USS Ford (FFG-54)

Last updated

USS Ford (FFG-54) underway in the South China Sea on 25 September 1997 (970925-N-4778W-150).jpg
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameFord
Namesake Gunner's Mate Patrick O. Ford
Awarded22 May 1981
Builder Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down11 July 1983
Launched23 June 1984
Sponsored byJonda McFarlane
Commissioned29 June 1985
Decommissioned31 October 2013
Homeport Naval Station Everett, Washington
Identification
MottoTenacious
FateSunk as target, 1 October 2019
Badge USS Ford FFG-54 Crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draft22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		 AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × SH-60B LAMPS Mk III helicopters
Aviation facilities

USS Ford (FFG-54) was a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in service with the United States Navy from 1985 to 2013. She was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean near Guam in 2019.

Contents

Namesake

Patrick Osborne Ford was born on 2 May 1942 in San Francisco, California. He enlisted in the Navy at Phoenix, Arizona on 24 July 1959. He completed basic training at Naval Training Center San Diego, and received orders to report to Naval Station Adak Alaska. He reported aboard the destroyer USS James E. Kyes where he served as a Gunner's Mate until the end of his enlistment in 1963. Reenlisting on 11 February 1965 he served at the NS Long Beach, California. In 1966, he was transferred to the Danang, South Vietnam, where he was ordered to report aboard USS George K. MacKenzie. Following completion of his tour aboard MacKenzie, Ford was subsequently transferred to USS Henderson where he remained until the end of his second enlistment in 1967. Later that year Ford reenlisted for the second time at the Naval Receiving Station, San Francisco, California. He was ordered to the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado for River Patrol Craft Training. Following completion of training in 1968, GMG2 Ford was directed to report to Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. He was assigned to Task Force 116, River Squadron 5, River Section 535 in 1968.

For the next five months, he served as a Patrol Boat, River (PBR) sailor, monitoring the traffic of the many rivers and coastal waterways of the area. On 21 June 1968, GMG2 Ford was serving as the aft machine-gunner aboard PBR 750 as part of a two-boat patrol operating in the upper My Tho River near the town of Cái Bè. The boats were maneuvering down the river when they spotted a sampan fleeing into a nearby canal. The two patrol boats gave chase and captured the sampan one hundred meters further up the canal. As the PBR returned to the river with the captured sampan in tow, it was ambushed by a Viet Cong (VC) patrol that unleashed an overwhelming barrage of heavy machine-gunfire and rockets. Two B-40 rockets struck Ford's boat, immediately killing the patrol leader, William E. Dennis, and Boatswain's Mate First Class Scott C. Delph. Within seconds, the boat was ablaze and out of control, heading directly for the VC positions. Even as the boat was hit by four additional rockets and after suffering serious injuries, Ford maintained a steady volume of return fire from his aft machine-gunner's station. In the face of enemy gunfire and with his clothing on fire, Ford assisted three seriously wounded shipmates into the water. Ford told the last of the men to swim to the rescue boat while he maintained cover fire. He did not make it off the boat and despite search efforts was not found until the next morning on the beach of the river. However, his actions saved the lives of two of his shipmates. In recognition of his bravery, the US Navy posthumously awarded him the Navy Cross. [1] A description of Gunner's Mate Ford's actions can be found here. [2]

Construction and commissioning

Ford was laid down by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California on 11 July 1983. It was launched on 23 June 1984; sponsored by Jonda McFarlane, wife of National Security Advisor Robert C. McFarlane; and commissioned 29 June 1985. Ford was decommissioned 31 October 2013. [3]

Service history

Ford deployed on 28 November 1985, stopping first in San Diego to pick up Helicopter Anti-Submarine (Light) HSL 45 Detachment ONE, the embarking SH-60F Sea Hawk Detachment. [4] After a five-hour stop Ford was underway to rendezvous with the Nimitz Battle Group under the command of Rear Admiral Lyle Bien, Commander, Carrier Group 7. The battle group then transited the Pacific Ocean from 2–20 December en route for Hong Kong. Ford participated in two ASW exercises with a US Los Angeles-class submarine and a new state-of-the-art Diesel submarine of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Ford remained part of the Carrier Group 7 battlegroup during the events of the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis.

