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HMS Charity (R29)
Encyclopedia
HMS Charity was a C-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
laid down by John I. Thornycroft and Company of Woolston, Southampton on 9 July 1943. She was launched on 30 November 1944 and commissioned on 19 November 1945. She was sold to the US Navy in 1958, for transfer to the Pakistan Navy as a part of the Military Aid Program.
She was badly damaged in a strike by Indian Navy
missile boat
s during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, and scrapped as a result.
on 16 June 1958, for further transfer to the Pakistan Navy
. She was renamed Shah Jehan. She was modernized by J. Samuel White
in Cowes, England
under a US contract and transferred to the Pakistan Navy as part of the Military Assistance Program on 16 December 1958 where she served as PNS Shah Jahan (literally, "Emperor of the World", after Shah Jahan
).
for the war effort from Saigon to Karachi
.
On the night of 4 December 1971, the Indian Navy
launched a fast naval strike called Operation Trident on the Pakistani Naval Headquarters of Karachi
. The Operation Trident task force consisted of 3 Vidyut class missile boat
s from the 25th "Killer" Missile Boat Squadron , escorted by two Petya-class frigates
, Tir
and Kiltan, and two anti-submarine patrol vessels approached Karachi.
The Indian missile boats evaded Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft and patrol vessels and converged at 2150 hours about 70 miles south of Karachi, and detected the Pakistani naval vessels on patrol. At 2300 hours, Nipat fired 2 SS-N-2 Styx missiles at Shah Jahan and Venus Challenger. The ammunition aboard Venus Challenger exploded when the ship was hit by the missile, and the vessel quickly sunk. Shah Jahan was also struck by the missile and was irreparably damaged. She was towed back to Karachi and scrapped.
The Pakistani destroyer Khaibar and minesweeper Muhafiz were also sunk in the operation.
C class destroyer (1943)
The C class was a class of 32 destroyers of the Royal Navy that were launched from 1943 to 1945. The class was built in four flotillas of 8 vessels, the Ca, Ch, Co and Cr classes, ordered as the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Emergency Flotillas respectively...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
laid down by John I. Thornycroft and Company of Woolston, Southampton on 9 July 1943. She was launched on 30 November 1944 and commissioned on 19 November 1945. She was sold to the US Navy in 1958, for transfer to the Pakistan Navy as a part of the Military Aid Program.
She was badly damaged in a strike by Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
missile boat
Missile boat
A Missile Boat is a small craft armed with anti-ship missiles. Being a small craft, missile boats are popular with nations interested in forming an inexpensive navy...
s during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, and scrapped as a result.
History in the Pakistan Navy
Charity was sold to the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
on 16 June 1958, for further transfer to the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
. She was renamed Shah Jehan. She was modernized by J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White
J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White . It came to prominence during the Victorian era...
in Cowes, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
under a US contract and transferred to the Pakistan Navy as part of the Military Assistance Program on 16 December 1958 where she served as PNS Shah Jahan (literally, "Emperor of the World", after Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan
Shah Jahan Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) Shah Jahan (also spelled Shah Jehan, Shahjehan, , Persian: شاه جهان) (January 5, 1592 – January 22, 1666) (Full title: His Imperial Majesty Al-Sultan al-'Azam wal Khaqan...
).
Indo-Pakistan War of 1971
During the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, Shah Jahan was escort to the cargo ship MV Venus Challenger carrying ammunition sent by the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for the war effort from Saigon to Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
On the night of 4 December 1971, the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
launched a fast naval strike called Operation Trident on the Pakistani Naval Headquarters of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. The Operation Trident task force consisted of 3 Vidyut class missile boat
Vidyut class missile boat
The Vidyut class missile boats of the Indian Navy were an Indian variant of the Soviet Osa I class.These vessels formed the illustrious 25th "Killer" Missile Boat Squadron, which sunk 2 destroyers, a minesweeper and various other vessels of the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.-...
s from the 25th "Killer" Missile Boat Squadron , escorted by two Petya-class frigates
Petya class frigate
The Petya Class was the NATO reporting name for a class of light frigates built for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s. The Soviet Designation was Storozhevoi Korabl Project 159.-Design:...
, Tir
INS Tir
The following ships of the Indian Navy have been named Tir: was a River class frigate of the Royal Indian Navy, transferred from the Royal Navy where she served in World War II as HMS Bann is a training ship of the Indian Navy...
and Kiltan, and two anti-submarine patrol vessels approached Karachi.
The Indian missile boats evaded Pakistani reconnaissance aircraft and patrol vessels and converged at 2150 hours about 70 miles south of Karachi, and detected the Pakistani naval vessels on patrol. At 2300 hours, Nipat fired 2 SS-N-2 Styx missiles at Shah Jahan and Venus Challenger. The ammunition aboard Venus Challenger exploded when the ship was hit by the missile, and the vessel quickly sunk. Shah Jahan was also struck by the missile and was irreparably damaged. She was towed back to Karachi and scrapped.
The Pakistani destroyer Khaibar and minesweeper Muhafiz were also sunk in the operation.