{{short description|1958 Type 61 or Salisbury class frigate of the Royal Navy}} {{other ships|HMS Chichester}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} {{more citations needed|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=HMS Chichester. 1960.jpg |image_caption=HMS ''Chichester'' at Famagusta, 1960 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name=HMS ''Chichester'' |namesake= |ordered=28 June 1951 |awarded= |builder=Fairfields |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down=26 June 1953 |launched= 21 April 1955 |sponsor= |christened= |completed= |acquired= |commissioned= 16 May 1958 |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= |refit= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification=Pennant number F59 |motto= |nickname= |honours= |captured= |fate= Sold for breaking 17 March 1981 |notes= |badge= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class={{sclass|Salisbury|frigate}} |displacement=*2,170 tons standard *2,400 tons full load |length= {{convert|340|ft|m|abbr=on}} o/a |beam={{convert|40|ft|m|abbr=on}} |height= |draught={{convert|15|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |propulsion=8 × ASR1 diesels, {{convert|12400|shp|lk=in|abbr=on}}, 2 shafts |speed= {{convert|24|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} |range= {{convert|7500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn|km/h|abbr=on}} |endurance= |boats= |troops= |complement=235 |sensors=*Type 960 air search radar, ''later'' Type 965 ''AKE-2'' *Type 293Q target indication radar, ''later'' Type 993n *Type 982 aircraft direction radar, ''later''Type 986 *Type 277Q height finding radar, ''later'' Type 278 *Type 974 navigation radar''later'' 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 |EW= |armament=*1 × twin 4.5 in gun Mark 6 *1 × twin 40 mm Bofors gun STAAG Mark 2, ''later'' 1 × twin 40 mm Bofors gun Mk.5 *1 × Squid A/S mortar |armour= |notes= }} }}

'''HMS ''Chichester''''' was a {{sclass|Salisbury|frigate|0}} or Type 61 aircraft direction frigate of the British Royal Navy.

==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 {{sclass|Leopard|frigate|0}} (or Type 41) anti-aircraft frigates.<ref name="conways47p511,67">{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Chumbley|1995|pp=511, 516–517}}</ref><ref name="marp45,51">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|pp=45, 51}}</ref>

''Chichester'' was {{convert|339|ft|10+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} long overall, {{convert|330|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} at the waterline<ref name="friedp322">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|p=322}}</ref> and {{convert|320|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} length between perpendiculars,<ref name="jfs71p357">{{Harvnb|Blackman|1971|p=357}}</ref> with a Beam of {{convert|40|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|11|ft|6+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="friedp322"/><ref name="conways47p5167">{{harvnb|Gardiner|Chumbley|1995|pp=516–517}}</ref> Displacement was {{convert|2170|LT|t|abbr=on}} standard and {{convert|2408|LT|t|abbr=on}} deep load.<ref name="jfs71p357"/> She was powered by eight Admiralty Standard Range 1 (ASR1) diesel engines, with a total power of {{convert|14400|bhp|kW}}, driving two propeller shafts giving a speed of {{convert|25|kn}}.<ref name="conways47p5167"/> Four more of these engines were used to generate electricity, driving 500&nbsp;kW alternators.<ref name="marp47">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=47}}</ref><ref name="friedp205">{{Harvnb|Friedman|2008|p=205}}</ref> Exhausts for the diesels were routed through the ship's lattice foremast and mainmast.<ref name="marp47"/> The ship had a range of {{convert|2300|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} at full power and {{convert|7500|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|16|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}.<ref name="conways47p5167"/><ref name="jfs71p357"/>

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.<ref name="conways47p517">{{Harvnb|Gardiner|Chumbley|1995|p=517}}</ref><ref name="marp50">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=50}}</ref> 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.<ref name="marp47,0">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|pp=47, 50}}</ref> 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.<ref name="conways47p517"/><ref name="marp50"/> As built, the ship and a complement of 207 officers and other ranks.<ref name="marp51">{{Harvnb|Marriott|1983|p=51}}</ref>

''Chichester'' was laid down at Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company's Govan shipyard on 26 June 1953,<ref name="marp50"/><ref name="friedp338">{{harvnb|Friedman|2008|p=338}}</ref> as Yard number 771.<ref name="clyde">{{cite web |title=Chichester |work=Scottish Built Ships |publisher=Caledonian Maritime Research Trust |url= https://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?year_built=&builder=&ref=6676&vessel=CHICHESTER |access-date=7 April 2023}}</ref> She was launched on 21 April 1955 by Elizabeth Douglas-Home, wife of Alec Douglas-Home,<ref name="marp50"/><ref>{{cite news |title=News in Brief |newspaper=The Times |date=22 April 1955 |issue=53201 |page=9}}</ref> and was completed on 16 May 1958.<ref name="marp50"/><ref name="friedp338"/>

==Service== ''Chichester'' was first commissioned in 1958, joining the 4th Frigate Squadron, which alternated between duties in Home waters and the Far East.<ref name="critp82">{{harvnb|Critchley|1992|p=82}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Events1951-60.htm |title=Chronology, Part 2 – 1951-60 |date=2007 |publisher=naval-history.net |last=Mason |first=Geoffrey B. |accessdate=24 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Blazing Ship Sinks in Tow |newspaper=The Times |date=12 September 1958 |issue=54253 |page=8}}</ref> On 2 November 1958, ''Chichester'', together with the cruiser {{HMS|Ceylon|30|2}} and the frigate {{HMS|Loch Fyne|K429|2}} 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Roberts|2009|pp=19–21}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Ops-Events1961-70.htm |title=Chronology, Part 3 – 1961-70 |publisher=naval-history.net |last=Mason |first=Geoffrey B. |date=2007 |accessdate=24 May 2015}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gingell |first=Basil |title=I saw three ships... |newspaper=The Times |date=24 December 1969 |issue=57751 |page=2}}</ref> {{stack|thumb|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 believed to be HMS Whitby, 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.<ref name="marp50-1">{{harvnb|Marriott|1983|pp=50–51}}</ref>

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.<ref name="clyde"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Blackman|first=Raymond V.B.|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1971–72|year=1971|publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd.|location=London |isbn=0-354-00096-9}} * {{Colledge: Ships RN|year=2006}} *{{cite book|last=Critchley |first=Mike |title=British Warships Since 1945: Part 5: Frigates|year=1992| publisher=Maritime Press|location=Liskeard, UK|isbn=0-907771-13-0}} *{{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|year=2008|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-015-4}} *{{cite book|editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Chumbley|editor2-first=Stephen|title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995|year=1995|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland, USA|isbn=1-55750-132-7}} * {{cite book|last=Marriott|first=Leo|title=Royal Navy Frigates 1945–1983|year=1983|publisher=Ian Allan|location=Shepperton, UK|isbn=0-7110-1322-5|url=https://archive.org/details/royalnavyfrigate00marr|url-access=limited }} * {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |title=Safeguarding the Nation: The Story of the Modern Royal Navy |year=2009 |location=Annapolis, Maryland, US |publisher=Naval Institute Press |isbn=978-1-59114-812-8}}

{{Salisbury class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chichester (F59)}} Category:Salisbury-class frigates Category:1955 ships Category:Ships built in Govan