The Leander-class HMNZS Waikato joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1966. It was the first New Zealand warship designed to embark a helicopter. However, the flight deck was designed for the small to light utility helicopters; like the Westland Wasp Lynx, and SeaSprite. The Ship had a colourful service history.
For the first nine years of its RNZN service, Waikato operated around New Zealand and with the ANZUK naval squadron based at Singapore, which continued in reduced form in 1971–75 with the Royal Navy sending 5 or 6 frigates and destroyers.
From 1975 Royal Navy task forces continued to visit New Zealand and Australia for exercises until 1983, when the Falklands commitment and the aftermath effectively ended the Royal Navy's central involvement with the RAN and RNZN. The Naval Board described the late 1970s Five Power Treaty as in a 'sense transitional
After re-entering service under the command of Captain Ian Bradley, Waikato was involved in the rescue of a seriously injured fishermen from the Soviet trawler Ardatov during which a Wasp, flown by Lieutenant Joe Tunicliffe, was launched in rough sea conditions to pick up the man from a trawler. On 15 November the ship had left Wellington to visit the Bounty Islands, to the southeast of the South Island, in heavy weather. During the forenoon a Russian fishing vessel well to the south of New Zealand called for assistance for a critically injured seaman and Waikato altered course and increased speed to get within flying range. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to locate the fishing vessel, in appalling weather conditions. The vessel was finally located 60 miles from its reported position the following afternoon and with considerable difficulty the sailor was winched off the ship and taken on board, to be flown to hospital at 3.30 am the next morning. For this incident the pilot, Lieutenant Joe Tunnicliffe received the Air Force Cross and Chief Medical Assistant Bill Filmer, who was winched on board the fishing vessel, received the British Empire Medal for gallantry.
Later, in January 1978, the while escorting the United States Navy Thresher-class submarine Pintado into Auckland harbour, Waikato faced an armada of anti-nuclear protest yachts, which attempted to block the passage of the possibly nuclear-armed and certainly nuclear-powered submarine.
Waikato ran into the harbour ahead of Pintado, with Waikato's Wasp helicopter and another RNZN Wasp in company, deployed over the protest yachts to create downdraft which destabilised the protest yachts, and tipped several over in a controversial move which secured the rapid passage of Pintado to its berth. No one was hurt. While appreciated by the US Navy and crew of the submarine, the move was regarded as aggressive by New Zealand politicians and was condemned by the protesters. The approach was never adopted again. W
HMNZS Waikato escorted the nuclear-powered USS Haddo into Auckland harbour with less drama the following February 1979, under the command of Cmdr Ian Hunter in a combined RNZN and Police operation deploying navy patrol craft and the police launch Deodar, but confining use of the intrusive Wasp to transfer of a police inspector to the Haddo and clearing the protest armada with only a kayak capsizing.
The Mighty Y Waikato deployed to Pearl Harbor for RIMPAC for work up with USN fleet units and performed well in RIMPAC and exercises with the US, Canadian and RAN fleet. During these exercises Commander Bradley, positioned Waikato to land a USN Sea King about to be lost with zero fuel. Some crew believed the frigate and its personnel were endangered by landing a large chopper never before tested upon Leanders and the order was officially noted. What is unusual about this is that this helicopter is much larger than the ship's helipad was designed to carry and the helicopter had less than one minute's fuel left when it landed!
The Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Waikato (F55) with a U.S. Navy Sikorsky SH-3H helicopter (of HS-84?) on board. On 10 April 1978, while engaged in exercise RIMPAC 1978 a United States Navy Sea King helicopter operating off the Canadian tanker HMCS Provider (AOR 508) made a ‘mayday’ call because of a low fuel state. Despite being tasked with remaining with the main body, Waikato proceeded at best speed in the direction of the distressed helicopter. Contact with the aircraft was made and the pilot Lieutenant Commander James Bateman was informed that Waikato was prepared to accept it onboard if he so wished. The pilot opted to attempt to land-on, despite the less than calm sea conditions and the relatively small flight deck for the big helicopter.
His only other option was to ditch in the sea, which would almost certainly have led to loss of life. In a skilful piece of flying the helicopter landed on board with less than 30 seconds fuel remaining. The Commanding Officer of HMNZS Waikato, Ian Bradley, was cautioned by the Naval Staff for his actions in putting the ship at risk from a serious accident. For saving the crew and the aircraft the ship was given an award from the U.S. Navy.
On the last day of the Falklands War a British Leander, Minerva, landed a Sea King helicopter.
During and after the Falklands conflict in 1982-3, Waikato deployed to the Armilla patrol to help free up British ships for deployment. Waikato alternated with HMNZS Canterbury on these duties, the frigates visiting Colombo, Karachi, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Port Sudan, Muscat, Oman and Diego Garcia on what was officially known as the Indian Ocean Patrol.
During July and August 1990, Waikato was involved in Operation BIGTALK, an intervention that was a direct result of the ongoing civil conflict in and around Bougainville. The New Zealand government was tasked with deploying its naval resources to negotiate a peace accord between the two warring factions, the resulting document is now known as the "Endeavour Accord". The ships deployed to this incident were the frigates Waikato and HMNZS Wellington and the supply vessel HMNZS Endeavour. Although the naval forces were not engaged during the operation, due to the intense fighting and civil unrest there was serious potential for insurgent attacks on New Zealand naval forces. Commendations were issued to each member of the crews to acknowledge their contribution.
On 23 February 2017, it was announced by NZDF that the New Zealand Operational Service Medal (NZOSM) had been awarded to personnel who were in Bougainville for the Operation BIGTALK peace talks.
