HMNZS Charles Upham
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| Career (New Zealand) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Charles Upham |
| Commissioned: | October 1995 |
| Decommissioned: | 1998 |
| Fate: | Sold |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 7955 tonnes light, 10,500 tonnes full load |
| Length: | 131.7 m |
| Beam: | 21.1 m |
| Draught: | 6.2 m |
| Propulsion: | 1 MaK M453AK Diesel Engine – 3.59 MW |
| Range: | 7000 nm @ speed 14 kt |
| Complement: | 32, plus 100 troops |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
2 x I Band navigation radar |
| Armament: | 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns |
HMNZS Charles Upham was a Royal New Zealand Navy ship commissioned in 1995 and named after Charles Upham VC & Bar. The ship's badge featured his Victoria Cross and bar. This was the first ship commissioned into the RNZN to be named after a person.
The ship was to be used to move military personnel and equipment in support of Government defence and foreign policy needs, as well as to provide assistance in civil emergencies. The vessel decommissioned in May 1998 and was sold in 2001.
The reason behind its early disposal can be put down primarily due to the government of the time not funding the necessary modifications.[citation needed] Without the required modifications the ship was completely unsuitable for its intended role.
[edit] See also
Notes
- Proposed modifications would have included the capability to operate medium size helicopters and fitting a variety of military-specific equipment.
