Article Posted on : - Nov 29, 2010

The Te Kaha frigate of Royal New Zealand Navy. An official photo

WELLINGTON (BNS): HMNZS Te Kaha (F77), the first of two Anzac class frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy, has joined Australian naval frigates to hone up its operational capability.

The Te Kaha has been exercising with long-range frigates HMAS Darwin and HMAS Ballarat, and HMAS Stuart (FFH153), the sixth Anzac class frigate of the Royal Australian Navy, off Eastern Australia.

“The Te Kaha's focus is on increasing operational capability, proving her war-fighting abilities of pace, pressure and close quarters manoeuvring under red threat-warnings,” the New Zealand Navy said.

The exercises it has been involved with include anti-submarine and anti-air warfare drills and naval gunfire support among others.

The Te Kaha was commissioned in the Royal New Zealand Navy 1997.

With a water displacement of 3,600 tonnes, the vessel can cruise at a speed of 50 km/h. The weapons and armaments it can carry include automatic lightweight gun, Sea Sparrow missile system, PHALANX Close In Weapon System, torpedo tubes and other small arms.

The warship can also carry a Seasprite SH-2G multi-purpose helicopter.