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Allied Warships

HMS Chitral (F 57)

Armed Merchant Cruiser

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeArmed Merchant Cruiser
Class 
PennantF 57 
Built byA. Stephen & Sons Ltd. (Glasgow, Scotland) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched27 Jan, 1925 
Commissioned4 Oct, 1939 
End serviceDec, 1943 
Loss position
 
HistoryIn August 1939 the passenger ship Chitral of the P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an armed merchant cruiser. Conversion was completed on 4 October 1939.

Displacement: 15346 BRT
Armament: 7x 152mm, 3x 102mm
Speed: 17 knots

Career:
October 39 - August 40: Northern Patrol
November 40 - February 41: Northern and Western Patrol
March 41 - April 41: Bermuda and Halifax Escort Force
May 41 - October 41: North Atlantic Escort Force
November 41 - February 42: East Indies Station
March 42 - December 43: Eastern Fleet (Indian Ocean)

In December 1943 returned and used as troopship by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 1948 returned to owner. 


Noteable events involving Chitral include:

20 Nov, 1939
The German merchant Bertha Fisser (4110 GRT) is intercepted of the south-east coast of Iceland in position 64º10N, 15º14W by the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Chitral (Capt. G. Hamilton, (retired), RN). However before the German ship can be captured she is scuttled by her own crew. (see map)


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