The Post War Fleet
At the end of hostilities in 1945, the composition of the RNZN was reviewed. It was decided to retain a core of two cruisers, however ACHILLES was considered too old and GAMBIA too large. The preference was to have ships of a similar type, so the modern Modified Dido-Class light cruisers BELLONA and BLACK PRINCE were acquired in 1946. These well equipped anti-aircraft cruisers were seen as a potential complement to the aircraft carrier force then proposed for the Royal Australian Navy. In addition to the new cruisers, the RNZN had the corvettes ARABIS and ARBUTUS, with the smaller KIWI and TUI available for training duties. The Fairmiles and HDMLs were retained in reserve.
In 1947 a mutiny over pay marred the Navy's development, with many experienced ratings being dismissed from the service. WRNZNS were temporarily re-introduced.
By 1948 events in Europe had shown the Cold War was a reality. Modern Soviet submarines could not be ignored, even in the South Pacific. New Zealand joined with Australia and the United Kingdom in the ANZAM agreement for the defence of Malaya. The RNZN's contribution was to provide a convoy protection and anti-submarine force. Consequently six Loch-Class anti-submarine frigates were purchased in 1948 from Britain. ARABIS and ARBUTUS, fully owned by New Zealand, were returned to the United Kingdom in part payment. With the new frigates came a commitment to provide at least one ship if required for the defence of Hong Kong. To assist the RNZN develop its overall standards, two of our frigates were sent on exchange to the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet in 1950.
The wartime Wrens were de-mobbed in 1946 and the WRNZNS service was once again dis-established in May 1947 after the 1947 sailors' strike. In 1951 they were reformed permanently and continued to serve in shore duties until 1977. At that time the WRNZNS were absorbed into the RNZN, on the same basis as their male counterparts. From 1986 women were allowed to serve at sea, initially in non-combatant ships and subsequently in all types of RNZN vessels.