HMS Chaplet was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that was in service from August 1945, and which was scrapped in 1965.

HMS Chaplet 1945 IWM FL 7864
HMS Chaplet on completion, 13 August 1945
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Chaplet
Ordered24 July 1942
BuilderThornycroft, Woolston
Laid down29 April 1943
Launched18 July 1944
Commissioned24 August 1945
Decommissioned1961
IdentificationPennant number: R52 later changed to D52
FateArrived for scrapping at Hughes Bolckow, Blyth on 6 November 1965
General characteristics
Class and typeC-class destroyer
Displacement1710 tons[1]
Length362.75 ft (110.57 m)[1]
Beam35.66 ft (10.87 m)[1]
Draught10 ft (3.0 m) (mean), 16 ft (4.9 m) (max.)[1]
Installed power40,000 hp (30,000 kW)
PropulsionParsons geared turbines, 2 shafts; 2 Admiralty 3-drum type boilers[1]
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Complement186
Armament

Construction edit

The Royal Navy ordered Chaplet on 24 July 1942, one of eight "Ch" subclass "Intermediate" destroyers of the 1942 Programme. She was laid down at the yard of Thornycroft, Woolston on 29 April 1943 and commissioned on 24 August 1945, too late for service in the Second World War.

Service edit

Chaplet was assigned to the 1st Destroyer Squadron based at Malta in the early 1950s. She was given an interim modernization in 1954, which saw her 'X' turret at the rear of the ship replaced by two Squid anti-submarine mortars.[2] She saw duty during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

On 22 May 1959, Chaplet collided with the Icelandic patrol boat Óðinn when on fishery protection duties. Óðinn's lifeboat was destroyed in the collision, which Chaplet's commanding officer blamed on a misjudgement by Óðinn, while Óðinn's captain claimed that Chaplet had deliberately rammed Óðinn.[3]

Decommissioning and disposal edit

Chaplet was decommissioned and laid up in 1961. She was sold for scrapping to Hughes Bolckow and arrived at their yard at Blyth on 6 November 1965.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II 1946/7", Jane's Publishing Company, London, UK, 1946, reprinted by Crescent Books, Avenel, New Jersey, USA, 1995, ISBN 0-517-67963-9, page 52.
  2. ^ Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 64.
  3. ^ "Icelandic and British Ships in Collision". Navy News. June 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

Publications edit