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Background: The guided missile frigates (FFG) bring an anti-air warfare (AAW) capability 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 recently 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. General Characteristics, Oliver Hazard Perry ClassBuilders: Bath Iron Works: FFG 8, 11, 13, 15, 29, 32, 36, 39, 42, 45, 47, 49, 50, 53, 55, 56, 58, 59.Todd Shipyards, Seattle: FFG 28, 31, 37, 40, 48, 52. Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif.: FFG 9, 12, 14, 19, 23, 30, 33, 38, 41, 43, 46, 51, 54, 57, 60, 61. Power Plant: 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) Aircraft: Two SH-60 (LAMPS III) in FFG 8, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36-61 One SH-2F (Lamps Mk-I) in FFG 9-19, 30, 31. Brought to you by Navy Fact File.
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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.
