New Zealand | Operation Territorial Watch

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OPERATION TERRITORIAL WATCH​		ENCRYPTED, SECRET

Deployment List​

1 x bi-weekly-rotating Moa-class patrol boat: either HMNZS Moa, HMNZS Tarapunga or HMNZS Takapu. From Royal New Zealand Navy.

Complement: 18, Small Arms: 4 F-88C Steyr rifles with 30 5.56x45mm rounds each, 4 MP5 SMGs with 30 9mm rounds each, 4 Remington M870 with 14 12-gauge shells each, 18 Glock 17 pistols with 36 9mm rounds each.​

Armament: 1 x M2HB-QCB with 300 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition. ​

Sensors: side-scan SONAR, navigational RADAR.​

Other: 1 x RHIB​

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All weapons systems and sensors operational; side-scan SONAR is off unless it is reasonable to assume there are anti-ship mines around or when conducting de-mining operations.​

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1 x monthly-rotating ANZAC-class FFH. In January, April, July and October, the assigned ship would be HMNZS Anzac, in Febuary, May, August and November HMNZS Wellington, and in March, June, September and December HMNZS Auckland. In the month following a deployment, the ship would put into port for maintence and repairs, crew R&R and resupply and restock. The month after that, prior to deployment, the ship would begin its training rotation, which can include at-port training, exercises and at-sea training. Each ANZAC has 1 (one) 2SQN NH.2A anti-submarine, anti-ship and light transport helicopter.

Complement: 163 + 16 2SQN RNZN personnel, Small Arms: 70 F-88C Steyr rifles with 60 5.56x45mm rounds each, 20 MP5 SMGs with 60 9mm rounds each, 10 Remington M870 with 28 12-gauge shells each, 165 Glock 17 pistols with 18 9mm rounds each.​

Armament: 1 x 127mm Mark 45 Mod 2 cannon, 8 x RIM-7P IPDMS in 8 x Mark 41 Mod 5, 1 x Mark 15 Block 1B Phalanx CIWS with 5,000 rounds of 20x102mm DU-APDS in storage and 1,550 rounds in the gun, 24 x Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedoes launched from 6 x Mark 32 torp. tubes, 8 x M2HB-QCB with 500 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition each.​

Sensors: AN/SPS-49(V)8 ANZ air search RADAR, Sea Giraffe air search RADAR, Ceros 200 fire-control RADAR, Spherion B SONAR.​

Other: 2 x RHIB, 1 x NH.2A Sea Sprite helicopters​

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All weapons systems and sensors operational and with full ammunition unless otherwise stated; Sea Giraffe always on, FCR off unless being engaged, SPS-49 off unless under threat, Spherion B in passive.​

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1 x Endeavour-class tanker assigned to refuel/resupply the ANZAC-class frigate on patrol.

Complement: 50, Small Arms: 10 MP5 SMGs with 30 9mm rounds each, 50 Glock 17 pistols with 36 9mm rounds each.​

Sensors: navigational RADAR.​

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All sensors active and operational.​

Mission Objective​

Ensure New Zealand's territorial intergrity and security by;
Intercepting illegal fishing, smuggling and other illegal activities.
Provide a presence to the outer boundaries of New Zealand's waters.
Assist in Search-And-Rescue (SAR) operations and, in the case of the ANZACs, provide both;
an emergency forward operating base for New Zealand-based civilian and military transport, SAR and CASEVAC helicopters
its own NH.2A helicopter for ASW, ASuW, ISR and SAR duties
The vessels assigned to Operation Territorial Watch can also be assigned duties not outlined under its mission scope, such as escort or foreign port visits.

Mission Details​

On the first of every month, an ANZAC-class frigate and Moa-class patrol boat will depart Devonport Naval Base. The frigate will conduct patrolling operations for a month throughout New Zealand's EEZ (RF and RG), travelling at 12 knots, and make short presence vists into Chatham Islands, Auckland Island and Campbell Island. The ANZAC's NH.2A helicopter would patrol areas within 100nm of the frigate regularly, and search for any unknown sonar or RADAR contacts picked up by the ship. It would also assist in SAR and extend the frigate's sensors through a Tactical Data Link. The patrol boat will conduct patrolling operations within 35km of New Zealand's coastline, and assist in local Policing operations when applicable or necessary.

