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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.
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.
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.
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 USS CURTS joined the Naval Reserve Force (NRF).\
In 1999 the ship would deploy on a six-month counter-narcotics deployment to the eastern pacific and Caribbean Sea in the southern command area of operations. CURTS’ aggressive pursuit of drug traffickers led to the interception of over 5 tons of cocaine. 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.
On 16 February 2007, Curts was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
Curts (FFG-38) is the first ship of that name in the US Navy.
