HMS Chichester (F59)

Last updated

HMS Chichester. 1960.jpg
HMS Chichester at Famagusta, 1960
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Chichester
Ordered28 June 1951
Builder Fairfields
Laid down26 June 1953
Launched21 April 1955
Commissioned16 May 1958
Identification Pennant number F59
FateSold for breaking 17 March 1981
General characteristics
Class and type Salisbury-class frigate
Displacement
  • 2,170 tons standard
  • 2,400 tons full load
Length340 ft (100 m) o/a
Beam40 ft (12 m)
Draught15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
Propulsion8 × ASR1 diesels, 12,400  shp (9,200 kW), 2 shafts
Speed24 kn (44 km/h)
Range7,500 nmi (13,900 km) at 16 kn (30 km/h)
Complement235
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Type 960 air search radar, later Type 965 AKE-2
  • Type 293Q target indication radar, later Type 993n
  • Type 982 aircraft direction radar, laterType 986
  • Type 277Q height finding radar, later Type 278
  • Type 974 navigation radarlater Type 978
  • Type 275 fire control radar on director Mark 6M
  • Type 262 fire control on STAAG mount
  • Type 1010 Cossor Mark 10 IFF
  • Type 174 search sonar
  • Type 170 attack sonar
Armament

HMS Chichester was a Salisbury-class or Type 61 aircraft direction frigate of the British Royal Navy.

Contents

Construction and design

The Salisbury-class, or Type 61, frigates were designed for a main role of providing long-range radar cover for convoys and to direct aircraft protecting the convoys. While they would be fitted with powerful radars and communications equipment and the crew to operate it, high speed would not be required. They shared a common hull and machinery with the Leopard-class (or Type 41) anti-aircraft frigates. [1] [2]

Chichester was 339 ft 10+12 in (103.59 m) long overall, 330 ft 0 in (100.58 m) at the waterline [3] and 320 ft 0 in (97.54 m) length between perpendiculars, [4] with a Beam of 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m) and a draught of 11 ft 6+12 in (3.52 m). [3] [5] Displacement was 2,170 long tons (2,200 t) standard and 2,408 long tons (2,447 t) deep load. [4] She was powered by eight Admiralty Standard Range 1 (ASR1) diesel engines, with a total power of 14,400 brake horsepower (10,700 kW), driving two propeller shafts giving a speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). [5] Four more of these engines were used to generate electricity, driving 500 kW alternators. [6] [7] Exhausts for the diesels were routed through the ship's lattice foremast and mainmast. [6] The ship had a range of 2,300 nmi (2,600 mi; 4,300 km) at full power and 7,500 nmi (8,600 mi; 13,900 km) at 16 kn (18 mph; 30 km/h). [5] [4]

The ship's main gun armament consisted of one twin 4.5 inch (113 mm) Mark 6 dual-purpose gun turret, mounted forward, with a STAAG twin stabilised 40mm Bofors mount providing close-in anti-aircraft defence, although this mounting was unreliable and later replaced by a simpler Mk.V twin Bofors mount. A single Squid anti submarine mortar was fitted. [8] [9] The ship's lattice foremast carried direction finding and VHF/UHF communications aerials, together with a Type 268 navigation radar, with a Type 277 air/surface warning and height finding radar mounted on a short lattice mast immediately forward of the foremast. The ship's mainmast carried a Type 960 long-range air warning radar and a Type 293Q target designation radar, while a Type 982 aircraft direction radar was fitted on a deckhouse aft. [10] The ship's sonar fit consisted of Type 174 search, Type 170 fire control sonar for Squid and a Type 162 sonar for classifying targets on the sea floor. [8] [9] As built, the ship and a complement of 207 officers and other ranks. [11]

Chichester was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's Govan shipyard on 26 June 1953, [9] [12] as Yard number 771. [13] She was launched on 21 April 1955 by Elizabeth Douglas-Home, wife of Alec Douglas-Home, [9] [14] and was completed on 16 May 1958. [9] [12]

