HMS Chameleon (J387)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Chameleon.

HMS Chameleon
History
United Kingdom
Name	Chameleon
Namesake	Chameleon
Ordered	30 April 1942
Builder	Harland & Wolff, Belfast
Laid down	20 August 1943
Launched	6 May 1944
Commissioned	14 September 1944
Decommissioned	1946
Recommissioned	1947
Decommissioned	13 December 1954
Identification	Pennant number: J387
Fate	Scrapped, 1966
General characteristics
Class and type	Algerine-class minesweeper
Displacement	850 long tons (864 t) (standard) 1,125 long tons (1,143 t) (deep)
Length	225 ft (69 m) o/a
Beam	35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Draught	11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Installed power	2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers 2,000  ihp (1,500 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Range	5,000  nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement	85
Armament	1 × QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun 4 × twin Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

HMS Chameleon (J387) was a turbine engine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper during the Second World War.

Design and description

Main article: Algerine-class minesweeper

The turbine-powered ships displaced 850 long tons (860 t) at standard load and 1,125 long tons (1,143 t) at deep load. The ships measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). The turbine group had a draught of 11 feet (3.4 m). The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings. ^[1]

The ships had two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,000 indicated horsepower (1,500 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). They carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). ^[1]

The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun ^[2] and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges. ^[1]

Construction and career

The ship was ordered on 20 August 1941 at the Harland & Wolff at Belfast, Ireland. She was laid down on 20 August 1943 and launched on 6 May 1944. The ship was commissioned on 14 September 1944. ^[3]

In April 1945, the ship and the 37th Minesweeping Flotilla were deployed in support of the Operation Dracula. The ship rejoined the 7th Flotilla at Singapore and remained in the Far East until February 1946.

She returned to the UK with the six ships of the Flotilla to be decommissioned. The ship was later recommissioned in 1947 and put into the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta.

Between 1947 and 1954, she was deployed for Palestine patrol with other Fleet units and took part in the standard Exercise and Visits Programmes each year after 1948.

In 1954, she returned to UK with HMS Plucky, Recruit and Rifleman of the 2nd Flotilla. After arrival at Portsmouth on 13 December that year, the ship was decommissioned again and put into the reserve fleet. She was placed on the disposal list in 1965. The ship was refitted during this period when a Squid anti-submarine mortar was fitted.

In 1966, she was sold to BISCO for scrap by the Ardmore Steel at Silloth, Cumberland in which she arrived on 3 April of the same year.

References

1. Lenton, p. 261
2. Chesneau, p. 65
3. "HMS Chameleon (J 387) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2021.

Bibliography

• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN   0-85177-146-7.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN   978-1-86176-281-8.
• Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN   0-356-08401-9.
• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-048-7.