The guided missile frigate completed her first deployment during a voyage to the Western Pacific and Middle East Force (17 August 1987 – 17 February 1988). She took part in Operation Earnest Will, an operation to maintain freedom of navigation within the Persian Gulf, that included renaming and reflagging 11 Kuwaiti tankers. [1]

During a deployment to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf, and Indian Ocean (13 November 1990 – 13 May 1991), Ford fought in Operation Desert Shield/Operation Desert Storm (28 January–18 March 1991). She alternated plane guard and "shotgun" duties for aircraft carriers Midway, Ranger, and Theodore Roosevelt during 34 continuous days of flight operations, and interdicted more than 90 merchant ships suspected of smuggling. [1]

From 13 December 1995 to 3 May 1996 Ford was assigned to the Nimitz Battle Group. Along with the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, Ford deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. In March 1996, it patrolled the waters off Taiwan amid missile tests conducted by the Chinese in the area. It also cruised the Persian Gulf in support of Southern Watch prior to returning from deployment on 20 May 1996.

On 16 February 2007, Ford was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award. [5]

Ford completed a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) deployment starting 4 May 2007 and returning home on 20 September 2007. Ford made port visits to Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Saipan, and Guam.[ citation needed ]

USS Ford under fire as a target ship off Guam, 1 October 2019 USS Ford (FFG-54) under attack during a sinking exercise in the Philippine Sea on 1 October 2019 (191001-N-YI115-2039).JPG
USS Ford under fire as a target ship off Guam, 1 October 2019

Inactivated on 19 August 2013, Ford was decommissioned 31 October 2013. [1] As of September 2016, the ship was in reserve at Bremerton and was slated to be disposed of as a target. [6] 1 October 2019 it was used as a target during a SINKEX near Guam. A MK-48 ADCAP torpedo was used to sink the Ford.

Awards

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Nimitz</i> Supercarrier of the United States Navy

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is an aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, and the lead ship of her class. One of the largest warships in the world, she was laid down, launched, and commissioned as CVAN-68, "aircraft carrier, attack, nuclear powered", but she was later redesignated as CVN-68, "aircraft carrier, multi-mission, nuclear-powered", on 30 June 1975, as part of a fleet-wide realignment that year.

USS <i>Reuben James</i> (FFG-57) Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

USS Reuben James (FFG-57), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, was the third ship of the U.S. Navy named for Reuben James, a boatswain's mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates. Her crew totaled 201 enlisted, 18 chief petty officers, and 26 officers.

USS <i>Theodore Roosevelt</i> (CVN-71) US Navy Nimitz-class aircraft carrier

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is the fourth Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered, aircraft carrier in the United States Navy. She is named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States and a proponent of naval power. She is the fourth ship named in honor of Theodore Roosevelt, three bearing his full name and a fourth with just his last name. Another three U.S. Navy ships have "Roosevelt" in their names in honor of members of the Roosevelt family. This carrier's radio call sign is "Rough Rider", the nickname of President Roosevelt's volunteer cavalry unit during the Spanish–American War. She was launched in 1984, and saw her first action during the Gulf War in 1991. As of August, 2024, she is deployed with Carrier Air Wing 11 and Carrier Strike Group 9, which includes the Ticonderoga-class cruiserUSS Lake Erie (CG-70), and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer'sUSS John S. McCain (DDG-56), USS Halsey (DDG-97), and the USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118).

USS <i>Kinkaid</i> Spruance-class destroyer

USS Kinkaid (DD-965), named for Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid USN (1888–1972), was a Spruance-class destroyer built by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi. Launched in 1974, she was decommissioned in 2003 and sunk in 2004. She was the third "Spru-can" to be built.

USS <i>Crommelin</i>

USS Crommelin (FFG-37), twenty-eighth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates, was named for five brothers: Rear Admiral John G. Crommelin (1902–1996), Vice Admiral Henry Crommelin (1904–1971), Commander Charles L. Crommelin (1909–1945), Lieutenant Commander Richard Crommelin (1917–1945), and Captain Quentin C. Crommelin (1919–1997). The Crommelin brothers were the only group of five siblings ever to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Four of them became pilots, and Time magazine dubbed them "The Indestructibles." The brothers saw action in more than ten campaigns in the Pacific Theater. Henry, the second-oldest, became a Surface Warfare Officer while Richard and Charles died in combat as naval aviators in 1945. Individually and as a fighting family, they gained fame in World War II, attaining outstanding combat records and multiple decorations. Crommelin (FFG-37) is the first ship of that name in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Curts</i>

USS Curts (FFG-38) was the twenty-ninth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates. She was named for Admiral Maurice Curts (1898–1976). Curts is the first ship of that name in the US Navy.

USS <i>Stethem</i> American Destroyer named after Robert Stethem

USS Stethem (DDG-63) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. The ship was built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, starting on 11 May 1993. She was commissioned on 21 October 1995. She is part of the Pacific Fleet, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 9. The Stethem was named for Steelworker 2nd Class Robert Stethem. He was a Seabee diver killed by Shiite hijackers onboard TWA 847 at Beirut International Airport in 1985.

