Chilean destroyer Aldea (1928) Informations

The third Aldea was a Serrano-class destroyer of the Chilean Navy from 1928 to 1967. She was laid down in 1928 by Thornycroft, at Woolston, Hampshire, England. She was launched by Mrs. Berta Castro de Merino (mother of future admiral José Toribio Merino) in November 1928, and commissioned in July 1929.

Aldea was one of six vessels in its class to serve Chile. The class was ordered from the United Kingdom and delivered in 1928 and 1929. Like its sister ships Riquelme and Videla, it was also equipped for duties as a minesweeper. The vessels had a displacement of 1,430 long tons (1,453 t) at full load and were armed with three 4.7 in (120 mm)/45 and one 3 in (76 mm)/40 DP gun, as well as six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. The ships could make 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph), but their light build proved unsuitable for the harsh southern waters off Chiles coast.

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