Service

Chichester was first commissioned in 1958, joining the 4th Frigate Squadron, which alternated between duties in Home waters and the Far East. [15] On 10 September 1958, Chichester rescued the crew of the coaster Concha, which had caught fire off Milford Haven after an explosion in her engine room. The frigate put a firefighting party aboard the blazing coaster, but despite these efforts the fire could not be contained and Concha sank while under tow by the tug Sheila. [16] [17] On 2 November 1958, Chichester, together with the cruiser Ceylon and the frigate Loch Fyne embarked British troops from Aqaba, Jordan. The troops had been deployed to Jordan earlier in the year following a request by King Hussain of Jordan due to instability in the Middle East following the establishment of the United Arab Republic and the overthrow of the Iraqi monarchy. [18] The commission took her through the Mediterranean to the Far East returning via South Africa and South America. In 1963–4 she was refitted in Chatham with macks (masts and stacks) along with type 965 & 993 radar. In 1968 she deployed for Fishery Protection duties and was accused by the Soviet Union of spying on Soviet naval exercises. [19] During December 1969, Chichester was deployed on the Beira Patrol, attempting to stop the supply of oil to Rhodesia via the Mozambique port of Beira. [20]

HMS Chichester at Hong Kong in 1973 (IWM) HMS Chichester, 1973 (IWM).jpg
HMS Chichester at Hong Kong in 1973 (IWM)

Towards the end of her career, in 1971, the Type 61 frigate was refitted as a Hong Kong guard ship, to replace an ageing Type 12 frigate, due in part to her good range conferred by her diesel machinery. Her radar fit was reduced to radar 978, 993M and the 275, Mk 6 director for the twin 4.5 and a more suitable light arms for patrol off Hong Kong of two single 20mm guns and a single 40mm Bofors. [21]

The election of the Labour Government in 1974 saw a further reduction of naval forces, east of Suez with the frigate being supplemented by five Ton Class minesweepers converted for Patrol duties, as the largest vessels maintaining a presence for protection of British interests. Chichester left Hong Kong in the spring of 1976 to return to the UK, via Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands in response to RRS Shackleton being fired on by the Argentine destroyer ARA Almirante Storni.

Following decommissioning Chichester arrived for scrapping at Queenborough on 17 March 1981. [13]

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Lynx</i> (F27) Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate

HMS Lynx (F27), was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the Royal Navy, named after the lynx.

HMS <i>Danae</i> (F47) Type 12I or Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy and Ecuadorian Navy

HMS Danae was a Leander-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was, like the rest of the class, named after a figure of mythology. Danae was built by Devonport Dockyard. She was launched on 31 October 1965 and commissioned on 10 October 1967.

HMS <i>Gurkha</i> (F122) Type 81 or Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy and Indonesian Navy

HMS Gurkha (F122) was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was named after an ethnic group located in Nepal, and who continue to serve in the British Army. She was sold to the Indonesian Navy in 1984 and renamed KRI Wilhelmus Zakarias Yohannes (332).

HMS <i>Mohawk</i> (F125) 1963 Type 81 or Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Mohawk was a Tribal-class frigate of the Royal Navy in service from 1963. She was named after a tribe of Native Americans located in southeast Canada and New York State. Mohawk was scrapped in 1983.

HMS <i>Yarmouth</i> (F101) 1960 Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Yarmouth was the first modified Type 12 frigate of the Rothesay class to enter service with the Royal Navy.

HMS <i>Torquay</i> (F43) 1956 Type 12 or Whitby-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Torquay was a Type 12 Whitby-class frigate of the British Royal Navy. They were the first frigates to have the "V" form hull. This evolutionary design made it possible to be driven in head sea without the usual slamming which occurs with conventional destroyers of the time. Each frigate cost 3.5 million pounds and the first ship completed was Torquay in May 1956.

HMS <i>Grenville</i> (R97) V-class destroyer converted to Type 15 frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Grenville was the second ship of this name to serve with the Royal Navy in the Second World War. Grenville and seven other U-class destroyers were ordered as part of the Emergency Programme. She was launched at Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-on-Tyne on 12 October 1942 and commissioned on 27 May 1943.

HMNZS <i>Otago</i> (F111) Frigate of the Royal New Zealand Navy

HMNZS Otago (F111) was a Rothesay-class frigate acquired from the United Kingdom by the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) before completion.

