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USSGary(FFG-51)

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For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Gary.

USS Gary (FFG-51) leaves Pearl Harbor in July 2014
USSGary(FFG-51), leavesPearl Harborin July 2014.
History
United States
NameGary
NamesakeCommanderDonald A. Gary
Awarded22 May 1981
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division,San Pedro,California
Laid down18 December 1982
Launched19 November 1983
Commissioned17 November 1984
Decommissioned5 August 2015
HomeportNaval Base San Diego
Identification
Motto"Freedom's Foremost Guardian"
Nickname(s)"Two Guns"
FateSold to Taiwan
Badge
Taiwan
Name
  • Feng Jia
  • ( phùng giáp )
NamesakeChiu Feng-chia
Acquired13 March 2017
Commissioned8 November 2018
IdentificationPennant number:PFG-1115
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-classfrigate
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, plusSH-60LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried2 ×SH-60 LAMPS IIIhelicopters
Aviation facilities

USSGary(FFG-51)was anOliver Hazard Perry-classfrigatein theUnited States Navy.She was named forMedal of HonorrecipientCommanderDonald A. Gary(1903–1977).

Garywas laid down on 18 December 1982 atTodd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division,San Pedro,California;launchedon 19 November 1983, co-sponsored by Mrs. Dorothy G. Gary, widow of the late Cmdr. Gary, and Mrs. Joyce Leamer, the late Medal of Honor recipient's niece;[1]andcommissionedon 17 November 1984 atNaval Station Long Beach.[2]TheGarywas decommissioned from the US Navy on 5 August 2015 with the Taiwanese crew taking possession on 13 March 2017, and arrived at theROCNZuoyingNaval Base on 13 May. She was formally commissioned into ROCN as theROCSFeng Jia(PFG-1115)on 8 November 2018.

Background[edit]

Garyis the forty-fifth ship of theOliver Hazard Perry-classofguided missile frigates.These ships were built to provide air, surface and sub-surface protection for underway replenishment groups, convoys, amphibious groups and other military and merchant shipping. While a capable surface combatant in these traditional warfare areas,Gary's role has expanded from that of the early 1980s to meet the threats and contingencies of the 21st century. Being the smallest multi-mission surface combatant in the U.S. Navy,Gary's shallow draft gives her an advantage over larger cruisers and destroyers in the littoral operations that have characterized recent conflicts.

Gary's engineering plant is computer-controlled and monitored, reducing the number of watchstanders required in the engineering spaces themselves. Two marine gas turbine engines provide propulsion. Digital electronic logic circuits and remotely operated valves are monitored in a central control station and makeGarycapable of getting ready to get underway in less than ten minutes rather than the eight hours required by steam-powered ships.

One of the U.S. Navy's premiere anti-submarine warfare platforms,Garyroutinely deploys for bilateral anti-submarine exercises and real-world contingency operations in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. DuringOperation Iraqi Freedom,she displayed her versatility, deploying to the Arabian Sea,Persian Gulf,Gulf of Adenand Red Sea, conducting carrier escort and air defense, intelligence gathering and presence missions, terrorist interdiction operations, rescue at sea and escorted dozens of merchant and military supply ships through theStrait of HormuzandBab-el-Mandebstrait. From 1999 to 2007,Garywas forward-deployed toYokosuka, Japan,as part of the United States Seventh Fleet. During 2007,Garycompleted a hull-swap/crew-swap withMcCampbell(DDG-85)and to be home-ported at Naval Station, San Diego.

Notable history[edit]

Garyin 2002, before removal of her missile launcher.

An Iranian mine damaged guided missile frigateSamuel B. Robertsin thePersian Gulfon 14 April 1988. On 18 April the U.S. launched retaliatoryOperation Praying Mantisagainst the Iranian-occupied Rakhsh, Salman (Sassan), and Sīrrī-D (Nassr)oil platforms.As the Task Unit Commander of joint forces in the Northern Persian Gulf,Garycoordinated her efforts with naval, Air Force and Army aircraft as well as special operations boat units while protecting Mobile Sea Bases Hercules and Wimbrown VII during the fighting.[1]She even claimed to have shot down aSilkworm missile,but this was never officially credited nor was she officially commended for her actions due to political reasons at that time.[3]

