HMS Fife (D20)

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HMS Fife
Career RN Ensign
Ordered:
Laid down: 1 June 1962
Launched: 9 July 1964
Commissioned: 21 June 1966
Decommissioned: June 1987
Fate: Sold to Chile on 12 August 1987.
Struck:
General Characteristics
Displacement: 6200 tons standard, 6800 tons full load
Length: 158.9 m
Beam: 16 m
Draught: 6.2 m
Propulsion: COSAG (Combination of Steam and Gas) turbines, 2 shafts
Speed: 30+ knots
Range: 3500 m at 28 knots
Complement: 440 - 471
Armament: 4.5" MK-6 gun, 4-MM-38 Exocet, 8-AA Barak
Aircraft: 2 "Cougar" Helicopters
Motto:

HMS Fife (D20) was the first unit of the Batch 2 County-class destroyers of the Royal Navy. She had 'B' turret removed and replaced with four Exocet launchers in the mid-1970s. She was under refit during the Falklands War and so did not take part in the conflict.

In 1986 Fife underwent a refit to convert her into a moving training ship, her Sea Slug missile system being removed. This was completed in June 1986. She decommissioned in June 1987 and was sold to Chile on 12 August 1987 and renamed Blanco Encalada.

The ship was taken into refit at Talcahuano upon her arrival, and, taking advantage of the removed Seaslug, Blanco Encalada's deck was extended aft and a new, larger hangar constructed. The rebuild was completed in May 1988. In 1996 was fitted with the SAM "Barak", removing the Seacat launchers. Blanco Encalada decommissioned from the Chilean Navy on 12 December 2003 and was sold for scrap in November 2005.

[edit] See also


County-class destroyer
Devonshire | Hampshire | London | Kent | Fife | Glamorgan | Antrim | Norfolk

List of destroyers of the Royal Navy