HMS Fife (D20)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| 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. In 1979, Fife provided assistance to the Caribbean island of Dominica after the island was hit severely by Hurricane David. 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
- HMS Fife for other ships of the same name.
- List of ship launches in 1964
- List of ship commissionings in 1966
- List of ship commissionings in 1987
- List of ship decommissionings in 1987
- List of ship decommissionings in 2003
| County-class destroyer |
| Devonshire | Hampshire | London | Kent | Fife | Glamorgan | Antrim | Norfolk |
List of destroyers of the Royal Navy |
