Revised: February 1, 1999
Copyright © 1997-1999 by Juan Carlos Barroux R.
All of the units in this page are attached to the Escuadra Nacional and represent the core of the Chilean Navy and of its pretension to be a "blue navy" force.
As a clear demonstration of the power of the British influence in the Chilean Navy they are all of British manufacture, with four County class destroyers and four Leander class frigates. Only during the period following WWII did the Chilean Navy use a majority of ships from other origines, in this case, of North American origin due to the flood of used ships at very good prices. In the light of the last 20 years of history the United States of North America has come to be seen in Chile as a non reliable ally and even sometimes as a dangerous power in the region. The likelyhood of future major ships to come from the United States of North America is not very high even though the two navies do work in concert in a number of exercises. Even more, current american help to Argentina is not well perceived both in Chile and in the UK, helping to strengthen the traditionally strong links between the two navies.
The Escuadra Nacional is a small force only of four destroyers and four frigates. Despite the average age of the ships (35 years) they are well maintained and kept in good working order. They all have sustained major refits which have enhanced significantly their performance, specially in the weapon system area and electronics. All of the Fleet ships use a C3I system, called SP100, completely developed in Chile by Sisdef using COTS equipments like Intel x86 chips and the code has been written in ADA following international standards. The exact characteristics of the system are not well known by the public but it can assumed to include complete data links between all of the Fleet units. Two of the former County destroyers have seen their SeaSlug systems removed and their helicopter decks extended transforming them in practice in Helicopter Destroyers. This is a poor substitute to the carrier the Navy whishes, but still represents an increase of capability to be reckoned with. The more serious drawback of these ships is the age of their engines which are difficult to maintain. Maximum speed has been reported has been around 26 knots and not the original 30 knots.
The Fleet seems to operate all together or in two task forces of a DLG, a DLH and a couple of frigates escorts, as a way to balance the capabilities of the ships. The air defense of the fleet is assured by the SeaSlug system on the medium to long range and by the IAI Barak system for the short range. This should represent an adequate defense against foreseeable foes.
Surface warfare is the task of the SA 332 Super Puma helicopters that are embarked on nearly all of the Fleet ships. They are armed with the AM 39 Exocet as their main antiship weapons. The next set of weapons are the MM 40 and MM 38 on the ships, as well as the SeaSlug system which has been modified to allow for the targeting of surface targets. When this weapon was retired from UK service, Chile bought all of the remaining missiles, spares, engineering drawings and most importantly, source code. This has allowed ASMAR to continue to expand the capacities of the system. The MM 38 are in the process of being replaced by MM 40.
The submarine defense is weak by western standards since it is assured only by the SA 332 Super Puma with dipping sonar and Mk 46 torpedoes. A last ditch of defense exist in the form of embarked active sonars and torpedos. The lack of VDS sonar is a big drawback, specially considering the capabilities of the Argentinian and Peruvian submarine forces.
Training is performed regularly, both with the rest of the Navy and Chilean armed forces (FACh in particular) as well as with the US, Canada and UK Navies in exercises like UNITAS or Teamwork South. The crew usually perform quite well and show their professionalism. During one of these exercises a frigate was deployed for four months on a row in the Pacific demonstrating the ability to be at sea for long periods, the hallmark of a sea going Navy.
Future replacement units are needed and discussions are currently been held in Chile on the best way to expand the Fleet. Local construction of the next frigates is a stated whish of the Navy but the budget restrictions make the cheap offers of used ships quite attractive. The Type 22 Batch II HMS Beaver and Brave and the Italian DDH Vittorio Veneto are talked about as possible future acquisitions.
In the meantime the design process for a new class of frigates to be locally built has started with the help of Fincantieri of Italy. The Chilean Navy has stated that they are searching for partners in Latin America for this program which may become the first joint naval design and building program in the region. Chile obviously sees itself has the natural leader of such a design given its strong naval tradition. The Chilean Navy has stated a need for 8 of those frigates to be starting service early next century.
