AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS

Sea Power, Jan 2007

FRIGATES (FFG)

BRIEFING: The number of U.S. Navy frigates topped 100 before fiscal constraints initiated a sharp decline that accelerated after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Twenty-three Perry-class FFGs have been decommissioned and several have been sold or leased to foreign countries. Eight are assigned to the Naval Reserve Force.

Significant upgrades are being implemented to ensure the 30 remaining Perry-class FFGs remain viable platforms into the future. These upgrades include new ship's service diesel generator engines, the addition of reverse osmosis plants, commercial-off-the-shelf slewing arm davits and the addition of self-contained breathing apparatus. The Mkl3 launchers for the Standard SM-I surface-to-air missile and Harpoon cruise missile have been removed from the ships, but units of the class will receive combat systems upgrades including Mk53 NULKA and Mkl5 CIWS Block IB gun with surface mode capability. CIWS Block 1B installation in all FFGs was to be completed in 2006.

Frigates are involved in the nation's drug-interdiction campaign, particularly in Caribbean and Atlantic waters. Frigates also are involved in the Persian Gulf performing escort duties, maritime interdiction and maintaining sea lines of communication during Operation Enduring Freedom and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Oliver Hazard Perry Class

DISPLACEMENT: .........3,585 tons full load

LENGTH:......................445 feet

BEAM: ..........................45 feet

SPEED:.........................29 knots

POWER PLANT: ...........2 gas turbines, 1 shaft, 40,000 shp

AIRCRAFT:...................2 SH-6OB helicopters (for ships that have Mk III capability)

ARMAMENT:................1 76mm/62-caliber gun, 1 Phalanx CIWS, 6 torpedo tubes, Mk53 NULKA

COMPLEMENT: ............209

BUILDERS:...................FFG 8, 29, 32, 36, 39, 42, 45, 47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59, Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; 28, 37, 40, 48, 52, Todd Shipyards, Seattle; 33, 38, 41, 43, 46, 51, 54, 57, 60, 61, Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif.

Homeport

FFG 8 Mclnerney..................................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34092-1466)

FFG 28 Boone............................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34093-1484) (NRF)

FFG 29 Stephen W. Groves .........Mayport, Fla (AA 34093-1485) (NRF)

FFG 32 John L. Hall ..............................Mayport, Fla (AA 34093-1488)

FFG 33 Jarrett.................................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96669-1489)

FFG 36 Underwood..............................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34093-1491)

FFG 37 Crommelin.....................Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (AP 96662-1492)

FFG 38 Curts.........................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96662-1493) (NRR

FFG 39 Doyle.............................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34090-1494) (NRR

FFG 40 Halyburton...............................Mayport, FIa. (AA 09573-1495)

FFG 41 McClusky ..................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96672-1496) (NRR

FFG 42 Klakring..........................Mayport, FIa. (AE 09576-1497) (NRR

FFG 43 Thach..................................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96679-1498)

FFG 45 Dewert ....................................Mayport, FIa. (AA 34090-1499)

FFG 46 Rentz ..................................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96677-1500)

FFG 47 Nicholas .....................................Norfolk, Va. (AE 09579-1501)

FFG 48 Vandegrift ...........................San Diego, Calif. (AP 96679-1502)

FFG 49 Robert G. Bradley....................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34090-1503)

FFG 50 Taylor.......................................Mayport, Fla. (AA 34093-1504)

FFG 51 Gary...................................Yokosuka, Japan (AP 96666-1505)

FFG 52 Carr ...........................................Norfolk, Va. (AE O9566-15O6)

FFG 53 Hawes........................................Norfolk, Va. (AE 09568-1507)

FFG 54 Ford.......................................Everett, Wash. (AP 96665-1508)

FFG 55 Elrod ..........................................Norfolk, Va. (AE 09568-1509)

FFG 56 Simpson.........................Mayport, Fla. (AE 09587-1510) (NRR

FFG 57 Reuben James..............Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (AP 96669-1511)

FFG 58 Samuel B. Roberts...................Mayport, Fla. (AE 09586-1512)

FFG 59 Kauffman...................................Norfolk, Va. (AE 09576-1513)

FFG 60 Rodney M. Davis .........Everett, Wash. (AP 96663-1514) (NRR

FFG 61 Ingraham................................Everett, Wash. (AP 96668-1515)

LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS (LCS)

BRIEFING: The LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship with versatile warfighting capabilities optimized for littoral or coastal missions. Operational experience and analyses indicate that potential adversaries will employ asymmetric means to deny U.S. and allied forces access into critical coastal regions including strategic chokepoints and vital economic sea lanes. The LCS is specifically designed to defeat such "anti-access" threats, which include fast surface craft, quiet diesel submarines and various types of mines.

The ship's focused-mission design will offer combatant commanders both the required warfighting capabilities and flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and facilitate unencumbered joint expeditionary force operations. While complementing the primary missions of larger Navy surface combatants, LCS will feature advanced networking capability to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines and joint units.