DLH Blanco Encalada (modified County) class helicopter destroyers

These Ex-Royal Navy County class destroyers served in Chile's Navy with the Sea Slug SAM facility replaced by a helicopter deck. Four ex-British County-class destroyers were delivered between 1984 and 1987. These ships underwent extensive refit by Chilean shipyards prior to commissioning into the Chilean navy. Seaslug launchers were removed in order to extend the helicopter deck so that these vessels could accommodate AS-332 Super Puma helicopters. At least one unit may have been fitted with a towed array sonar. All units were armed with Exocets, two 4.5 inchguns, torpedoes, and a short-range, high-frequency, hull-mounted sonar. The fourth unit was delivered at a cost of $14 million.

The fourth Blanco Encalada was built in England in the Fairfield shipyards S.B. Eng. Co. Govan Ltd., between 1962 and 1964 and Commissioner in the British Royal Navy on June 21, 1966. He participated in the war of the Falkland or Malvinas Islands. He was inducted into the Navy of Chile on September 07, 1987. Subsequently was reconditioned in Asmar (T), being suitable to carry more helicopters, which are modifies partially its armament. It was decommissioned from naval service on December 12, 2003.

The Missile Destroyer Helicopter Carrier Admiral Cochrane (4th) was initially English, HMS "Antrim", was that her keel on January 20, 1966 in the Fairfield shipyards S.B. & Eng. Co. Ltd. Govan and which was commissioned to the Navy on July 14, 1970. He was inducted into the National Navy, the day June 22, 1984 in the Rada of Portsmouth - England, being its first Commander Captain de Navío Adolfo Cruz Labarthe. His name honors the illustrious English sailor, Admiral Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane, whom comanda the Chilean squad that won the sea domain to dispute it with the Spanish Squadron, during the war of independence.

The first Chilean port that recalá was Coquimbo, on day 9 of September 1984, where he embarked the Commander in Chief of the Ia. Naval zone, along with a Committee of inspectors, who during all this day in transit to Valparaiso, evaluated the operation of the ship, to clearly define the changes that are efectuaron in the plant of Asmar in Talcahuano. The next day, on September 10, 1984, arrived to Valparaíso, where he was received by the Commander in Chief of the Navy, Admiral José Toribio Merino Castro.

After a process of changes in Asmar (T.), to understand from October 1984 to April 1985, is incorporated as a new unit of the squadron on April 29, the date on which it enarbola the pennant of command from the Commander in Chief of the Squadron, Vice Admiral Sergio Sánchez Luna. During his life, was part of numerous operations, such as Unitas, Team Work South, and exercises with units of armed escorts.

While in service with the British army, the ship participated in important actions, such as Grenada and Falklands (Malvinas), receiving in the latter in the Stern, an impact of a bomb that did not explota and which was subsequently deactivated. In addition, has been visited by illustrious people, among which stands out from the British Navy officer, Mr. Michael Cochrane, descendant de el Almirante Lord Thomas Alexander Cochrane, in April 1990 and the Princess Anna of England in September of the same year.

Also, has been part of important events, such as the first joint exercise conducted with units of the Navy of Argentina war in November 1998, "Integration", off the coast of the central Chilean coast. Beginning on December 22, 1990, date completed a period of recovery and modernization, the ship turns in destroyer leader Porta helicopters (DLH), with what they are trained to operate with medium-sized helicopter from its flight deck, which operated for the first time aboard in March 1992.

The command of Navy salvage and rescue continued work in Concepción Bay, to recover damaged units product of the emergency that occurred February 2010. After a failed attempt on April 28, unforeseen technical product, on 30 April 2010 the crews succeeded in salvaging the hull of the former "Cochrane" DLH. The destroyer helicopter carrier, 5,800 tonnes, was dragged by the force of the water from the Molo 500 of the Naval Base of Talcahuano, in units of the pool of reserve units (AGRURES), to the sector known as isla de Los Reyes, in the vicinity of the Interportuaria path. The maneuvers for salvage of the last destroyer that was in service the Navy of Chile, began two hours before high tide occurred at 11: 10, which allowed have greater lift and buoyancy of the vessel. The maneuvers were carried out with the support of the AFT "Galvarino", which has a capacity of traction with their machines of 60 tons, and the help of two private tugs, the "Lenadura" and "Chachán". After three hours and half of work, the former "Cochrane" again returned to the water and with the support of the tugboats slowly sailed through the waters of the Bay of Concepción Quiriquina island.