New Zealand Navy Vickers Use

[Richard Fisher]

I received the following message this evening and wondered if anybody knew anything further. My only thoughts are the Mk. II or the Vickers K but as there are a couple of Kiwis on here, I thought I would post it.

I am researching the twin Vickers without a water jacket.
We used them in the navy during Confrontation, an undeclared war between Indonesia and Malaysia in 1964-66.
We mounted three pairs, one pair on either side of the upperdeck under the bridge and one pair in the bow known as the bow chaser. It could be released and dropped over the side on a lanyard if the 40/60 Bofor was brought into action.
Our ship of the day were Ton Class minesweepers.
Regards
Gerry
On 28 June 1966, probably the last action using a Vickers m/g took place off Singapore when HMNZS Hickleton intercepted an Indonesian infiltrator.

Thanks,

Rich

[tom]

Um..., I've been on a Ton class minesweeper, HMS BRONINGTON used to be berthed at Salford Quays when I worked there, I think its moved to Birkenhead now.

No small arms where displayed unfortunately but the Navy used plenty of Vickers GOs and there's twin mounts in B.R. 776, the Navys hand book for the GO. A quick search of the net couldn't find any pics of a Ton in NZ service, anyone else found one?

ATB

Tom

not a Kiwi despite all the Swanndri, Macpac, Ridgeline fleeces and just having brewed up in a Thermette...

[woodsy]

This is a new one on me but I will do some research, and I will be talking to some ex-navy types tomorrow at the RSA after the ANZAC parade.

[woodsy]

Hi Guys. My research has revealed that the RNZ Navy had two Ton Class minesweepers (HMNZS Hickleton and HMNZS Santon) that they took over from the RN (Singapore based) in 1965. They were subsequently sold to Argentina in 1967. They are the only RNZN ships never to have visited NZ. They were each armed with a Bofors, a twin 20mm Oerlikon, 3 sets of twin Vickers K's, and two Brens. The ships were involved in several intercepts of CT insurgents, the most noteable being in 1966 when the Hickleton's K guns were put to good use. The Vickers K's were salvaged from the RAF and fitted to the ships specially for the operations in the Indonesian area. ;D

[Richard Fisher]

Nice one Rod. Many thanks.

Rich

[303gunner]

The RAN also used -Ton class minesweepers during the Confrontation. This site mentions that HMAS Curlew (Ex- HMS Chediston/HMS Montrose):
"After berthing on Manxman, HMAS Curlew immediately went into dockyard hands to have extra weaponry fitted:
1. A mounting was fitted to the bullring to accommodate twin Vickers air-cooled machine guns complete with spider ring sights. (These guns were relics of the air war in WW I, however they fired a universally used round, the .303)"
The site has an interesting write-up and some pics