ALMIRANTE WILLIAMS

[MadMaxLab]

1970s TYNE

[magoonigal]

ALMIRANTE WILLIAMS.

DD19.

Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd, Barrow for Chile.
Laid Down: 20th June 1956.
Launched: 5th May 1958.
Completed: 26th March 1960.
Modernised by Swan Hunter 1971.

D: 2,730 Standard. 3,300 Full Load.
D: 402 x 43 x 13.3 Feet.
4 x Exocet Launches.
Quadruple Launcher for "Seacat"
4 x 4in in single mounts.
6 x 40mm
2 x Squid.
5 x 21" TT.

Parsons Pametrada Geared Turbines 54,000 shp.
Twin Shafts. Speed 34.5 kts.
Complement 266.

Fitted with Twin Rudders for enhanced manoeuvrability.

[E28]

This pair, Williams -19- and sister Riveros -18- were ordered in 1955 from V A Barrow and were the final all gun destroyers built in the UK but not in the World. Many all gun destroyers were still being constructed during the 50's.

Much has been written about their 4" main armament in 4 single mounts, again a V A design which was also offered to and declined by the RN. Very high rate of fire for its day and fully automated with control by dual Anglo - Dutch sensors.
The arrangement of their 40mm bofors was also unusual all in singles 3 each side athwart the fore funnel which when modified sacrificed the aft ones only being replaced with a quad seacat each with its own director. Exocet replaced the torpedo tubes at the same time.

Chile has a reputation for immaculately maintained and presented warships which seem to serve for an eternity, this pair had numerous upgrades in their service until the mid 1990's when both paid off.

Since 1998 when used as targets the pair decorate the Pacific depths.