| Revision as of 18:15, 4 December 2009 edit138.163.0.43 (talk) →1990s: Added 1998 Teamwork South and RIMPAC deployment.← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:32, 4 December 2009 edit undo138.163.0.43 (talk) →2000s: Removed ref to 1990 counter narcotics deployment and moved to 1990s section. Added 2006 and 2008 deployments.Next edit → | ||
| Line 119: | Line 119: | ||
| ==2000s== | ==2000s== | ||
| ⚫ | During carat cruises in 2001 and 2003, ''Curts'' conducted multi-lateral exercises with the navies of Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines to continue promoting international training and cooperation. | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| In 2004 ''Curts'' again deployed to southern command on a six-month counter-narcotics deployment and received national notoriety for the largest maritime seizure of cocaine (12 tons) in history. The ship received the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance during deployment. | In 2004 ''Curts'' again deployed to southern command on a six-month counter-narcotics deployment and received national notoriety for the largest maritime seizure of cocaine (12 tons) in history. The ship received the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance during deployment. | ||
| ''Curts'' deployed again in 2006 to counter-narco-terrorism deployment. Although less successful than the 2004 deployment, ''Curts'' interdicted three cocaine shipments, totalling in excess of 10 metric tons of cocaine and apprehension and transport of over 50 smugglers. | |||
| On 16 February 2007, ''Curts'' was awarded the 2006 ] award. | On 16 February 2007, ''Curts'' was awarded the 2006 ] award. | ||
| In 2007 USS Curts was transferred from Commander Destroyer Squadron One, to Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine and incorporated in to Carrier Strike Group Nine. In March USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group (CSG-9) departed for deployment to the 5th Fleet area of operations (Persian Gulf). This marked USS Curts first Strike Group deployment since transfer to the U.S. Naval Reserve. ''Curts'' primarily performed a Critical Infrastructure Protection role by acting as Scene of Action Commander for Oil Platfrom protection efforts at the Khawar al Amaya and al Basrah oil terminals in the northern Persian Gulf. ''Curts'' also conducted bi-lateral exercises with the Malaysian and Pakistani navies during her transit to the Gulf. | |||
| ''Curts'' (FFG-38) is the first ship of that name in the US Navy. | ''Curts'' (FFG-38) is the first ship of that name in the US Navy. | ||
Revision as of 18:32, 4 December 2009
_underway_on_16_November_1992_(6485321).jpg) USS Curts (FFG-38)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 US | |
| Namesake | Admiral Maurice Curts |
| Ordered | 27 April 1979 |
| Builder | Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, California |
| Laid down | 1 July 1981 |
| Launched | 6 March 1982 |
| Acquired | 2 September 1983 |
| Commissioned | 8 October 1983 |
| Homeport | Naval Base San Diego |
| Fate | Naval Reserve Force, Active |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate |
| Displacement | 4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load |
| Length | 453 feet (138 m), overall |
| Beam | 45 feet (14 m) |
| Draught | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | over 29 knots (54 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h) |
| Complement | 15 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 carried | 2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters |
USS Curts (FFG-38), twenty-ninth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral Maurice Curts (1898–1976).
Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, California on 27 April 1979 as part of the FY79 program, Curts was laid down on 1 July 1981, launched on 6 March 1982, and commissioned on 8 October 1983. As of 2007 she is on active service, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 1 and homeported at San Diego, CA.
1980s
Her first years in commission were focused on anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations and Curts was the first pacific fleet unit with the complete SQQ-89 ASW suite. The ship received the meritorious unit commendation for tactical proficiency in the tracking of Soviet submarines in 1987.
In 1988, Curts received the armed forces expeditionary medal for serving with the USS Missouri battle group during Operation Earnest Will in the north Arabian Sea and the gulf of Oman. Additionally, Curts changed homeport to Yokosuka, Japan, becoming one of the first two FFG's to join the Forward Deployed Naval Force (FDNF). Curts was first to bring the lamps MK III helicopters to Naval Air Facility, Atsugi.
Operation Desert Storm
On 24 January 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, the ship and her embarked navy and army helicopters captured an Iraqi garrison on Qaruh Island in the northern Persian Gulf, taking the island and custody of 51 Iraqi prisoners. Curts destroyed two mines, sank an Iraqi minelayer and provided support to combat helicopter operations during the battle of Bubiyan Island. The ship received the navy unit commendation for her exceptional operational performance.
1990s
Upon return from combat operations in June 1991, the ship became an important part of Operation Fiery Vigil rescuing numerous refugees to safety when mount Pinatubo erupted near Subic Bay, Republic of The Philippines,
In 1993, Curts was upgraded with the 4100-ton class modification, extending her stern another eight feet and enhancing her combat capabilities. Curts joined independence battle group to participate with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in joint anti-submarine warfare exercise MAREX and later that year the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf conducting 89 boardings of merchant vessels in the Red Sea as part of United Nations sanctions enforcement against Iraq. Curts material and operational readiness was rewarded with the battle efficiency award for 1994.
In 1995, Curts participated in major joint exercises with units of the U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and later with the navies of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand for 1996 cooperation afloat for readiness and training (CARAT 96).
In 1997, after nine years of forward presence as part of seventh fleet, Curts departed Yokosuka, Japan for a homeport change to San Diego, California and in October 1998 Curts joined the Naval Reserve Force (NRF).
In 1998, Curts deployed to the multi-lateral exercise Teamwork South, where she participated in exercises with navies from the United Kingdom, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Upon completion of Teamwork South, Curts steamed to Hawaii to participate in multi-lateral exercise RIMPAC 98.
2000s
During carat cruises in 2001 and 2003, Curts conducted multi-lateral exercises with the navies of Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines to continue promoting international training and cooperation.
In 2004 Curts again deployed to southern command on a six-month counter-narcotics deployment and received national notoriety for the largest maritime seizure of cocaine (12 tons) in history. The ship received the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance during deployment.
Curts deployed again in 2006 to counter-narco-terrorism deployment. Although less successful than the 2004 deployment, Curts interdicted three cocaine shipments, totalling in excess of 10 metric tons of cocaine and apprehension and transport of over 50 smugglers.
On 16 February 2007, Curts was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
In 2007 USS Curts was transferred from Commander Destroyer Squadron One, to Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine and incorporated in to Carrier Strike Group Nine. In March USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group (CSG-9) departed for deployment to the 5th Fleet area of operations (Persian Gulf). This marked USS Curts first Strike Group deployment since transfer to the U.S. Naval Reserve. Curts primarily performed a Critical Infrastructure Protection role by acting as Scene of Action Commander for Oil Platfrom protection efforts at the Khawar al Amaya and al Basrah oil terminals in the northern Persian Gulf. Curts also conducted bi-lateral exercises with the Malaysian and Pakistani navies during her transit to the Gulf.
Curts (FFG-38) is the first ship of that name in the US Navy.
References
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.
