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Story: Asian conflicts

HMNZS Pukaki

HMNZS <em>Pukaki</em>

HMNZS Pukakiwas, along with HMNZS Tutira, one of the first Royal New Zealand Navy ships sent to Korea in July 1950. The two ships were ex-Royal Navy anti-submarine frigates. They became known to sailors as 'Puk and Tut, the heavenly twins'. Initially the frigates mainly operated on convoy escort duties with British and Commonwealth naval units. Theytook part in Operation Chromite, the amphibious operation that landed a large force at In'chon, the port for Seoul. The In'chon landing enabled a pincer operation which liberated Seoul and forced the North Korean army to retreat in disarray.

Using this item

National Museum of the Royal New Zealand Navy

Reference: AAO 0103

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How to cite this page

Ian McGibbon, Asian conflicts – Korean War, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34519/hmnzs-pukaki (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 16 April 2012, updated 1 February 2016.

Comments

doug strong
03 March 2014
I was on the ill-fated HMS Hogue which was in collision with the INS Mysore during the exorcise JET 59 and the PUKAKI was our escort whilst we were towed to Trincomalee for repairs to the bow and finally to Singapore .I cannot find any reference to this in PUKAKI's history.Any-one help?
Ross Somerville (Te Ara)
11 September 2012
You will need to contact the RNZN Museum to request permission to use this image. The details ar above, under 'About this item'.
Patrick Binks
11 September 2012
Hi there I am putting together a short history of Instructor Officers in the Royal Navy and one story is about an Instructor Officer who served in HMNZS Pukaki during the H bomb tests in 1957. The book is not for profit. I would be grateful if you would allow me to use the photo of the ship to illustrate the story. We would credit the source in the book. Many thanks Patrick Binks