Patrol Boat, River U.S. Navy, Vietnam War (1966–1975)

Patrol Boat, Riverine, or PBR, is the United States Navy designation for a small rigid-hulled patrol boat used in the Vietnam War from March 1966 until 1975. They were deployed in a force that grew to 250 boats, the most common craft in the River Patrol Force, Task Force 116, and were used to stop and search river traffic in areas such as the Mekong Delta, the Rung Sat Special Zone, the Saigon River and in I Corps, in the area assigned to Task Force Clearwater, in an attempt to disrupt weapons shipments. In this role, they frequently became involved in firefights with enemy soldiers on boats and on the shore, were used to insert and extract Navy SEAL teams, and were employed by the United States Army's 458th Transportation Company, known as the 458th Sea Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-14</span> United States Navy aviation squadron

The Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters" are a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and are the Navy's oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Their callsign is Camelot, and their tail code is NG.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-41</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) also known as the "Black Aces", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). Their radio callsign is "Fast Eagle" and their tailcode is NG.

USS <i>McClusky</i> Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the United States Navy

USS McClusky (FFG-41) was a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the United States Navy. She was named for Rear Admiral C. Wade McClusky (1902–1976) who as a lieutenant commander led the air group of USS Enterprise (CV-6), which sank the Japanese carriers Kaga and Akagi during the Battle of Midway. McClusky later served as part of Destroyer Squadron 1, and after 31 years of service, was decommissioned on 14 January 2015.

USS <i>Klakring</i> Frigate of the US Navy

USS Klakring (FFG-42), an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral Thomas B. Klakring (1904–1975), who was awarded three Navy Crosses as commander of the submarine USS Guardfish during World War II.

USS <i>Rentz</i> Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the US Navy (in service 1984-2014)

USS Rentz (FFG-46) was a United States Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate. She was named for George S. Rentz, a World War II Navy Chaplain, posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions following the loss of USS Houston in the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was the only Navy chaplain to be so honored during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-147</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147), also known as the "Argonauts," is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron that is currently being transferred to MCAS Iwaukuni, Japan. VFA-147 was established on 1 February 1967 and flies the F-35C Lightning II, becoming the first non-training F-35 squadron in the U.S. Navy and will become the first forward-deployed F-35 squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-146</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146) also known as the "Blue Diamonds" is a United States Navy operational fleet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore California. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet and are attached to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard USS Nimitz. Their tailcode is NA and their radio callsign is Diamond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-81</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 81 (VFA-81), also known as the "Sunliners", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1. Their mission is to conduct prompt and sustained combat operations from the sea. The squadron was originally designated VA-66 on 1 July 1955, was redesignated VF-81 the same day, redesignated VA-81 on 1 July 1959, and finally redesignated VFA-81 on 4 February 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VAW-112</span> Inactive United States Navy squadron

Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 (VAW-112) is an inactive United States Navy squadron. It was nicknamed the "Golden Hawks". VAW-112 flew the E-2C Hawkeye out of NAS Point Mugu and last deployed in 2013 as part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9) on board USS John C. Stennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Strike Group 11</span> Military unit

Carrier Strike Group 11 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the strike group's current flagship. Other units currently assigned to the group include the cruisers USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and USS Princeton (CG-59), and Destroyer Squadron 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Strike Group 7</span> Military unit

Carrier Strike Group Seven was a U.S. Navy carrier strike group active from October 2004 until 30 December 2011. The strike group's antecendants included two previous aircraft carrier formations, Carrier Division Seven and Carrier Group Seven. Its heritage thus includes the Second World War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War, as well as the first and the second Persian Gulf wars, encompassing a total of 34 deployments to the Western Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf.

The United States Navy sent their naval forces in the Red Sea and Persian Gulf including six Aircraft Carriers to take part in Operation Desert Storm, including others that arrived before or after the war started and ended. USS Abraham Lincoln CVN-72

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Evans, Mark L. (8 July 2015). "Ford (FFG-54)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. ↑ History Provided By Ralph J. Fries, River Section 535 (9/67 – 6/68)
  3. ↑ USS Ford Completes Final Underway
  4. ↑ USS Ford Command History 1995
  5. ↑ "Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E"". Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2007.
  6. ↑ "Inactive ship inventory" (PDF). NAVSEA, US Navy. 27 September 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2016.

PD-icon.svg This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register , which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.The entry can be found here.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.