:HMS Chameleon (J387)

{{Main|Algerine-class minesweeper}}

The turbine-powered ships displaced {{convert|850|LT|t}} at standard load and {{convert|1125|LT|t}} at deep load. The ships measured {{convert|225|ft|m|1}} long overall with a beam of {{convert|35|ft|6|in|m|1}}. The turbine group had a draught of {{convert|11|ft|m|1}}. The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.Lenton, p. 261

The ships had two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of {{convert|2000|ihp|lk=in}} and gave a maximum speed of {{convert|16.5|kn|lk=in}}. They carried a maximum of {{convert|660|LT|t|0}} of fuel oil that gave them a range of {{convert|5000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}.

The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun anti-aircraft gunChesneau, p. 65 and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges.

The ship was ordered on 20 August 1941 at the Harland & Wolff at Belfast, Ireland. She was laid down on 20 August 1943 and launched on 6 May 1944. The ship was commissioned on 14 September 1944.{{Cite web|title=HMS Chameleon (J 387) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII|url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3754.html|access-date=2021-12-09|website=uboat.net}}

In April 1945, the ship and the 37th Minesweeping Flotilla were deployed in support of the Operation Dracula. The ship rejoined the 7th Flotilla at Singapore and remained in the Far East until February 1946.

She returned to the UK with the six ships of the Flotilla to be decommissioned. The ship was later recommissioned in 1947 and put into the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta.

Between 1947 and 1954, she was deployed for Palestine patrol with other Fleet units and took part in the standard Exercise and Visits Programmes each year after 1948.

In 1954, she returned to UK with HMS Plucky, Recruit and Rifleman of the 2nd Flotilla. After arrival at Portsmouth on 13 December that year, the ship was decommissioned again and put into the reserve fleet. She was placed on the disposal list in 1965. The ship was refitted during this period when a Squid anti-submarine mortar was fitted.

In 1966, she was sold to BISCO for scrap by the Ardmore Steel at Silloth, Cumberland in which she arrived on 3 April of the same year.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book |last=Elliott |first=Peter |title=Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey |year=1977 |publisher=Macdonald and Jane's|location=London |isbn=0-356-08401-9 }}
• {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|authorlink=Henry Trevor Lenton|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7}}

• [https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3754.html HMS Chameleon (J 387) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII] at uboat.net

{{Algerine class minesweepers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chameleon (J387)}}

Category:Algerine-class minesweepers of the Royal Navy

Category:Ships built in Belfast

Category:1944 ships

Category:World War II minesweepers of the United Kingdom