HMS Chiddingfold (M37)
HMS Chiddingfold entering Portsmouth July 2013. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | Chiddingfold |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Builder | Vosper Thornycroft |
| Launched | October 1983 |
| Sponsored by | Lady Anne Kennon |
| Commissioned | October 1984 |
| Homeport | HMNB Portsmouth, Hampshire |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | "Leading the Hunt" |
| Nickname(s) | "Cheery Chid" |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel |
| Displacement | 750 t (740 long tons) |
| Length | 60 m (196 ft 10 in) |
| Beam | 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) |
| Draught | 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 × Caterpillar C32 diesels, 2 shafts |
| Speed | 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) |
| Complement | 45 (6 officers & 39 ratings) |
| Sensors & processing systems | Sonar Type 2193 |
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
HMS Chiddingfold is a Hunt-class mine countermeasures vessel of Britain's Royal Navy. She was launched in October 1983 by her sponsor, Lady Anne Kennon, and formally entered the service of the Royal Navy in October 1984. Chiddingfold is a minehunter, and her purpose is to find and destroy mines, not only in a time of war but also in peacetime. There are about a quarter of a million mines still active from the Second World War alone and they pose a major threat to both military and civilian ships. Chiddingfold is able to enter some types of minefields without magnetic mines detonating because she is made of glass-reinforced plastic, and all fixtures within the ship are made of non-ferrous metals, keeping the ship's magnetic signature to the bare minimum.