BAP Almirante Grau (FM-53)

For other ships with the same name, see BAP Almirante Grau.

BAP Almirante Grau is the third out of four Carvajal-class frigates ordered by the Peruvian Navy in 1973 and originally named Montero. It was built by SIMA (Servicio Industrial de la Marina) at Callao under license from the Italian shipbuilder Cantieri Navali Riuniti. As such, it was the first modern warship built in Peru. In late 2007 its flight deck was extended to allow ASH-3D Sea King helicopters to land and refuel, although they cannot be housed in the ship's hangar.

BAP Almirante Grau in September 2014
History
Peru
Name	Montero (1984-2017) Almirante Grau (from 2017)
Namesake	Lizardo Montero Flores, later Miguel Grau Seminario
Ordered	1973
Builder	SIMA Callao
Laid down	16 June 1976
Launched	8 October 1982
Commissioned	29 July 1984
Homeport	Callao
Identification	FM-53
Status	Active in service
Notes	ITU callsign: OBHF
General characteristics
Class and type	Carvajal-class frigate
Displacement	2,206 tonnes (2,525 tonnes full load)
Length	113.2 m (371 ft) overall 106 m (348 ft) waterline
Beam	11.3 m (37 ft)
Draught	3.7 m (12 ft)
Propulsion	2-shaft CODOG system 2 GE / Fiat LM2500 gas turbines 50,000 shp (37,000 kW) 2 GMT A230-20 diesel engines 7,800 shp (5,800 kW)
Range	4,350 nautical miles (8,056 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement	199 (22 officers)
Sensors and processing systems	Selenia IPN-10 action data automation (CMS) 1 RAN-10S early warning radar 1 RAN-11L/X surface search radar 2 RTN-10X fire control radar 2 RTN-20X fire control radar 1 Decca BridgeMaster II navigation radar EDO 610E(P) hull sonar
Armament	8 Otomat Mk 2 SSMs 1 Albatros octuple launcher for Aspide SAM 2 ILAS-3 triple torpedo tubes 1 OTO Melara 127/54 mm gun 2 OTO Melara Twin 40/L70 DARDO compact gun
Aircraft carried	1 AB-212ASW helicopter or 1 ASH-3D Sea King (deck only)
Aviation facilities	Fixed hangar for 1 medium helicopter

On 26 September 2017 the ship was renamed BAP Almirante Grau on designation as the Peruvian fleet's flagship.

As Montero, the ship was named after Rear Admiral Lizardo Montero Flores (1832–1905) who fought in the War of the Pacific, and now honours Admiral Miguel Grau Seminario (1834-1879), hero of the Naval Battle of Angamos.

International exercises

• RIMPAC (Hawaii-USA) 2002.
• SIFOREX (Peru) 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007.
• UNITAS
  • Phase-0 (Puerto Rico) 1993, 1997.
  • Phase-4 (Peru) 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000.
  • Atlantic Phase 2003 (Argentina).
  • Pacific Phase 2004 (Peru), 2006 (Chile), 2007 (Peru).

Gallery

• 
  Unitas 45-04 Perú - BAP Montero (FM-53) in firing run

Sources

• Rodríguez, John, "Las fragatas Lupo: una breve mirada retrospectiva y perspectivas". Revista de Marina, Year 95, No. 3: 8-32 (July / December 2002)

External links

• Navy Newsstand RIMPAC - A direct hit by BAP Montero caused the final blow and eventually sank the "hostile" vessel (ex-USS Rathburne)