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BAP Aguirre (CH-84)

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BAP Aguirre (CH-84) in 1978
History
Netherlands
NameDe Zeven Provinciën
BuilderRotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Laid downSeptember 5, 1939
LaunchedDecember 19, 1941
CommissionedNovember 18, 1953
DecommissionedAugust 1976
Out of serviceSold to Peruvian Navy in August 1976
MottoAd Victoriam
FateTransferred to Peru in August 1976
Peru
NameAguirre
AcquiredAugust 1976
CommissionedFebruary 24, 1978
DecommissionedMarch 21, 1999
RenamedBAP Almirante Grau between August 7, 1986 and February 15, 1988
HomeportCallao
FateScrapped in 2000
General characteristics
Class and typeDe Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser
Displacement
  • 9,681 tons standard
  • 12,165 tons full load
Length187.32 m
Beam17.25 m
Draught6.72 m
Propulsion
  • 4 Werkspoor-Yarrow three-drum boilers
  • 2 De Schelde Parsons geared steam turbines
  • 2 shafts; 85,000 shp (63,000 kW)
Speed32 knots (59 km/h)
Range6,900 nm at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement47 officers, 606 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Armor
  • 50-76 mm belt
  • 50-125 mm turrets
  • 50-125 mm conning tower
Aircraft carried3 ASH-3D Sea King helicopters
Aviation facilities
  • Main flight deck: 35 × 17 m
  • Hangar roof helicopter platform: 20 × 16.46 m
  • Fixed hangar for 3 heavy helicopters.

BAP Aguirre (CH-84) was a De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy. It was completed for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën. After two decades in service, it was decommissioned in August 1976 and sold to Peru. Before being transferred to the Pacific Ocean, it underwent a major rebuild program by Rotterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) at its shipyard in Rotterdam. Modifications included the removal of its RIM-2 Terrier SAM system and the installation of a fixed hangar and a flight deck. The upgrade was finished on October 31, 1977 and the ship was commissioned on February 24, 1978 at the Dutch naval base of Den Helder. Renamed Aguirre, in honor of the Peruvian Commander Elías Aguirre, it arrived to its new homeport of Callao on May 17, 1978.

In service, the Aguirre participated in several exercises, including the multinational UNITAS manoeuvres. From August 7, 1986 through February 15, 1988, while the BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81) underwent a major refit in the Netherlands, the Aguirre was temporarily renamed Almirante Grau and designated as fleet flagship. By the 1990s the ship systems were beginning to show their age, but lack of funds prevented any major upgrade. Finally, on March 21, 1999, the ship was decommissioned.

Sources

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  • Rodríguez Asti, John, Cruceros. Buques de la Marina de Guerra del Perú desde 1884. Dirección de Intereses Marítimos, 2000.
  • Toppan, Andrew, World Aircraft Carriers List: Peru. http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/carriers/peru.htm
  • Jane's Major Warships 2003