HNLMS De Ruyter and De Zeven Provinciën were the last solitary cruisers armed with guns in the world. They were used by the Royal Netherlands Navy and Peruan Navy. The initial design, dating from 15 November 1937, was never realized. After WWII, the ships were still under construction resulting a renewed design process. De Ruyter was commissioned on 18 November 1953 and served mostly as ¿agship of a task group. On 13 February 1972 De Ruyter was transferred to Peru as BAP Almirante Grau and ¿nally, after 64 years, decommissioned on 26 September 2017.