[8FS_Bulau]

OK, I installed the Matabele into a SAS Modded 4.09m game.
Works perfectly, as stationary and moving ship.

I decided to edit each .ini file one at a time, testing afterwards to see the result of each edit. The SAS Modact did not include all the required files, so stock 4.09m .ini files were downloaded from a link provided in the SAS forum thread for SAS~Sani's [Cruisers]USS Chester,USS Houston,USS Portland

Then extracted the folder "Ship Ashe" to the MODS folder, but did not edit any files. The game loads fine, but of course, there is no HMS Matabele DD in the FMB Object Viewer.

Edit technics_ru.properties:
HMSMatabele HMS Matabele DD
game loads OK, but still no entries appear in either Ships or Stationary Ships for HMS Matabele DD

Edit stationary.ini:
HMSMatabele ships.ShipAshe$HMSMatabele 1
Game loads OK, an entry for HMS Matabele DD appears in Stationary Ships, but there is no image, and it cannot be placed on a map. No entry in Ships.

Edit ships.ini
Now there is picture and the Stationary Ship can be placed on a map, however, there is still no entry in Object Viewer under Ships (moving ship)

Finally edit the chief.ini, in two locations:
HMSMatabele ships.ShipAshe$HMSMatabele 1
icons/shipDestroyer.mat

[Ships.HMSMatabele]
com.maddox.il2.objects.ships.ShipAshe$HMSMatabele

Now there is the HMS Matebele DD in Object Viewer for Ships, and moving ship can be placed on a map.

In your case, is there no entry at all for Ships (moving)?
If so, we should take a closer look at the chief.ini edits.