FF-15 Almirante Blanco Encalada

The multi-purpose frigate "Almirante Blanco Encalada" is the fifth naval unit to bear the name of the first President of the Republic, Admiral don Manuel Blanco Encalada. It was built in the shipyards Royal Schelde, Vlissingen, Netherlands, being commissioned on 15 December 1993. As part of the bridge II project, materialized the transfer of the ship to the Navy of Chile at the Naval Base of Den Helder on December 16, 2005. Among the exercises in that it has participated include RIMPAC (Hawaii - USA.UU. (-2006 and 2007), PANAMAX (Panama - 2006), Team Work South (Chile - 2007), UNITAS (Peru - 2008) and UNITAS GOLD (Mayport, Florida - USA.) UU. (-2009).

As the last of the series of four Dutch frigates that have been sold to the Chilean Navy, is on Tuesday 26 June 2007 the Almirante Riveros departed from Den Helder. The Almirante Riveros is the former multipurpose frigate hnlms Tjerk Hiddes F 830 that in 1991 by Royal Society the Scheldt is transferred to the Royal Navy.

The design of the Karel Doorman class reflects the increasing priority that the Royal Netherlands Navy gives to survivability. Designed to reduce the Radar, Under Water Noise, Infra-Red and magnetic signatures the ships have an extensive NBCD arrangement. The hull design is based on extensive research into seakeeping and propulsion, giving high sustained speed in seaway and a wide weather window for helicopter operation. Equipped with a rudder roll stabilising system. Highly automated in machinery control and C³I systems the class has a characteristically low manning level. International interest in the M-frigates as well as changes in the Royal netherlands Navy prompted the sale of two frigates each to Chile, Belgium and Portugal.