Name HMS Chichester Laid down 26 June 1953 Identification Pennant number F59 Launched 21 April 1955 | Ordered 28 June 1951 Commissioned 16 May 1958 Construction started 26 June 1953 Draft 4.72 m | |
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Fate Sold for breaking 17 March 1981 Builder Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company | ||
HMS Chichester was a Salisbury-class or Type 61 aircraft direction frigate of the British Royal Navy.
Contents
Service
Chichester was first commissioned in 1958 and in that year rescued crew of the coaster Concha off Milford Haven before the ship sank. The commission took her through the Mediterranean to the Far East returning via South Africa and South America.
In 1968 she deployed for Fishery Protection duties and was accused by the Soviet Union of spying on Soviet naval exercises.
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, 293M and the 275, Mk 6 director for the twin 4.5 and a more suitable light arms for patrol off Hong Kong of a 2 single 20mm guns and a 1 X 40mm Bofors.
The election of the Labour Government in 1974 saw a further reduction of naval forces, east of Suez with the frigate being replaced by Ton-class minesweepers, as the largest vessels maintaining a presence for protection of British interests.
Following decommissioning Chichester arrived for scrapping at Queenborough on 17 March 1981.