Date/s: August, 2004 to present

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ANZAC-class route​

 

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OPERATION TERRITORIAL WATCH​	View attachment 7625	ENCRYPTED, SECRET
	View attachment 7627

0613, 16 October 2004

After recieving ferried NH.2A aircraft, pilots and maintence personnel the afternoon before, HMNZS Anzac would be at 32°02'57"S 172°43'26"E, going 12 knots west when its Sea Giraffe RADAR would detect a medium-sized civilian vessel. It would be going at 7 knots south-east, at 38km range off the starboard bow.

This information would be communicated to 1 of the 3 night watch sensor operators. The system would simultaniously interrogate the ship for its MMSI, IMO number and its Maritime NZ registration number. The system, recieving none of the identification responses, would alert the bridge watch, sensor operators and Operations Room watch officer.

The First Officer would be alerted by the Ops. Room watch officer, and she would order the frigate to procede to within visual range of the unidentified vessel and to man 1 RHIB and 4 M2HB-QCBs, and to prep the embarked NH.2A with a Patrol loadout. Anzac would then steer 236 degrees south-west to intercept the vessel and speed up to 17 knots.

A short time later, the sun had partially risen and the unidentified vessel had come into view. It would look like (see: below) a 30 meter-long, run-down fishing boat.

The Captain would order the Communications Officer to contact the vessel, as they were within 15km/line-of-sight of each other.

"Unidentified vessel, unidentified vessel, this is Royal New Zealand Navy frigate. Identify yourself and your intentions. Over."

Not recieving a response, a minute later he would repeat it.

"Uhh yes New Zealand frigate, we are sip bilong kisim pis Ipali from Papua. We are " - some Tok Pisin can be heard - "fishing in international water."

The Comms. Officer would sigh and look at the Captain, who would shake his head. The fishing vessel was obviously not in international waters. He would then order Anzac's 2 RHIBs and her helicopter to be used to board and search the Papuan boat, as they were illegally fishing in New Zealand waters.

Using this opportunity to train on boarding procedure, helicopter operations and anti-surface warfare, Anzac would launch her NH.2A and 2 RHIBs. The RHIBs would have 6 boarding sailors each, equipped with Level 2 vest, F-88C rifle + 5 mags, and Glock 17 + 3 mags. 1 of the 2 crew of each RHIB would man a M2HB-QCB (with a full 100 round box), mounted on the bow.

The Comms. Officer would radio to the Papuan vessel, "Ipali, you are violating New Zealand waters and fishing laws. Prepare to be boarded."

The NH.2A would hover about 50 meters above the sea and about 150 meters from the illegal fishing boat. From there, the Sea Sprite would illuminate the vessel with a medium-powered spotlight, as the sun hadn't fully risen yet. The RHIBs would come alongside the offending boat, and the 6 boarding sailors from each RHIB would come aboard.

Some would ask for identification, permits, licenses and other documentation, while the rest would search the boat for any contraband, including fish that would've been caught in New Zealand waters. The hold would be half-full of fresh fish, and the nets would be stowed but wet. Due to this, the Captain aboard Anzac would elect to destroy the fishing vessel and take all 12 Papuan crew aboard.

The RHIB crews would take photos of much of the vessel, inform the crew what was happening, zip-tie the hands of those who refused to dis-embark and gradually take all sailors and Papuan crew to Anzac through mulitple RHIB trips. Once all personnel, and their belongings, were off the Ipali and on Anzac, the hovering NH.2A would drop a single Mark 11 depth/sounding charge directly under the keel of the fishing vessel. This would crack the keel, create many holes in the wood hull and destroy the vessel's ability to float, and Ipali would quickly sink into the waves.

HMNZS Anzac would then go back to her regular patrol under Operation Territorial Watch, and with the help of 2 Hobonsville-based Sea Sprites transfer all Papuan crew to Auckland, where they were to get on a chartered Air New Zealand Boeing 767-200 aircraft to Port Moresby.