Official U.S. Navy file photo of an SH-60 Seahawk helicopter preparing to land on the flight deck of the guided missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) as Coalition naval vessels move into formation in the Mediterranean Sea.
Posted on 01/18/2006 4:25:21 PM PST by SandRat
NAVAL STATION EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- The guided-missile frigate USS Ingraham (FFG 61) returned to its homeport of Everett, Wash., after a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific and U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations Jan. 16.
Ingraham, commanded by Cmdr. Ricks Polk, departed Everett in July as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 1.
“Our ‘Warriors’ had a great deployment,” Polk said. “Whether it was training with our coalition partners on maritime security operations (MSO) during Exercise Bright Star, or being a force multiplier in the 5th Fleet area of operations, our ship demonstrated the agility that ESG 1 is known for.”
During the deployment, Sailors from Ingraham and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) Squadron 41 Detachment performed maritime security operations (MSO) in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Gulf of Oman. MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as deny international terrorists use of the oceans as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
“We really played our part,” said Operations Specialist Seaman Gerardo Batocabe of the diverse array of security missions Ingraham performed.
Ingraham’s Sailors, who call themselves “Warriors,” worked hard on the deployment to achieve enlisted warfare qualifications, and the ship now flies an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) flag. The flag indicates that all required personnel qualified or requalified ESWS during the deployment. Additionally, dozens of the crew of 198 Sailors advanced in pay grade since leaving Everett.
“It was important to me to walk off the brow as a third class,” said Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Dillon McDade, who was frocked the night before pulling into homeport.
After dropping off the HSL-41 detachment at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, the ship endured eight to 12-foot seas all the way up the coast to homeport, a rough ride that forced the cancellation of the ship’s Tiger Cruise. When the crew arrived in Everett, they saw their families waiting for them on the pier, enduring rain and cold temperatures to give them a hero’s welcome.
“Words cannot describe how elated I am right now to be home,” said Polk. “I could not be more proud of these Warriors or their families, who provided tremendous support for their loved ones during this deployment.”
For related news, visit the Expeditionary Strike Group 1 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/esg1/.
NAVY PING
For someone who served on a frigate in the 60s these new ones look strange. Judging by the pic here, the Ingraham looks like a mini-flat top or something.
Not to nitpick, but how can this ship be an FFG (guided missile frigate) if it can't fire missiles?
Not to nitpick, but how can this ship be an FFG (guided missile frigate) if it can't fire missiles?
Eh? They have Standard missles for AAW and Harpon for ASW.
Nope. launcher and missile FC radar removed. It's now a great big Offshore Patrol Vessel 
General Characteristics, Oliver Hazard Perry Class
Builder: Bath Iron Works:
Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif.: FFG 61.
Date Deployed: 17 December 1977 (Oliver Hazard Perry)
Propulsion: 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).
Crew: 17 Officers, 198 Enlisted.
Armament: Standard Missile (MR); Harpoon (from Standard Missile Launcher); Six MK-46 torpedoes(from two triple mounts); One 76 mm (3-inch)/62 caliber MK 75 rapid fire gun; One Phalanx close-in-weapons system.
Aircraft: Two SH-60 (LAMPS III) in FFG 8, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36-61
One SH-2 (Lamps Mk-I) in FFG 9-19, 30, 31.
USS Ingraham (FFG 61), Everett, WA http://www.ingraham.navy.mil/
Check the picture in post #7 - the missiles are gone, removed, no more, spirited away.
Aren't they in vertical launch tubes with the hatch barely visible just forward of the bridge?
The Mk 13 launcher was removed. This had about 40 rounds of Standard SM-1MR and Harpoons. No Mk 41 VLS was installed in its place. Thus these are referred to as "gelded" O.H. Perry class.
That doesn't even sound appealing to a land-lubber.
BTTT
lol, well that explains it ... so they really are target tugs now, huh? yikes!
When I read the headline, my first thought was that it was about Laura Ingraham giving a speech in Washington state. Guess I was wrong.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.