Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

HMS Charity was a C-Class destroyer.
Built: in Woolston, by John I. Thornycroft & Company Limited
Laid down: July 9, 1943
Launched: November 30, 1944
Commissioned: November 19, 1945
Hull number: DD 962
Length: 111 meters
Beam: 10.90 meters
Draught; 3.0 - 4.4 meters
Capacity: 2,020 tons
Engine: 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers; Parsons geared steam turbines, 40,000 s horse power, 2 shafts
Speed: 37 knots

From July 1, 1944 until October, 1945, Lieutenant Commander R.H.C. Wyld served aboard the Royal Navy Destroyer, HMS Charity (R 20).

On May 18, 1946, following a second sighting by RAF reconnaissance planes, Dov Hoz דב הוז Fede and Eliyahu Golomb אליהו גולומב Fenice were inctercepted by HMS Charity, later assisted by HMS Chaplet.

On March 29, 1947, RAF reconnaisance aircraft spotted Moledet מולדת San Philippo about 90 miles northwest of Haifa חיפה.
HMS Charity intercepted Moledet מולדת San Philippo, and HMS Haydon joined HMS Charity later that day.
When she was intercepted, Moledet מולדת San Philippo was listing close to 35 degrees, but refused help, so the Royal Navy vessels dropped back and watched.

On April 13, 1947, Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל tried to run a British blockade, and and was intercepted by HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Haydon.
Fritz Liebreich cites HMS Cheviot, HMS Octavia and HMS Charity.
Able Seaman Alan Green cites: HMS Providence "In April was involved in the interception and boarding of the Theodor Herzl when fierce resistance was put up by the illegal immigrants before the ship was taken under control."
Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל was stopped at 07:00AM, 16 miles from the shore of Tel Aviv.
On April 13, 1947, 15:00PM, HMS St. Brides Bay was preparing to board, and escort her to Haifa חיפה.
The Maapilim put a banner were put on her hull that read: "YOU JOINED THE NAVY TO CHASE ORPHANS"
and: "HITLER DESTROYED OUR FAMILIES, DO NOT DESTROY OUR HOPE "
On April 14, 1947, 01.20AM, the doctor on board Theodor Herzl תיאודור הרצל requested the wounded be transferred, as they were likely to die from gunshot wounds.
On April 14, 1947, 02.45AM, HMS Charity took on 20 wounded, and returned to Haifa חיפה.
Two passengers were slain, and a third died later.
The passengers were transhipped to Cyprus Κύπρος Detention Camps.

On the morning of March 30, 1947, when Moledet מולדת's pumps stopped working, and the diesel engine died, Fabi Gaver sent out an SOS, and a British destroyer responded, and towed Moledet מולדת to Haifa חיפה.
HMS Haydon sent over a pump and a salvage party, along with the boarding party.
Within 80 minutes, the salvage crew had cleared the engine compartments of water, but Moledet continued to list, forcing partial evacuation.
HMS St. Brides Bay and HMS Octavia joined the operation, and 550 passengers were transferred to HMS Charity, and 265 passengers were transferred to HMS St. Brides Bay.
HMS Octavia took Moledet מולדת under tow.
Moledet מולדת, her crew and passengers were arrested in Haifa חיפה, and the British deported the passengers to Cyprus Kibris, on transport ships.

HMS Haydon and HMS Charity closed on Moledet מולדת San Phillipe, when it was reported that water was entering the ship, which was listing 18 degrees; she later rolled to starboard, and listed 23 degrees.
Moledet מולדת San Phillipe was flooding through insecure lower-deck scuttles, and the salvage party, led by Lieutenant E.H.W. Nichols, transferred a 70 ton/hour diesel salvage pump, hoses to reduce the wate, closde the scuttles and kept passengers below deck.
The salvage party cleared the boiler and engine rooms of water, and HMS Charity and HMS Octavia came alongside to take on the passengers.
HMS Charity embarked 556 passengers and HMS Octavia embarked 265 passengers; HMS Octavia then transferred the passengers to HMS St. Bride's Bay, and then secured a tow to take Moledet מולדת San Phillipo to Haifa חיפה.

In 1952, HMS Charity, 8th Destroyer Flotilla, carried out bombardments of positions in Western Malaya at the request of the British Army.

On June 16, 1958, HMS Charity was sold to the United States of America, and renamed PNS Shah Jehan.
On December 16, 1958, HMS Charity was transferred to Pakistan, and renamed PNS Shah Jehan (DD-962).

In 1982, HMS Charity PNS Shah Jehan (DD-962) was scrapped.