During the Second World War it was decided that one of the main contributions to the naval war would be the provision of basically trained men for service on loan to the Royal Navy.  Until this time all the basic training of new entry ratings was conducted onboard the old cruiser PHILOMEL, but it simply could not cope with this new demand.  The solution was found in the Navy taking over the old quarantine station on Motuihe Island in the Hauraki Gulf, which was commissioned as HMS TAMAKI in January 1941.  The establishment remained there until 1963 when its functions were transferred to a surplus Army base at Narrow Neck in Devonport.