HMS Chieftain was a C-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that was in service from March 1946, and which was scrapped in 1961.

HMS Chieftain
HMS Chieftain on the River Clyde, 1 March 1946.
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Chieftain
Ordered24 July 1942
BuilderScotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, (Greenock, Scotland)
Laid down27 June 1943
Launched26 February 1945
Commissioned7 March 1946
IdentificationPennant number: R36 later changed to D36
FateScrapped at Sunderland on 20 Mar 1961
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)
Complement186
Armament

Construction

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The Royal Navy ordered Chieftain on 24 July 1942, one of eight Ch subclass of the C-class "Intermediate" destroyers of the 1942 Programme. She was laid down at Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock, Scotland, on 27 June 1943, and launched 26 February 1945.[1] She was commissioned on 7 March 1946, too late for World War II duty.[2]

Service

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Chieftain was assigned to the 1st Destroyer Squadron based at Malta and served with the Royal Navy's 1945-8 Palestine Patrol, intercepting illegal immigration into Mandate Palestine.[3] In 1947 Chieftain intercepted three immigrant ships: a schooner, a former USCG cutter, and a former USN vessel. The ex-cutter Unalga renamed Chaim Arlosoroff got past the RN destroyer and managed to beach near Haifa: the other two were detained at sea.[4] 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.[5] She saw duty during the Suez Crisis in 1956.

Decommissioning and disposal

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Chieftain was decommissioned after the Suez Crisis and was scrapped in Sunderland on 20 March 1961.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "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. ^ "HMS Chieftain (R 36)". uboat.net. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. ^ Stewart, Ninian (2002). The Royal Navy and the Palestine Patrol. Routledge.
  4. ^ Palestine Patrol by the Royal Navy, article in Shipping - Today & Yesterday No. 203 January 2007 p.42, photograph p.38
  5. ^ Marriott, Leo (1989). Royal Navy Destroyers Since 1945. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 64.
  6. ^ Critchley, Mike (1982). British Warships Since 1945: Part 3: Destroyers. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. p. 98. ISBN 0-9506323-9-2.

Publications

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