Commissioned cruisers of the Royal New Zealand Navy from its formation on 1 October 1941 to the present: NameTypeClassDatesNotesHMNZS Achilles (70)Cruiser 1941–1946in the New Zealand Division 1936–1941HMNZS LeanderCruiser1941–1948 in the New Zealand Division 1937–1941HMNZS Monowai (F59)Armed merchant cruisern/a1940–1943Liner fitted with guns. Surplus in 1943 and converted to landing shipHMNZS Gambia (C48)Cruiser 1943–1946Passed to RNZN as Leander and Achilles were out of action after being damaged in Pacific.HMNZS Bellona (63)Cruiser Bellona subgroup1946–1956HMNZS Black Prince (81)CruiserBellona subgroup1946–1961Second World War light cruiser loaned from Royal Navy. In reserve 1947–1953. In reserve from 1953. Used as accommodation and source of parts for 'RoyalistHMNZS Royalist (C89)CruiserBellona subgroup1956–1966Second World War light cruiser purchased from Royal Navy after reconstruction
Loss of HMS Neptune was a light cruiser which served with the Royal Navy during World War II. Early in 1941 the New Zealand Government responded to an Admiralty request for sailors to man an additional cruiser. Neptune was selected and was expected to leave the United Kingdom for New Zealand in May. However, because of the loss of cruisers during the Crete campaign Neptune was instead attached to Admiral Cunningham's Force K, based on Malta. On 19 December 1941 she was sunk by mines. Only one crewman survived.Royal New Zealand Navy HMS Neptune
150 of those lost were New Zealanders, 80 of them had served in the Naval Reserve before the outbreak of war. The loss of Neptune was the greatest single tragedy New Zealand Naval Forces have experienced.
See also Current Royal New Zealand Navy ships List of ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy
Notes
References Walters, Sydney David (1956) The Royal New Zealand Navy: Official History of World War II, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington Online McDougall, R J (1989) New Zealand Naval Vessels. Page 23–36. Government Printing Office. Royal New Zealand Navy HMS Neptune