In March 1909 New Zealand’s Premier Joseph Ward offered a ‘first-class battleship of the latest type’ to the British Navy as a contribution to the Empire (and to guard against the perceived threat of a newly rising Japan). Paid for by the people of New Zealand it would enter service in time to fight with distinction in all the major naval battles in the First World War.

Born of the collision between New Zealand’s patriotic dreams and European politics, the tale of HMS New Zealand is further wrapped in issues of engineering, naval strategy and public opinion. Written as part naval history and part ‘biography’ of the vessel and its sailors, The Battlecruiser New Zealand is a fast-paced account of the ship’s career — brought to life through official documents, eyewitness accounts and new research.

Extensively illustrated throughout with black & white and colour photos, plans and paintings.

NZ$60.00 + delivery.

A gripping account of one of the Royal Navy's bloodiest and most dramatic mutinies.

Mutiny on the Spanish Main tells the dramatic story of HMS Hermione, a British frigate which, in 1797, was the site of the bloodiest mutiny in British naval history, which saw the death of her captain and many of her officers.
Though her crew handed her over to the Spanish, Hermione was subsequently recaptured in a daring raid on a Caribbean port two years later.
Drawing on letters, reports, ship's logs, and memoirs of the period, as well as previously unpublished Spanish sources, Angus Konstam intertwines extensive research with a fast-paced but balanced account of the mutiny and its consequences.

Illustrated with maps and diagrams tracing the events as they unfolded, and supported by informative inserts on the technical and tactical nuances of seamanship and naval warfare in the period, this book is both a fascinating narrative retelling and an informative guide to one of the most notorious events in the history of the Royal Navy.

NZ$45.00 + delivery.

In 1959 the New Zealand Government decided to purchase two Type 12 Frigates to begin replacing the aging WWII Loch Class Frigates.
The Frigate Hasting, then under construction at John Thornycroft's yard at Southhampton was purchased, modified and renamed Otago.
This is her story of the first decade of her 23 year service. 1960-1970

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

Following on from the first book in this series, this volume focuses on the next 7 years of the history of the HMNZS Otago. Encompassing years 1970-1976

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

The last volume in this three book series, this volume focuses on the last years of the history of the HMNZS Otago. Encompassing years 1977-1983

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

Royalist was a modernised sister ship of Bellona and Black Prince that the British Exchequer had strongly criticised. So the Admiralty orchestrated a plan to get rid of this orphan ship. Royalist had been poorly maintained while in Reserve after 1945. While the bridge superstructure, radars and fire control systems had been modernised to a high standard, little had been done to improve the hull, machinery and accommodation. The cruiser required 550 men to crew her with accommodation for only 500 maximum, an outdate messing system and little air-conditioning. No other British warship had her type of guns. At great cost New Zealand kept Royalist operational until a fortnight before the end of her final commission, on 1 November, 1965.

NZ$60.00 + delivery.

In 1965, in an effort to maintain four operational frigates while one was in refit, it was agreed to hire a frigate from the Royal Navy while HMNZS Canterbury was being built. Initially offered HMS Whitby it was eventually agreed to hire HMS Blackpool for a period of five years.

This is the story of HMNZS Blackpool, and those who served in her, during her service in the Royal New Zealand Navy between 1965 and 1971.

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

The need for a logistic support ship to provide a sealift for the Army's Ready Reaction Force was identified by the NZ Government in the 1978 Defence review.
After a wide search it was decided to purchase the Mercandian Queen II. Renamed Sealift it was delivered to Auckland in March 1995, and commissioned later that year as HMNZS Charles Upham

This is the story of that ship.

NZ$35.00 + delivery.

Gerry Wright has had a wonderful, fascinating and interesting life.
This autbiographical book was written to celebrate his 80th birthday. Hundreds of photographs and many stories record his rich and varied career.

As Gerry would say - ' Tomorrow is too late, Yesterday is over, Now is exactly the right moment'

NZ$55.00 + delivery.

This is the story of a young lad from Kaikoura who joined the Navy in November 1907 and trevelled the world in his brief career.

When Australia established its own Navy in 1913 the lad transferred and volunteered for the Submarine Service. On September 14th 1914 while on patrol off German New Guinea the Submarine disappeared without a trace.
The young Lad from Kaikoura became the first New Zealander to die in the Great War.

The Submarine was eventually found a century later.

NZ$30.00 + delivery.

The story of Lieutenant Commander G J (Jim) Macdonald. DSO DSC & two bars RNZNVR

Jim Macdonald was the most highly decorated New Zealand Naval Officer of World War II. He joined the Naval reserve in 1938 as a 16 year old ordinary seaman. Sent to England, he was promoted to officer rank and soon earned his first bravery award. he bacme the youngest man to command a Royal Navy Warship and by 23 years of age was in command of a flotilla of torpedo boats.

This is his story.

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

By Gerry Wright. Paperback, 145mm x 204mm, 334 pages, monochrome photos.

During the Second World War the New Zealand Government purchased three Bird class minesweepers and four Isle Class minesweepers.

To this small fleet, eleven minesweeping trawlers were added all of them built in New Zealand along with twelve anti-submarine, B-Type fairmiles. Sixteen harbour Defence Motor Launches (HMDLs) were also opurchased from overseas.

After the war many of these 72 foot HDMLs were retained to work around the New Zealand coast. Gerry Wright who has published five other books about New Zealand's naval history, had command of one of these craft in 1965.

NZ$40.00 + delivery.

By Gerry Wright. Paperback, 145mm x 210mm, 270 pages, 0.48kg. B/W and Colour Images. Published 2023

The UK Prime Minister announced in 2022 that all military and civilian personnel who had been involved in the testing of the nuclear bomb between 1952 and 1958 would be awarded a medal.
Many veterans of those nuclear bomb tests have a need to have a book to show their families and friends.
Gerry Wright is one of those nuclear veterans, and has written this book that tells the story of the development and testing of the nuclear bomb.

NZ$30.00 + delivery.

NAVAL HISTORY See also: Nautical History of Polar Exploration, Nautical Tales, Yarns and Biographies, Nautical Dictionary and Sea Terms

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