The Ch sub-class was a repeat of the preceding Ca sub-class, except that the addition of remote control for the main-gun mounts caused some of the ships' intended weapons to be removed to save weight. Chivalrous displaced 1906LT at standard load and 2566LT at deep load. They had an overall length of 362feet, a beam of 35feet and a deep draught of 15feet.[1]
The ships were powered by a pair of geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40000ihp and gave a speed of 36kn at normal load.[2] During her sea trials, Chivalrous reached a speed of at a load of 2375LT.[3] The Ch sub-class carried enough fuel oil to give them a range of 4675nmi at . As a flotilla leader, Chivalrouss complement was 222 officers and ratings.[1]
The main armament of the destroyers consisted of four QF 4.5adj=onNaNadj=on Mk IV dual-purpose guns, one superfiring pair each fore and aft of the superstructure protected by partial gun shields. Their anti-aircraft suite consisted of one twin-gun stabilised Mk IV "Hazemeyer" mount for 40mm Bofors guns and two single 2-pounder (40 mm) AA guns amidships, and single mounts for a 20mm Oerlikon AA gun on the bridge wings.[1] To compensate for the weight of the remote control equipment, one of the two quadruple 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tube mounts was removed[4] and the depth charge stowage was reduced to only 35. The ships were fitted with a pair of rails and two throwers for the depth charges.[5]
Chivalrous was originally intended to be ordered from Vickers-Armstrongs' shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, but that facility was overloaded with work and the contract was switched to William Denny & Brothers. The ship was laid down on 27 November 1943 at its Dumbarton shipyard, launched on 22 June 1945 and was commissioned on 13 May 1946.[1]
She formed part of the 14th (later 1st) Destroyer Squadron for service in the Mediterranean.[6] She saw service, along with other Royal Navy ships in preventing illegal immigration into Palestine in 1947.[7]
Chivalrous was loaned to the Pakistan Navy on 29 June 1954 and renamed Taimur. She was returned to the Royal Navy and scrapped in 1961.[8]