IN COMPANY WITH INDIA

HMNZS TAUPO enjoyed the rare opportunity to conduct a formation departure from Auckland with Indian Navy guided missile destroyer INS KOLKATA, following a fourday visit by the destroyer and frigate INS SAHYADRI last month.

The ships were in New Zealand on a four-day resupply and goodwill visit, with SAHYADRI calling into Wellington. Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor, hosted Captain Sharad Sinsunwal of KOLKATA at Devonport, while Deputy Chief of Navy, Commodore Andrew Brown, hosted Captain Rajan Kapoor of SAHYADRI in Wellington.

TAUPO was able to carry out Officer of the Watch manoeuvres and some further in-company training with KOLKATA. Lieutenant Samara Mankelow, Commanding Officer, had the ship fly their Battle Ensign (a larger than usual White Ensign), something often ordered to be hoisted for photos on Exercises. An Indian Navy ship last visited in 2016, during the International Naval Review.

VISITS TO NEW ZEALAND BY INDIAN SHIPS

1951 INS RAJPUT (ex HMS ROTHERHAM)

1969 INS DELHI (ex HMNZS ACHILLES)

2001 INS JYOTI

2001 INS MUMBAI (ex INS BOMBAY)

2006 INS TABAR (ex INS TOOFAN ex SIKKIM)

2009 INS MHADEI

2016 INS SUMITRA

Source: Peter Cooke (2023) Ships of War in New Zealand Waters; 380 years of naval activity. Defence of New Zealand Study Group.

Below: INS KOLKATA and HMNZS TAUPO