HMS <i>Rothesay</i> (F107) Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Rothesay was the lead ship of the Rothesay or Type 12M class of anti-submarine frigates of the British Royal Navy. She was commissioned in 1960 and scrapped in 1988.

HMS <i>Londonderry</i> (F108) 1960 Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Londonderry was a Rothesay- or Type 12-class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy in service from 1960 to 1984.

HMS <i>Brighton</i> (F106) 1961 Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Brighton was a Rothesay or Type 12I class anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy.

HMS <i>Rhyl</i> (F129) 1960 Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Rhyl was a Rothesay-class or Type 12M anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy, launched by Lady Macmillan on 23 February 1959 and commissioned in October 1960. Following Royal Navy service she was scuttled whilst being prepared as a target in 1985.

HMS <i>Lowestoft</i> (F103) 1961 Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Lowestoft was a Rothesay-class or Type 12M class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy. Lowestoft was reconstructed in the late 1960s to largely the same pattern as the third group of Leander-class frigates, with new radar and fire control and a hangar and pad for a Westland Wasp helicopter for longer range, anti-submarine, engagement. In the late 1970s it was converted as the prototype towed array frigate for the Royal Navy, but retained its full armament. Lowestoft was sunk as a target on 8 June 1986 by HMS Conqueror using a Tigerfish torpedo. She was the last Royal Naval target to be sunk still displaying her pennant number.

HMS <i>Berwick</i> (F115) Type 12M or Rothesay-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Berwick was a Rothesay- or Type 12I-class anti-submarine frigate of the British Royal Navy. She was built by Harland & Wolff and launched on 15 December 1959.

HMS <i>Tenby</i> (F65) 1957 Type 12 or Whitby-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Tenby was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom.

HMS <i>Whitby</i> (F36) 1956 Type 12 or Whitby-class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Whitby was a Whitby-class or Type 12 anti-submarine frigate of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom built by Cammell Laird and Co Ltd, Birkenhead. She was launched on 2 July 1954 and commissioned on 10 July 1956.

HMS <i>Salisbury</i> (F32) 1957 Type 61 or Salisbury class frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Salisbury was a Salisbury-class or Type 61 aircraft direction frigate of the British Royal Navy. Completed in the late 1950s, Salisbury served through the 1960s and 1970s, participating in the Beira Patrol, blockading against Rhodesia and the confrontation with Iceland over fishing rights that was known as the Cod Wars. Salisbury became a harbour training ship in 1980, before being sunk as a target in 1985.

HMS Leopard (F14), was a Leopard-class Type 41 anti aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after the leopard.

HMS <i>Termagant</i> (R89) T-class destroyer converted to Type 16 frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Termagant was a T-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that saw service during the Second World War. She was built by William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton and launched on 22 March 1943. She was scrapped in 1965.

<i>Tapi</i>-class corvette

Tapi-class corvettes are a class of two corvettes that were built for the Royal Thai Navy in the early 1970s.

References

  1. Gardiner & Chumbley 1995 , pp. 511, 516–517
  2. Marriott 1983 , pp. 45, 51
  3. 1 2 Friedman 2008 , p. 322
  4. 1 2 3 Blackman 1971 , p. 357
  5. 1 2 3 Gardiner & Chumbley 1995 , pp. 516–517
  6. 1 2 Marriott 1983 , p. 47
  7. Friedman 2008 , p. 205
  8. 1 2 Gardiner & Chumbley 1995 , p. 517
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Marriott 1983 , p. 50
  10. Marriott 1983 , pp. 47, 50
  11. Marriott 1983 , p. 51
  12. 1 2 Friedman 2008 , p. 338
  13. 1 2 "Chichester". Scottish Built Ships. Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. "News in Brief". The Times . No. 53201. 22 April 1955. p. 9.
  15. Critchley 1992 , p. 82
  16. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2007). "Chronology, Part 2 – 1951-60". naval-history.net. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  17. "Blazing Ship Sinks in Tow". The Times. No. 54253. 12 September 1958. p. 8.
  18. Roberts 2009 , pp. 19–21
  19. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2007). "Chronology, Part 3 – 1961-70". naval-history.net. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  20. Gingell, Basil (24 December 1969). "I saw three ships...". The Times. No. 57751. p. 2.
  21. Marriott 1983 , pp. 50–51

Bibliography