frigate to have the wells for Limbo mortars and VDS (dipping sonar) replaced and plated over to give a larger helicopter landing area, so helicopters larger than the original Westland Wasp could land and operate from the ship. A close circuit TV system was also introduced so flight deck operations could be observed and accurately controlled from the ships operation room. These innovations were refitted to most of the Royal Navy Leander fleet, including Canterbury's sisters in the NZ fleet. In 1968 the NZ government contemplated introducing US weapons systems. In line with this Mk 32 anti-submarine torpedo tubes were fitted and a limited number of Mark 46 torpedoes were provided to supplement the older shallower diving Mk 44 torpedoes, to replace the short range Limbo mortar and to arm the Wasp helicopter. However plans for a US Edo sonar and chaff decoys and to arm the Wasp with the Anglo-French AS-12 small anti-ship missiles were not introduced due to cost and for political reasons. During her time in service, she travelled about 960,000 nautical miles (44 circumnavigations of the Earth), and was temporary home for 559 officers and 3,269 ratings. Gerald Hensley, then at the New Zealand Embassy in Washington, recalled that: "The frigate "Canterbury" on its delivery voyage sailed up the Potomac River to Washington, said to be the first foreign warship to do so since the British raid in 1814. Memories were long. A barbecue was held on the ship to promote New Zealand lamb and as I came away a man said to me, 'What are these guys doing in this town? Last time they were here they burnt the place down'." 1970s She was sent to Moruroa Atoll in 1973 as a symbolic protest of New Zealand against French nuclear testing. F421 small GP computer was able to assess the radiation level and its up to date electronic warfare sniffers immediately identify a French P-2 Neptune, on 50,52 IFF bands sweeping the area, flying low, with radar, ECM ESM and visual search for the location of unwanted naval, protest yacht and possibly submarine activity. She observed the 'Melpomène' nuclear test carried out on 28 July 1973, part of the 1971–74 French nuclear tests. It is the assessment of RAN officers that the presence of the modern RNZN warship, Canterbury, posed significant political and operational difficulties for the French and may have reduced the 1973 tests