page_title: Peter Phipps
section_title: Service in the Solomons
hierarchical_section_title: Peter Phipps / Second World War / Service in the Solomons
caption_attribution_description: Wreck of the Japanese submarine I-1 off Guadalcanal, in February 1943. During a supply mission on 29 January 1943 I-1 encountered the much smaller 607 ton New Zealand minesweepers, HMNZS Kiwi (T102) and NMNZS Moa (T233). Unable to penetrate the submarine' armour with their deck guns, the minesweepers rammed and wrecked her in shallow water at Kamimbo Bay, Guadalcanal.
context_page_description: Vice Admiral Sir Peter Phipps, KBE, DSC & Bar, VRD was a senior officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy from the 1940s to 1960s.
  Born in Sydney, Australia, Phipps served with the Royal Navy and then RNZN during the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in 1941 for his service as commander of a anti-submarine trawler in English waters. He later served in the Solomon Islands and for his part in the sinking of a Japanese submarine at Guadalcanal, he was awarded a bar to his DSC and the United States of America awarded him the Navy Cross, their second highest award for valour. In the postwar period, he was seconded to the Royal Navy for a time and also commanded the cruiser HMNZS Royalist. Phipps was the first New Zealander to reach the rank of vice admiral in the RNZN. He was also served as Chief of Naval Staff and the first Chief of Dence Staff. He was killed in a car accident in 1989.
context_section_description: The flotilla was initially used in anti-submarine patrols around Guadalcanal's Cape Esperance and on 29 January 1943, Moa along with her sister ship Kiwi, sank the Japanese submarine I-1 which was supporting Operation Ke during the Guadalcanal Campaign. Both ships were patrolling at Guadalcanal and Kiwi's depth-charge attack brought the submarine to the surface. She attempted to escape but was rammed by Kiwi while Moa continued to provide illumination with star shells. Moa pursued and pressed home the attack upon the I-1, which eventually ran aground on a reef. Two days later, Moa attacked Japanese landing barges, sinking one of them. Phipps was awarded a bar to his DSC and the United States Navy Cross for these actions.
  In April 1943, Moa was sunk when it was attacked while refueling at Tulagi Harbour, by Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers. The attack killed five seamen and wounded another 15. One of the wounded was Phipps, who had a bomb penetrate the roof of his cabin and pass through the floor where it exploded beneath him. He received shrapnel injuries and also broken bones in his ankles. His injuries were such that he returned to New Zealand to convalesce. After 12 months of recovery, he was promoted to commander and appointed to lead the 25th Minesweeping Flotilla, still in the Solomon Islands. His vessel, the HMNZS Matai, was the lead ship up until December 1944, at which time he switched to the HMNZS Arabis. Under his command, the flotilla built a reputation for efficiency and good work. He was the New Zealand Government's representative at the surrender of the Japanese forces in Nauru and Ocean Island.
caption: The wreck of the Japanese submarine I-1, sunk by Moa and Kiwi
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