Name HMNZS Endeavour Commissioned 8 April 1988 Length 138 m | Namesake HM Bark Endeavour Status Active as of 2015 Range 18.52 million m | |
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Homeport Devonport Naval Base. Ceremonial homeport New Plymouth. Displacement 7,300 tonnes empty
12,300 tonnes laden | ||
HMNZS Endeavour (A11) is the current fleet oiler for the Royal New Zealand Navy. She is named after James Cook's Bark Endeavour and is the third ship in the RNZN to carry that name, though if continuity with the Royal Navy ships of the name HMS Endeavour is considered, she is the twelfth. The previous two ships of the RNZN were Antarctic research support vessels. Endeavour was built in South Korea to a commercial design and commissioned on 8 April 1988.
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Operational history
Endeavour was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 21 to 24 September 1999, and from 28 January to 23 February 2000.
In January 2010, Endeavour was awarded the Chatham Rosebowl, the award for the best performing ship in the RNZN. As a result, for all of 2011 she flew the 'E' Pennant for efficiency.
In 2012. Endeavour attended Exercise RIMPAC.
Endeavour saw service during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015, refuelling USNS Tippecanoe.
Replacement
The RNZN has now selected a replacement for the Endeavour. The ship was due to be decommissioned in 2013, but was retained after an 18-month refit to make the ship meet standards for double-hulled tankers. In March 2015, a request for tender for a replacement vessel was released by the New Zealand Ministry of Defence. The new retirement date is predicted to be April 2018.
Tender requirements for the replacement replenishment vessel included a propulsion system, built around two diesel engines to provide a range of 6,400 nautical miles (11,900 km; 7,400 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph), armament equivalent to two Mini Typhoon mounts and a Phalanx CIWS, facilities to operate a helicopter, and a container deck capacity of at least 12 TEU shipping containers. In September 2015, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Hyundai Heavy Industries were shortlisted for the final phase of the tender.
On 18 July 2016 the Minister of Defence announced that Hyundai Heavy Industries will construct Endeavour's replacement, at a cost of NZ$493,000,000, with an estimated in service date of 2020. The new vessel will have enhanced capabilities in Antarctica, the ability to carry and refuel helicopters, as well as replenish with both fuel and fresh water. It will feature a LEADGE bow as part of the "Enviroship" design. Rolls-Royce is supplying the propulsion that includes a Combined Diesel Electric and Diesel (CODLAD) propulsion plant based on twin Bergen main engines. These will each drive, via reduction gears, a controllable pitch propeller. Electrical power will be from four MTU generator sets.