The 90-year story of two Dutch cruisers

The final chapter of one of the world’s longest serving modern warships is being written into the maritime history records.

In February 2022, the Government of Peru announced that the former flagship of its navy, the cruiser Almirante Grau, has been put up for sale. This will bring to an end the 90-year saga of two cruisers, originally built for the Dutch Navy, and the history of one of the world’s longest serving modern warships. 

Plans delayed

At the beginning of the 1930s, the Dutch Government was increasingly concerned about a possible threat to its Asian colony, the Netherlands East Indies, from Japan and its expansionist plans. Accordingly, in 1932 it planned a major expansion of its naval forces that included the construction of two new cruisers based on the De Ruyter, which had been laid down in September 1933 (and which would be commissioned in October 1936 then sunk by the Japanese in February 1942). However budgetary constraints meant that the plan was delayed, and it was only in June 1938 that a contract was signed with Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) and Wilton Fijenoord for the building of the cruisers with construction commencing in 1939. The two vessels were to be named Eendracht (at RDM, keel laid in May 1939) and De Zeven Provinciën (at Wilton Fijenoord) and would be armed with eight 15cm guns.

New owners. New names

Just as the vessels were laid down, however, war broke out and within six months Germany had occupied The Netherlands. The Kriegsmarine decided to continue construction albeit slowly and to a slightly revised design and identified the vessels as KH (Kreuzer Holland) 1 (De Zeven Provinciën) and 2 (Eendracht). On 24 December 1944, it was decided to launch the KH1’s hull in order to sink it as a block ship in the Nieuwe Waterweg, however this plan was abandoned. 

After the war, work was resumed in 1947 on both vessels to a new design that reflected wartime experience. The proposed main armament was retained with an increased outfit of anti-aircraft guns. Machinery comprised two De Schelde Parsons geared steam turbines, fed by four Werkspoor-Yarrow three-drum boilers and producing 85,000 shp for a maximum speed of 32 knots. Two tall funnels were a very visible feature of the revised design (the original design had only one) and two large lattice masts installed to carry a variety of radar scanners and other antennae; the superstructure was also substantially enlarged. 1953 saw the cruisers finally entering service, some 20 years after their original design was conceived.

Modernisation

With the changing nature of naval warfare in the 1960s and the emergence of new technologies, the cruisers were scheduled for updating. Between 1962 and 1964, De Zeven Provinciën underwent a refit at RDM in which the two after 15 cm turrets were removed and a RIM-2 Terrier surface-to-air missile system installed. However, lack of funds prevented the same modifications being carried out on De Ruyter, which was decommissioned in 1972. Her sister ship followed suit in 1975.

An example of the Terrier anti-aircraft missile system as fitted to De Zeven Provinciën (Credit: Seaforces.org)

To Peru

De Ruyter was then acquired by the Peruvian Navy and recommissioned in 1973 as fleet flagship BAP Almirante Grau. De Zeven Provinciën was also purchased in 1976 and its Terrier system was removed and replaced by a hangar and flight deck for up to three Sea King helicopters. She was recommissioned in 1978 as BAP Aguirre. Between 1985 and 1988 Almirante Grau underwent a major upgrading by Amsterdam Dry Dock which allowed the ship to remain in service for many more years, whereas Aguirre was decommissioned in 1999.  

In 2007 the Dutch Maritime Promotion Foundation hoped to purchase the ship to display it in Amsterdam but this plan fell through. Almirante Grau was finally decommissioned by the Peruvian Navy in September 2017 with a view again of being converted it into a museum ship.  

The cruiser was donated to the Grau foundation during 2019 but little more was heard until news emerged in February that the ship was for sale by the Peruvian Navy for £901,630 ($1132m). In March, that figure was revised downwards to £856,550 ($1076m).  

Who knows, there may be more life yet for this veteran vessel.

The Almirante Grau in later years under the Peruvian flag. The after two 15 cm turrets can be clearly seen (removed when De Zeven Provinciën was rearmed with a Terrier launcher). (Credit:www.naval.com/br)

Ships' particulars

John Barnes is a journalist and author and former editor of Marine Engineers Review.