Royal New Zealand Navy Research Articles

Royal New Zealand Navy nutrition, health and wellbeing intervention

Introduction: Across the New Zealand population, the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the associated ill health is increasing, with current “best practice” recommendations for management proving ineffective. The rate of overweight and obesity within the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and other militaries is not dissimilar to that of the general population. Excess body fat increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic conditions. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of a 12-week trial of a Low Carbohydrate, High Fat (LCHF) diet on metabolic health outcomes of Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) personnel with a BMI >25 kg/m2.

Analysis of the physical demand of the RNZN basic common training course – Implications for recruitment, preparation and course delivery

Introduction: Basic Common Training (BCT) is the first course any sailor accepted into the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) must undertake. The 18-week course aims to teach new recruits the skills required to serve in the RNZN and also prepare them mentally and physically. The physical impact of the course has not been previously assessed.

The ‘best small nation navy in the world’? The twenty-first century Royal New Zealand Navy

ABSTRACTThe Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has set itself the admirable goal of being the ‘best small nation navy in the world’. As the RNZN’s fleet consists of just 11 vessels and New Zealand has one of the largest exclusive economic zones in the world, the achievement of that aim is extremely challenging. The RNZN is expected to conduct a wide range of tasks from combat to customs patrols and also needs to be interoperable with other regional players such as Australia and the US. The RNZN is a credible small navy and is generally effective in the roles that it undertakes, but given the projected increase in security challenges that the service is expected to face, it can be argued that the triangular factors of strategic objectives, defence capabilities and defence resources in New Zealand are currently out of synch. New Zealand is an inherently maritime nation and the RNZN is central to both its security and prosperity. It is essential that further investment is committed to the RNZN in order to enable it to fulfil all of the tasks expected of it and to ensure that it can achieve its aim to be the ‘best small nation navy’.

Design and Production of ANZAC Frigates for the RAN and RNZN: Progress Towards International Competitiveness

ANZAC, the acronym of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, is the name given to a new class often frigates under construction for the Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand Navies. The prime contract was awarded in November 1989, and a separate design sub-contract was awarded concurrently. HMAS ANZAC, the first of eight ships for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), was delivered in March 1996. HMNZS Te Kaha, the first of two ships for the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN), was delivered in May 1997. The paper describes the collaborative process, involving the Australian Department of Defence, the New Zealand Ministry of Defence, and Defence Industry in Australia, New Zealand and overseas, for the design and production of the ships. The need to maximise the level of Australian and New Zealand industrial involvement, led to a process of international competition between prospective suppliers, and significant configuration changes from the contract design baseline. Delivery of the first ship was extended to accommodate the revised approach, and in the event only five months additional time proved necessary. Although formal acceptance of HMAS ANZAC is not due until the completion of operational test and evaluation, the contractor's sea trials have successfully demonstrated the performance exceeding the requirements and the expectations of the RAN. The paper also describes the growing maturity of Australia's naval shipbuilding industry. It suggests some lessons learned from the project, and identifies issues important for the further development and sustainability of the industry. It advocates the need for agreed methodologies to evaluate the productivity of the various elements of the shipbuilding process, and to help ensure the establishment and maintenance of world competitive costs and quality.