Island neighbours. During this time the ship has spent many weeks at sea supporting fisheries patrols of the Samoan, and Cook Island Exclusive Economic Zones, enabling the Samoan Fisheries Officers and Cook Island Maritime Police to conduct patrols. These have proven very successful for the island nations. Members of Otago's ship's company provide support to a vessel in distress Commanding Officer of Otago Commander Dave McEwan, has been very pleased with the success of the various operations, "The benefit to the Royal New Zealand Navy, is in making stronger relationships with our counterparts from these Pacific nations, and in being able to assist in the protection of their EEZ. In addition, there are lessons to be learned in how these island nations do business, which will help with closer working relationships in the future." Following the patrol work, the ship spent two weeks in Tonga conducting a planned maintenance period. This allows the Navy to better appreciate the logistical and maintenance capabilities of our neighbours, in the event that deployed ships may need repair assistance in their areas in the future. HMNZS Te Kaha 70 Professional Skipper September/October 2012 It was during this two week period that the ship's company spent time in the Nuku'alofa local area conducting community work, such as providing manual labour to a local school for much needed repairs. "We assisted a local school by removing excess rocks from their playing field which had originally been built on reclaimed land using loose rocks," says one of Otago's officers, Sub Lieutenant Malcolm Barry. "When the area experienced flooding several months ago, the topsoil began to seep down