HMS Decoy (D106)

HMS Decoy underway, c1953 (IWM)
History
United Kingdom
Name:	Decoy
Builder:	Yarrow and Co. Ltd, Glasgow
Laid down:	22 September 1946
Launched:	29 March 1949
Commissioned:	28 April 1953
Identification:	D106
Fate:	Sold to Peruvian Navy in 1969
Peru
Name:	Ferré
Acquired:	1969
Commissioned:	April, 1973
Decommissioned:	13 July 2007
Homeport:	Callao
Identification:	DM-74
Status:	Decommissioned
General characteristics
Class and type:	Daring-class destroyer
Displacement:	2,819 tonnes standard 3,592 tonnes full load
Length:	121.6 m (399 ft)
Beam:	13.1 m (43 ft)
Draught:	5.5 m (18 ft)
Draft:	4.6 m (15 ft)
Propulsion:	2 Babcock & Wilcox boilers 2 English Electric geared steam turbines 2 shafts; 54,800 shp (40,900 kW)
Speed:	32 knots (59 km/h)
Range:	3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement:	186 (18 officers)
Sensors and processing systems:	1 × Plessey AWS-1 early warning 1 × Thomson-CSF Triton surface search 1 × RTN-10X fire control 1 × Decca 1226 navigation
Electronic warfare & decoys:	F0417-501 intercept
Armament:	8 × Exocet MM-38 SSM 3 × Vickers 114 mm/45 Mk V twin guns 2 × OTO Melara Twin 40L70 DARDO compact guns (installed 1978) 1 × Squid mortar (removed 1976)
Aviation facilities:	Landing deck for 1 medium helicopter

BAP Ferré (DM-74) was a Daring-class destroyer in service with the Peruvian Navy from 1973 to 2007. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders and completed for the Royal Navy in 1953 as HMS Decoy (D106).

Within weeks of being first commissioned Decoy took part in the Fleet Review at Spithead to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1956 she formed part of the Royal Navy's force used during the Suez Operation. On 4 September 1957, she was run aground at Portland Harbour, Dorset, due to failure of her steering gear.

During 1961 and 1962 the destroyer undertook trials for the Royal Navy's new Sea Cat missile system, being fitted with a single quadruple launcher on the port rear side, which was removed at the end of the trials.

Following a refit at Devonport Dockyard, Decoy recommissioned on 9 April 1963 and joined the 21st Escort Squadron with Berwick, Dido, Corunna and Cavendish.

By 1966 she was in reserve and completed a long refit in Portsmouth Dockyard and recommissioned again on 15 August 1967 for a general service commission, which included the West Indies and the Far East. Before sailing she attended Portsmouth Navy Days in that year. In 1968 she escorted a Hong Kong ship to Gibraltar at Masters request after unrest.