Training Ship Gambia takes its name from the
Light Cruiser HMS Gambia, which was commissioned into the Royal Navy on the 30th
November 1940. She was 555ft long, 62ft
across the beam with a 16ft 6” draft.
She had a top speed of 33 knots.
Gambia’s armament included 12 x 6” dual purpose quick firers, 8 x 2 pounder machine guns (pom poms), 20 x 20mm
Oerlikons and 6 x 21” torpedo tubes.
She had a complement of over 800 Officers and men. During her time Gambia was acknowledged as
the best gunnery ship in the British Fleet.
She also won every Fleet Regatta in which she entered.
Lieutenant Commander I.E. Mclean MBE and
Lieutenant M. St Clare formed Training Ship Gambia in 1967, both of these
officers were members of the HMNZS Gambia’s Ships Company. The first parades were held at the Otahuhu
Community Centre on Great South Road, Otahuhu.
Its premises consisted of the community centre hall and 1 8 x 12 shed
(affectionately know as “Smokey Joe”) with 11 Officers, 120 Cadets.
In 1968, the Otahuhu Borough Council gifted a
block of land to T.S.Gambia on which she still stands. A boat shed was constructed in 1968.
In 1971 permission was granted and construction
of the main hall, administration and toilet block connecting to the boat shed
was completed.
On the 6th of April 1972 Rear Admiral
L.G.Carr CB DSC Chief of Naval Staff directed that Training Ship Gambia be
commissioned on Saturday 22nd April 1972 for service within the Sea
Cadet Corps, New Zealand Cadet Forces.
In 1991 permission was granted and construction
for the seamanship school, buffers store and engineering block was started.
In 1996 permission was granted and construction
of the lower/upper classrooms, female shower block and clothing store was
completed.
In 1998 refurbishment of the Galley and Dining
Hall was completed.
In 2001 refurbishment of the main entry was
completed. Comprising of trophy display
case, Cadet honours boards and Quartermaster lobby.