BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81)


BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81)
Career (Netherlands)
Class and type: De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser
Name: HNLMS De Ruyter
Builder: Wilton-Fijenoord, Schiedam
Laid down: September 5, 1939
Launched: December 19, 1941
Commissioned: November 18, 1953
Out of service: Sold to Peruvian Navy on March 1973
Career (Peru)
Name: BAP Almirante Grau
Acquired: March 7, 1973
Commissioned: May 23, 1973
Homeport: Callao
Status: Active
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:

Signaal SEWACO Foresee PE CMS
Signaal LW-08 early warning
Signaal DA-08 surface search
Signaal STIR-240 fire control
Signaal WM-25 fire control
Signaal LIROD-8 optronic

Decca 1226 navigation
Electronic warfare
and decoys:

Signaal Rapids ESM system
CME Scimitar ECM system
2 Matra Défense Dagaie decoy launchers

1 Matra Défense Sagaie decoy launcher
Armament:

8 Otomat Mk 2 SSM
4x2 Bofors 152/53 guns

2x2 OTO Melara 40L70 DARDO guns
Armor: 50-76 mm belt
50-125 mm turrets
50-125 mm conning tower
Motto: Poder y Gloria (Power and Glory)

BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81) is a De Zeven Provinciën-class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy. Completed for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS De Ruyter (C801), it was acquired by Peru in 1973. Since then, it has served as the fleet flagship of the Peruvian Navy. The Almirante Grau underwent a major modernization program between 1985 and 1988 during which it was fitted with new weapons and electronics. It is currently the last gun cruiser in service in any navy.

Contents

Acquisition

The Almirante Grau was completed for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS De Ruyter. After two decades in service, she was decommissioned in 1973, and in the same year the Peruvian Navy bought the ship as a counter to the acquisition of the Swedish cruiser Gota Lejon by the Chilean Navy. Renamed Almirante Grau, in honor of the Peruvian Admiral Miguel Grau, she arrived to its new homeport of Callao on July 11, 1973. The Almirante Grau became fleet flagship replacing a former cruiser of the same name (the ex-HMS Newfoundland) which was renamed Capitán Quiñones.

Modernization

From 1985 until 1988, she underwent a major modernization program by Amsterdam Naval Services (ANS) at its shipyard in Amsterdam, period during which she was denominated Proyecto de Modernización 01 (Modernization Project 01) or PM-01. Her role as flagship was assumed by her sistership Aguirre as Almirante Grau. Both ships regained their former names when the ex-De Ruyter reached Callao on February 15, 1988.

The upgrade program carried out in the Netherlands included the following:

Further work was carried out by SIMA dockyards in Callao as follows:

Currently, the Almirante Grau is the last gun cruiser (although it has the capabilities of firing Otomat guided missiles, plus its main armament) in service in any navy, and Peru is one of only three countries to operate cruisers today, along with the United States and Russia.

Gallery

Sources

External links