HMNZS Rimu was one of three composite New Zealand-built Castle-class trawlers commissioned by the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II.

The vessel was ordered after the New Zealand government, facing a requirement for more minesweepers to operate in home waters, chose the Castle-class design because it was simple enough to be built with the country's limited ship construction facilities at the time.

[1] Rimu was laid down in 1940 and was of a composite design, using Kauri wood due to a shortage of steel at the time.

[9][6] Rimu was to be hit with depth charges, machine-gunned, and rockets from four de Havilland Vampire jet fighters.

[6] Rimu was machine-gunned and was struck by dropped depth charges which broke the ship in half, sinking her instantly.