The Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra del Perú) will soon have a new modern Landing Platform Dock (LPD) completely made in country by its own industry. The BAP Pisco (AMP156) which was launched 25 April 2017 is now undergoing sea trails and is scheduled to be commissioned late in 2018. Construction at the Callao shipyard was undertaken by SIMA-Peru Marine Industrial Services with the technical support of Korea’s Dae Sun Shipbuilding under a $60 million contact.
The design is based on and similar to the Makassar Class LPDs already in service with the Indonesian Navy (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut, TNI–AL). Classified as a multi-purpose landing platform dock it is capable of supporting military amphibious operations, as well as those conerned with disaster and humanitarian relief.
BAP Pisco has a well deck to accommodate two landing craft, a vehicle bay with 24 amphibious vehicles (that can disembark over the aft ramp) plus 18 main battle tanks or military cargo trucks. It has a helicopter flight deck for two medium or one heavy helicopter plus a single aircraft. The ship also offers a hangar facility. It can support operations ashore through its provision of 636 tons of fuel, 600 tons of fresh water, 360m³ of dry cargo and 136m³ of food supplies. Modular hospital units can also be ultised to greatly expand it’s on board medical facilities. It has a complement of 154 officers and crewmen (including aviation support) and can carry 400 Marines.
Displacing approximately 11,390 tons it is one of the Navy’s largest biggest ships. Its combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) propulsion system offers a top speed of 16.5 knots (31km/h) and up to 14,000 nautical mile (26,000km) endurance. The ship is armed for self defence against small surface and low order air threats. It has a single BAE Systems Mk4 40mm gun system, two Rafael Typhoon 30mm remote weapon stations (RWS) and four Rafael Mini Typhoon 12.7mm remote-controlled stations.
Sea trials are evaluating ship systems readiness and reliability. BAP Pisco should enter full service in 2019. It could be followed by a second ship as the agreement with Dae Sun covered two ships. Such a move would significantly further enhance Peru’s expeditionary capabilities.
