SALUTE across the pacific
It was with immense pride that the Commanding Officer of Navy Amphibious Support Ship HMNZS CANTERBURY, Commander Jim
Gilmour, handed over completely refurbished ceremonial saluting guns to the Samoan Minister for Police, Prisons and Fire
Services - Honourable Toleafoa Apulu Faafisi.
Commander Gilmour said, “The Royal New Zealand Navy and the technical personnel who worked tirelessly to restore the
saluting guns hope they will continue to serve Samoa as the ‘harbingers’ of ceremonially important occasions for many
years to come”.
HMNZS CANTERBURY was in Apia in Western Samoa to transport No. 3 Squadron RNZAF to conduct a tropical flying exercise -
TROPIC ASTRA 09
The ceremonial saluting guns were first presented to Samoa from New Zealand as an independence gift in 1962. They were
manufactured in Portsmouth, England in 1892 and, due to their age, have required careful maintenance before each firing.
The guns have been used to fire a 21 Gun Salute annually at the Samoan Independence Day Celebrations up until 1988 when
they needed their first refurbishment. The guns were returned to New Zealand in mid 1991 and repaired and reconditioned
by naval personnel at the Royal New Zealand Navy Armament Depot in Kauri Point, Auckland. The guns were then returned
and handed back to the Samoan Government on 20 May 1992, along with a supply of blank ammunition.
Earlier this year at the request of the Samoan Government, HMNZS CANTERBURY transported more blank ammunition to Samoa
for the Independence Day Celebrations on 1 June 2009 where approximately 60 New Zealand Navy, Army and Air Force
personnel from HMNZS CANTERBURY took part in the formal parade.
In addition, as part of the preparations for the Samoan Independence Day Celebrations this year, personnel from HMNZS
CANTERBURY inspected the guns and made the recommendation that they be refurbished in the near future. The opportunity
was then taken to transport the saluting guns onboard CANTERBURY when she returned to New Zealand in late June and have
the refurbishment completed well in advance of the 50th Samoan Independence Day Celebrations in 2012.
The Weapons Technicians at the Kauri Point Armament Depot recognised the ceremonial importance of these magnificent,
ageing, saluting guns and were determined that they should be restored to an order befitting the occasions for which
they’ll be used. The race was on to complete the work in time for HMNZS CANTERBURY’s next visit to Apia – no mean feat
when this was just under one month!
With such a short time restriction it was initially intended to only overhaul the guns themselves but as often happens,
the pride of the weapons technicians got the better of them and they could not resist the temptation to give that little
bit extra. With a bit of kiwi ingenuity and a lot of ‘can do’ attitude, the end result was to overhaul the carriage and
source and fit new tyres as well.
ENDS