New Zealand's naval diplomacy: ships dock in Vietnam for five-day visit.

According to information published by Vietnam+ on September 24, 2023, two naval vessels from the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Anzac class frigate HMNZS Te Mana, and the Polar class sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa, made their entrance at the Ho Chi Minh City international port, marking the beginning of a five-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.
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Polar class sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa. (Picture source: New Zealand MFA)

Rear Admiral James Gilmour, who leads the New Zealand delegation, mentioned that this visit comes on the heels of a successful trip to New Zealand by Vietnam's Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, earlier in July 2023.

Highlighting the significance of this visit, Admiral Gilmour stressed the burgeoning defence and people-to-people relations between Vietnam and New Zealand.

He reiterated New Zealand's commitment to deepening defense cooperation with Vietnam, founded on international law's respect and the principles of navigational freedom.

While docked in Ho Chi Minh City, the New Zealand naval personnel will collaborate with Vietnam’s Naval Region 2 High Command in a tactical sand table exercise, further solidifying the bond between the two naval forces.

About the HMNZS Aotearoa

The ship has a displacement of 26,000 t (or 26,000 long tons) and measures 173.2 meters in length (568 ft 3 in) with a beam of 24.5 meters (80 ft 5 in). Her draft stands at 8.5 meters (27 ft 11 in).

The propulsion system relies on CODLAD technology, utilizing 2 Bergen main engines and 4 MTU generators. This configuration permits a speed of up to 20 knots, or equivalently 37 km/h or 23 mph. The ship's operational range is 6,400 nautical miles, translating to 11,900 kilometers or 7,400 miles.

Regarding her carrying capacity, the ship can hold 8,000 tons of diesel, 1,500 tons of aviation fuel, and containers with dimensions up to 22 ft x 20 ft (6.7 m x 6.1 m).

She is manned by a complement of 98 personnel: a core crew of 64, an 11-member flight crew, and space for 14 trainees.

For navigational tasks, she employs a Farsounder-1000 sonar and Sharpeye S and X band radars. The ship is equipped with fixtures for a Phalanx CIWS, though it's not currently installed, and has 2 Mini Typhoon systems.

Her aviation capabilities can support 1 helicopter, whether an SH-2G, NH90, or A109LUH, with a dedicated hangar for her upkeep and storage.