Delivery Brings Navy Frigate Strength to Eight

The Chilean Navy’s new frigates, ALMIRANTE LATORRE (FFG-14) and CAPITÁN PRAT (FFG-11) arrived in Valparaíso on 28 June.

The ADELAIDE-class vessels, recently acquired from Australia, were received by the Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy, Adm Julio Leiva. During their trip from Australia, the frigates made a a port visit to Papeete, Tahiti, on 3 June and three days later continued their delivery voyage to Chile. Several days before reaching their destination, they refuelled at sea from the ARAUCANO (AO-53) oil tanker.

With the arrival of the Australian frigates – which are themselves derived from the US OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class, the Chilean National Squadron will consist of eight warships that make up the backbone of the Navy. They are the ALMIRANTE WILLIAMS (FF-19 a Type 22 Batch 2); ALMIRANTE COCHRANE (FF-05), ALMIRANTE CONDELL (FF-06) and ALMIRANTE LYNCH (FF-07 – all Type 23);M-class frigates ALMIRANTE RIVEROS (FF-18) and ALMIRANTE BLANCO ENCALADA (FF-15); and the two newly arrived FFG. 

Santiago Rivas and Florencia Lucero Heguy in Buenos Aires for MON