HMS Puriri (Northland) Traditional Cache
the observer*: Unable to get out there to check on new platform progress, Reviewer suggesting archiving so another one gone.
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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The HMS Puriri was a 940-tonne steel-hulled motorship built in 1938 and converted to a naval minesweeper in 1940.The HMS Puriri was minesweeping off Whangarei Heads when it hit a German mine and rapidly sank on May 14, 1941. Five died and 25 were rescued but the incident was subject to wartime censorship and was never widely publicised. The mine was laid by the German raider Orion and was part of the same set of mines that sunk the gold-laden RMS Niagara off Bream Bay. The naval launch Rawea located the mine and secured it to a buoy but when Puriri and Gale went searching for it in rough seas they could not find it.
While turning back about eight nautical miles off Bream Head, Puriri struck the mine and blew up.The incident was the only case of casualties suffered in New Zealand waters as a direct result of enemy action. On May 14 2011 a ceremony was held at Ocean Beach to dedicate a memorial to the sailors who died.The memorial is in front of the viewing platform overlooking Ocean Beach and at the end of Whangarei Heads Rd.The cache is under the platform ,near the back to the right(as you look at beach) approx 300ml in size,.Some crawling and stealth required.Be aware of any prying eyes from nearby bach.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oruvaq jbbqra wbvfg ng onpx ,hafperj zr.
Treasures
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