BAP Aguirre (CH-84)

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.

BAP Aguirre (CH-84)
History
Netherlands
Class and type: De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser
Name: De Zeven Provinciën
Builder: Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij, Rotterdam
Laid down: September 5, 1939
Launched: December 19, 1941
Commissioned: November 18, 1953
Out of service: Sold to Peruvian Navy on March 1973
Motto: Ad Victoriam
Fate: Transferred to Peru in August 1976
Peru
Name: Aguirre
Acquired: March 1973
Commissioned: February 24, 1978
Decommissioned: March 21, 1999
Renamed: BAP Almirante Grau between August 7, 1986 and February 15, 1988
Homeport: Callao
Fate: Scrapped in 2000
General characteristics
Displacement:
  • 9,681 tons standard
  • 12,165 tons full load
Length: 187.32 m
Beam: 17.25 m
Draught: 6.72 m
Draft: 11.65 m
Propulsion:
  • 4 Werkspoor-Yarrow three-drum boilers
  • 2 De Schelde Parsons geared steam turbines
  • 2 shafts; 85,000 shp (63,000 kW)
Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
Range: 6,900 nm at 12 knots (22 km/h)
Complement: 47 officers, 606 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems:
Armament:
  • 2 Bofors 152/53 twin guns
  • 3 twin Bofors 57/60 mm guns
  • 4 single Bofors 40/70 mm guns
Armor:
  • 50-76 mm belt
  • 50-125 mm turrets
  • 50-125 mm conning tower
Aircraft carried: 3 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.

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
  • 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
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