HMS Childers (R91)
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 Childers at anchor on the River Clyde, December 1946 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Childers |
| Ordered | 24 July 1942 |
| Builder | Denny, Dumbarton |
| Laid down | 27 November 1943 |
| Launched | 27 February 1945 |
| Commissioned | 19 December 1945 |
| Decommissioned | 1951 |
| Identification | Pennant number: R91 later changed to D91 |
| Fate | Arrived in Spezia for scrapping 22 September 1963 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class & type | C-class destroyer |
| Displacement | 1,906 long tons (1,937 t) (standard) |
| Length | 362 ft 9 in (110.6 m) o/a |
| Beam | 35 ft 8 in (10.9 m) |
| Draught | 15 ft 3 in (4.6 m) (full load) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines |
| Speed | 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) |
| Range | 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 222 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Childers was one of thirty-two C-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, a member of the eight-ship Ch sub-class. Commissioned in 1945, she was built as a flotilla leader with additional accommodation for staff officers.
The Ch sub-class was a repeat of the preceding Ca sub-class, except that the addition of remote control for the main-gun mounts caused some of the ships' intended weapons to be removed to save weight. Childers displaced 1,906 long tons (1,937 t) at standard load and 2,566 long tons (2,607 t) at deep load. They had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 15 feet 3 inches (4.6 m).[1]
The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 indicated horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph) at normal load.[2] During her sea trials, Childers reached a speed of 31.6 knots (58.5 km/h; 36.4 mph) at a load of 2,310 long tons (2,350 t).[3] The Ch sub-class carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). As a flotilla leader, Childers' complement was 222 officers and ratings.[1]
The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four QF 4.5-inch (114 mm) Mk IV dual-purpose guns, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure protected by partial gun shields. Their anti-aircraft suite consisted of one twin-gun stabilised Mk IV "Hazemeyer" mount for 40-millimetre (1.6 in) Bofors guns and two single 2-pounder (40 mm) AA guns amidships, and single mounts for a 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA gun on the bridge wings.[1] To compensate for the weight of the remote control equipment, one of the two quadruple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tube mounts was removed[4] and the depth charge stowage was reduced to only 35. The ships were fitted with a pair of rails and two throwers for the depth charges.[5]
