USS Ford (FFG-54) - Definition and Overview

USS_Ford;075402.jpg USS Ford (FFG-54)
Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	11 July 1983
Launched:	23 June 1984
Commissioned:	29 June 1985
Status:	Active in service as of 2005.
Homeport:	Everett, Washington
General Characteristics
Displacement:	4,100 tons (4,170 t) full load
Length:	453 ft (138.1 m), overall
Beam:	45 ft (13.7 m)
Draft:	22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion:	2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) through a single shaft and variable-pitch propeller
Speed:	29+ knots (54+ km/h)
Range:	5,000 nm (9,300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement:	15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Armament:	One OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun; one Mk 13 Mod 4 single-arm launcher for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and SM-1MR Standard anti-ship/air missiles (40 round magazine); two Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes; one Vulcan Phalanx CIWS; four .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine guns.
Aircraft:	2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters
Motto:	"Tenacious"
Nickname:

USS Ford (FFG-54), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Gunner's Mate Patrick O. Ford (1942–1968). Ford was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism as a patrol river boatman in the Vietnam War.

Ford was laid down by Todd Shipyard Corp., in San Pedro, CA on 11 July 1983. She was launched on 23 June 1984, and commissioned 29 June 1985, captained by Commander J. F. Eckler.

External links

• USS Ford official website (http://www.ford.navy.mil/)
• navsource.org: USS Ford (http://www.navsource.org/archives/07/0754.htm)
• navysite.de: USS Ford (http://www.navysite.de/ffg/FFG54.HTM)