- BAP Aguirre (CH-84)
BAP "Aguirre" (CH-84) was a "De Ruyter" class
cruiser in service with thePeruvian Navy . It was completed for theRoyal Netherlands Navy in 1953 as HNLMS "De Zeven Provinciën". After two decades in service, it was decommissioned in 1976 and sold toPeru on August of that year. Before being transferred to thePacific Ocean , it underwent a major rebuild program by Rotterdamse Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) at its shipyard inRotterdam . Modifications included the removal of itsRIM-2 Terrier SAM system and the installation of a fixedhangar and aflight deck . The upgrade was finished onOctober 31 1977 and the ship was commissioned onFebruary 24 1978 at the Dutch naval base ofDen Helder . Renamed "Aguirre", in honor of thePeru vianCommander Elías Aguirre , it arrived to its new homeport ofCallao onMay 17 1978 .In service, the "Aguirre" participated in several exercises, including the multinational UNITAS manoeuvres. From
August 7 1986 throughFebruary 15 1988 , while the BAP "Almirante Grau" (CLM-81) underwent a major refit in theNetherlands , the "Aguirre" was temporarily renamed "Almirante Grau" and designated as fleetflagship . By the1990s the ship systems were beginning to show their age, but lack of funds rendered impossible any major upgrade. Finally, onMarch 21 1999 , the ship was decommissioned.ources
*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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