Frigates - FFG

Description
Frigates fulfill a Protection of Shipping (POS) mission as Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) combatants for amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups and merchant convoys.

Background
The guided missile frigates (FFG) bring a short range anti-air warfare (AAW) capability (provided by their Phalanx Close-In Weapon System) to the frigate mission, but they have some limitations. Designed as cost efficient surface combatants, they lack the multi-mission capability necessary for modern surface combatants faced with multiple, high-technology threats. They also offer limited capacity for growth. Despite this, the FFG 7 class is a robust platform, capable of withstanding considerable damage. This "toughness" was aptly demonstrated when USS Samuel B. Roberts struck a mine and USS Stark was hit by two Exocet cruise missiles. In both cases the ships survived, were repaired and returned to the fleet. USS Stark was decommissioned in May 1999.

The Surface Combatant Force Requirement Study does not define any need for a single mission ship such as the frigate and there are no frigates planned in the Navy's five-year shipbuilding plan.

The lead ship of the class, USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7), and the following ships have been decommissioned: FFG 9-16, 19-27, 30, 31, 33, 34, 39 and 53.

The former USS McInerney (FFG 8) was decommissioned and transferred to Pakistan Aug. 31, 2010. FFG 33, 39 and 53 were decomissioned in 2011 and all are designated for Foreign Military Sales (FMS).

FFG 17, 18, 35, & 44 were built for Australia.

Point Of Contact
Office of Corporate Communication
Naval Sea Systems Command (SEA 00D)
Washington, D.C. 20376

General Characteristics, Oliver Hazard Perry Class

Builder: Bath Iron Works: FFG 7, 8, 11, 13, 15, 16, 21, 24, 26, 29, 32, 34, 36, 39, 42, 45, 47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59
Todd Shipyards, Seattle: FFG 10, 17, 18, 20, 22, 28, 31, 35, 37, 40, 44, 48, 52, 61
Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif.: FFG 9, 12, 14, 19, 23, 30, 33, 38, 41, 43, 46, 51, 54, 57, 60.

Date Deployed: 17 December 1977 (Oliver Hazard Perry)

Propulsion: Two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 1 shaft, 41,000 shaft horsepower total.

Length: 445 feet (133.5 meters); 453 feet (135.9 meters) with LAMPS III modification.

Beam: 45 feet (13.5 meters).

Displacement: 4,100 tons (4,165.80 metric tons) full load.

Speed: 29 plus knots (33.4+ miles per hour).

Crew: 17 Officers, 198 Enlisted.

Armament: Six MK-46 torpedoes(from two triple mounts); One 76 mm (3-inch)/62 caliber MK 75 rapid fire gun; One Phalanx close-in-weapons system.

Aircraft: Two SH-60 (LAMPS III) in FFG 8, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36-61
One SH-2 (Lamps Mk-I) in FFG 9-19, 30, 31.

Ships:

USS Boone (FFG 28), Mayport, FL

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29), Mayport, FL