The requirements for this frigate are:
Displacement: 6,500 tons full load Dimensions: 158.7 x 16.5 x 6.3 meters (520.5 x 54 x 20.5 feet) Propulsion: 2 shafts, COSAG; 2 AEI cruise steam turbines, 4 English Electric G6 boost gas turbines, 30,000 shp, 30 knots (26 knots real) Crew: 471 (36 officers) Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar for 2 NAS 332SC Super Puma Troops: -- Radar: Marconi Type 966 (DLH15) or Marconi Type 965 M (DLH12) air search, Type 992 surface search, Type 1006 navigation, Decca Sonar: Kelvin Hughes Type 162M hull, Graseby Type 184S hull (DLH15) or Graseby Type 184M hull (DLH12), Type 903 gun control Fire Control: 2 x Elta EL/M-22L IGM SAM control (Barak) EW: UA 8/9, Elta IR sensor, 2 Corvus 8-barrelled chaff, 2 Wallop Barricade, Type 667 jammer Armament: 4 Aérospatiale MM 38 Exocet SSM, 2 8-cell Barak I SAM VLS, 2 triple 12.75 inch (324 mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes, 1 dual Vickers 4.5 in (114mm) Mk 6 DP, 2 or 4 Oerlikon 20 mm Mk 9, 12.7 mm MGs Notes: Ex-RN County class destroyers with the SeaSlug SAM facility replaced by a flush helicopter deck (617 m2) and the hangar expanded. The ASIST system was installed too. New combat data system (SP-100) from Sisdef. Fitted with the Inmarsat system. The MM 38 should be be replaced with MM 40. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes DLH15 Blanco Encalada 1966/87 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS D20 Fife DLH12 Cochrane 1970/84 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS D18 Antrim
Displacement: 6,500 tons full load Dimensions: 158.7 x 16.5 x 6.3 meters (520.5 x 54 x 20.5 feet) Propulsion: 2 shafts, COSAG; 2 AEI cruise steam turbines, 4 English Electric G6 boost gas turbines, 30,000 shp, 30 knots (26 knots real) Crew: 471 (36 officers) Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar for 1 Bell 206B or 1 MBB BO-105. Troops: -- Radar: Marconi Type 966 (DLH14) or Marconi Type 965 M (DLH11) air search, Admiralty Type 277M height finder, Type 992 surface search, Type 1006 navigation, Decca Sonar: Kelvin Hughes Type 162M hull, Graseby Type 184M hull Fire Control: Marconi Type 901 (SeaSlug), 2 x Elta EL/M-22L IGM SAM control (Barak), Type 903 gun control EW: UA 8/9, Elta IR sensor, 2 Corvus 8-barrelled chaff, 2 Wallop Barricade, Type 667 jammer Armament: 4 Aérospatiale MM 38 Exocet SSM, 1 Short Bros SeaSlug SAM Mk 2 (30 missiles), 2 8-cell Barak I SAM VLS, 2 triple 12.75 inch (324 mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes, 1 dual Vickers 4.5 in (114mm) Mk 6 DP, 2 or 4 Oerlikon 20 mm Mk 9, 12.7 mm MGs Notes: Ex-RN County class destroyers. New combat data system (SP-100) from Sisdef. Fitted with the Inmarsat system. The MM 38 should be replaced by MM 40. The SeaSlug system has been modified to include the surface to surface capability. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes DLH14 Latorre 1966/86 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS D19 Glamorgan DLH11 Prat 1970/82 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS D21 Norfolk
Displacement: 6,500 tons full load Dimensions: ?? x ?? x ?? meters (?? x ?? x ?? feet) Propulsion: ???, 26 knots Crew: ??? (?? officers) Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar for 1 NAS 332SC Super Puma Troops: -- Radar: ??? Sonar: ??? Fire Control: ??? EW: ??? Armament: ??? Notes: Eight to be built in Chile by ASMAR with Fincantieri help and a maximum of local components. They should replace the current main combatants of the Chilean Navy. The program has been opened to international participation. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???
