It is nearly 50 years since HMNZS Otago's first commanding officer, Max McDowell, last stepped on board the Rothesay class type 12 frigate.
But during the 50th anniversary of the vessel, the 86-year-old recalled life aboard as if it was yesterday.
The retired Royal New Zealand Navy commodore said it was the first new ship the navy had, and all who served aboard her thought she was something special.
She was built with the possibility of a nuclear war in mind, having an enclosed bridge and a below decks operations room from which she could be run.
HMNZS Otago took part in regular deployments to the Far East, North America, Hawaii, Australia and the Pacific Islands, for exercises with ships of other navies.
In 1973, the New Zealand government decided to protest against French atmospheric nuclear tests at Mururoa Atoll, and used Otago as a platform for its actions.
Following the first bomb, the frigate flashed news of the explosion to the world.
Comm McDowell, of Auckland, said one of his fondest memories was of the frigate's crew soon after it was commissioned in 1960.
"When we commissioned the ship, the first thing we did was take her to Portsmouth, in England, to do sea trials.
"It was easy to pick the Kiwi sailors among all the others moving about the base. They were the ones on the wharf throwing a rugby ball around, or up the mast preparing for their next day of work.
"The crew was wonderful. I was very fortunate to have them."
The World War 2 navy veteran's association with the vessel as captain ended in 1961 when he was promoted to Commodore.
"I still have many fond memories of her. She was the highlight of my career."
The vessel was "paid off" in 1983 and broken up for scrap in Auckland in 1987.
Comm McDowell, formerly of Oamaru, was one of about 100 former crew members of HMNZS Otago who gathered in Dunedin at the weekend to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the frigate, and to commemorate the commissioning of the new Otago.
