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BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81)
BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81) is a De Zeven Provincien class cruiser in service with the Peruvian Navy. Completed for the Royal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS De Ruyter, 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 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.
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 Capitan Quinones.
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 Modernizacion 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:
Fitting of the Signaal SEWACO Foresee PE combat management system
Fitting of a Signaal DA-08 surface-search radar
Fitting of a Signaal LW-08 air-search radar
Fitting of a Decca 1226 navigation radar
Fitting of a Signaal STIR-24 fire-control radar
Fitting of a Signaal WM-25 fire-control radar
Fitting of two Signaal LIROD-8 optronic directors
Fitting of the Signaal Rapids ESM system
Fitting of the CME Scimitar ECM system
Fitting of two Matra Defense Dagaie decoy launchers
Fitting of one Matra Defense Sagaie decoy launcher
Fitting of a Link Y data link
Removal of four twin Bofors 57/60 mm gun mountings
Removal of the CWE-610 hull sonar
Further work was carried out by SIMA dockyards in Callao as follows:
Eight Otomat Mk 2 SSMs were fitted in 1993
Two OTO Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO compact gun mountings were fitted in 1996, replacing four single Bofors 40/70 mm gun mountings
Currently, the Almirante Grau is the last gun cruiser in service in any navy, .
Gallery
See also
BAP Almirante Grau for other Peruvian Navy ships of the same name.
Sources
Baker III, Arthur D., The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 2002-2003. Naval Institute Press, 2002.
Rodriguez Asti, John, Cruceros. Buques de la Marina de Guerra del Peru desde 1884. Direccion de Intereses Maritimos, 2000.
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article BAP Almirante Grau (CLM-81)
