HMIS Kathiawar (J155)

Career (India)
Name: Kathiawar
Ordered: 20 December 1939
Builder: Blyth Shipbuilding Company
Laid down: 28 October 1941
Launched: 14 July 1942
Commissioned: 23 December 1942
Out of service: 1948
General characteristics
Class and type:Bangor-class minesweeper
Displacement:605 tons
Length:162 ft (49.4 m)
Beam:28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught:8.25 ft (2.51 m)
Propulsion:2 shafts, 9-cylinder diesel, 2,000 bhp (1,500 kW)
Speed:16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement:60
Armament:1 × QF 12-pounder 3 in (76.2 mm) gun
1 × quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun Mark III

HMIS Kathiawar (J155) was a Bangor class minesweeper which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.[1]

Kathiawar was transferred to Pakistan in 1948 after the Partition of India and eventually renamed PNS Chittagong.

History

HMIS Kathiawar was originally ordered from the Blyth Shipbuilding Company for the Royal Navy as HMS Hartepool in 1939. However, before she was launched, she was transferred to the Royal Indian Navy and eventually commissioned as Kathiawar.[2] She served in the RIN during World War II.

After the Independence of India and the subsequent Partition, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan, where she was renamed PNS Chittagong.

Operations in World War II

Kathiawar was a part of the Eastern Fleet, and escorted numerous convoys between Africa, British India and Australia in 1943-45.[3][4][5]

Notes