Displacement: 3,000 tons full load Dimensions: 109.7 x 13.1 x 5.5 meters (360 x 43 x 18 feet) Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 boilers, 2 White/English Electric steam turbines, 30,000 shp, 27 knots Crew: 263 (30 officers) Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar for 1 NAS 332SC Super Puma Troops: -- Radar: Marconi Type 965 or 966 air search, Marconi Type 992 Q surface search, Type 978 navigation Sonar: Graseby 177, Graseby 170 B, Kelvin Hughes Type 162 M Fire Control: Plessey Type 904 SAM control (SeaCat), Type 903 gun control EW: 2 Corvus 8-barrelled launchers, Wallop Barricade double layer chaff launchers, UA 8/9, FH12 HF/DF, Elta IR sensor, Type 668 jammer Armament: 4 Aérospatiale MM 40 Exocet SSM, 1 Shorts SeaCat quad SAM, 1 dual Vickers 4.5 in (114mm) Mk 6 DP, 2 triple 12.75 inch (324 mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes, 2 Oerlikon 20mm Mk 9 Notes: Built for Chile. New combat data system (SP-100) from Sisdef. This class will get the Barak system to replace the SeaCat. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes PFG 06 Condell 1973 ESC Valparaíso PFG 07 Lynch 1974 ESC Valparaíso
Displacement: 3,080 tons full load Dimensions: 109.7 x 13.1 x 5.5 meters (360 x 43 x 18 feet) Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 boilers, 2 White/English Electric steam turbines, 30,000 shp, 27 knots Crew: 263 (30 officers) Aviation: aft helicopter deck with hangar for 1 MBB BO-105 or Bell 206 Troops: -- Radar: Marconi Type 965 or 966 air search, Plessey Type 994 surface search, Type 1006 navigation Sonar: Graseby 184 P, Graseby 170 B, Kelvin Hughes Type 162 M Fire Control: Plessey Type 904 SAM control (SeaCat), Type 903 gun control EW: 2 Corvus 8-barrelled launchers, Wallop Barricade double layer launchers, UA 8/9, FH12 HF/DF, Elta IR sensor, Type 668 jammer Armament: 1 Shorts SeaCat quad SAM, 1 dual Vickers 4.5 in (114mm) Mk 6 DP, 2 triple 12.75 inch (324 mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes (not fitted in 09), 1 Limbo Mk 10 mortar, 2 Oerlikon 20mm Mk 9 Notes: New combat data system (SP-100) from Sisdef. This class will get the Barak system to replace the SeaCat. One of these two is currently undergoing a refit in ASMAR Talcahuano to a similar standard than the Condell class. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes PF 08 Ministro Zenteno 1970/91 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS F12 Achilles PF 09 General Baquedano 1971/92 ESC Valparaíso Ex-HMS F72 Ariadne
Displacement: 3,769 tons full load Dimensions: 122.5 x 13.1 x 6.0 meters (402 x 43 x 13.3 feet) Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 boilers, 2 Parsons Pametrada steam turbines, 54,000 shp, 30+ knots Crew: 266 (17 officers) Aviation: small aft helicopter deck Troops: -- Radar: Plessey AWS 1 early warning, Marconi SNW 10 air/surf search Sonar: Graseby 170, Graseby Type 184B EW: ESM, WLR-1, unknown radar warning, Elta IR sensor Armament: 4 Aérospatiale MM 38 Exocet SSM, 2 Shorts Seacat quad SAM, 2 triple 12.75 inch (324 mm) Mk 32 torpedo tubes, 3 single Vickers 4 in (102mm)/60 Mk(N)R, 4 Bofors 40 mm/70 Notes: UK built. Number Name Year FLT Homeport Notes D18 Almirante Riveros 1960 ESC Valparaíso Decomm. Dic/94 D19 Almirante Williams 1958 ESC Valparaíso Decomm. ???/96
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Copyright © 1997-1999 by Juan Carlos Barroux R.
Juan Carlos Barroux R. - lamilitary@geocities.com