HMNZS Arabis

[Dave Homewood]

I just came across these neat photos in the Herald. I'd not heard of this ship, and Googling around found nothing either.


NEW ZEALAND CORVETTE ON TRIALS: Pictures taken in New Zealand waters of H.M.N.Z.S. Arabis (900 tons, 15 knots), a recent addition to the Dominion's navy. Left: A depth charge sends a column of water high into the air. Upper Right: H.M.N.Z.S. Arabia at speed during trials. Lower right, A group of officers of the vessel. Left to right are Lieutenants J. H. Cooper, W. N. Hancock, Lieutenant N. D. Blair, commanding officer, Lieutenant C. S. Evans. Sub-Lieutenants E. Chisholm, H. Barnett, V. W. Were.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 23 DECEMBER 1944

Did this vessel see service overseas?

[senob]

Modified Flower Class corvette HMNZS Arabis K-385. Transferred to RNZN 1944 from RN after build finished.Commissioned 1944, decommissioned 1948, broken up 1951.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMNZS_Arabis_(K385)

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. No wonder I found nothing. The paper had the name wrong. Cheers.

Did the Kiwi crew go with it yo the RN?

[Dave Homewood]

Four years service is such a short life.

[senob]

Kiwi crew would've taken over from RN and returned it to the RN in 1948. Yep short life but the Flower class corvettes were not good sea going ships. The RN scrapped a lot of ships after the war.

[Dave Homewood]

Ah yes, I must have misread it before re the crew, reading on my phone without my glasses on, cheers.

[nighthawknz]

This a new one to me as well... thanks for sharing

[shorty]

Perhaps now would be a good time for Dave to correct the thread title?

[Dave Homewood]

Corrected thread title and original post from Arabia to Arabis.

[zkdex]

Yes, HMNZS Arabis did see overseas service, going up to the Pacific Islands in late 1944. Lt Nigel D Blair was CO of Arabis in November 1944, but was posted as CO of HMNZS Arbutus in May 1945. Refer to separate thread about Arbutus.