While aircraft carrierKitty Hawk,guided missile destroyerCurtis Wilbur,andGary,with an embarked anSH-60B SeahawkofHelicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light)(HSL) 51Detachment 5, passed through theStrait of Malacca,en route to theIndian Ocean,on 7 October 2001, they rescued five Indonesian fishermen from their sinking 40-foot fishing vessel.[1]

On 13 March 2003,Gary,with an SH-60B of HSL-51 embarked, assisted in the rescue of all eight Iraqi fishermen fromdhowKaptain Muhamadatwhen she lost steerage and propulsion in heavy seas and capsized 20 miles south of the Iranian coast.[1]

On 9 February 2007Garydocked at the Cambodian port ofSihanoukville.It is the first time since theVietnam Warthat an American warship has docked inCambodia.

In the summers of 2012 and 2014,Garytook part in the largest Rim of the Pacific multi-national naval exercise including 23 nations and over 40 ships.

WhileGary,with aCoast Guardlaw enforcement detachment team embarked, deployed forOperation Martillo(Spanish for "Hammer" ), acounter-narcoticspatrol, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, she intercepted a suspicious vessel on 4 January 2013. The Coast Guardsmen and Sailors from the ship's "visit, board, search, and seizure"(VBSS) team boarded the suspected smuggler and seized 600 pounds (270 kg) ofcocainewith an estimated street value of $22 million. "This was one of those vessels we were chasing in the dark," Leatrice Daniels,Gary's embarkedNaval Criminal Investigative Service(NCIS) agent explained, "There was great open communication with everybody involved. Everything just flowed, from pursuit to initial contact and boarding." The investigators deemed the smuggler a hazard to navigation and sank her. This case concluded a hectic week in whichGary's crewmembers and Coast Guardsmen boarded three boats, disrupting more than 2,000 pounds (910 kg) of cocaine destined for the United States with a street value of $272 million.[1]

On the night of 8 January 2013,Garyencountered a small vessel loaded with cargo. The boat displayed several indicators that she was involved in illicit trafficking, and the VBSS team and the Coast Guardsmen boarded the vessel. While they searched the boat, she suffered a temporary steering casualty, rendering her dangerous to operate. Gary rigged a tow until the Americans and the mariners restored the boat's steering. The intervening time enabled the boarders to complete their search and they failed to discover any narcotics on board, and the vessel resumed her voyage two days later.[1]

Feng Jiaunderway, date unknown

The ship capped her deployment by seizing an additional vessel smuggling more than 2,200 pounds (1,000 kg) of cocaine valued at $81 million. "It was a complex operation," Lt. (j.g.) Christian Gotcher, the ship's navigation officer, recalled, "involving a law enforcement boarding, boat and helicopter searches, precision driving, detainee handling, and multiple deck operations, butGary's crew proved they were fully capable of handling it and scored a big win. "[1]

Gary was decommissioned on 23 July 2015 at Naval Base San Diego, California.[1][4]

The ship was inactivated on 5 August 2015 and then prepared for transfer to Taiwan.[5]TheRepublic of China Navyinaugurated the ship as theROCSFeng Jia (PFG-1115)on 8 November 2018.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghEvans, Mark L. (28 July 2015)."Gary (FFG-51)".Naval History and Heritage Command.Retrieved6 January2016.
  2. ^Smolinski, Mike (23 June 2008)."USS Gary (FFG51)".Frigate Photo Archive.NavSource Naval History.Retrieved14 December2011.
  3. ^"America's First Clash with Iran: The Tanker War" by Lee Allen Zatarain, Chapter 17: "Multiple Silkworms Inbound"
  4. ^"USS Gary decommissioned at Naval Base San Diego".Fox 5.24 July 2015.Retrieved7 August2015.
  5. ^Crisp, Thomas (6 August 2014)."Navy decommissioning plan 2015 – farewell to the frigates".NewberryObserver.com.Retrieved24 February2015.
  6. ^Tu, Aaron; Chin, Jonathan (9 November 2018)."US-purchased warships inaugurated".Taipei Times.Retrieved9 November2018.

Public DomainThis article includes information collected from theNaval Vessel Register,which, as a U.S. government publication, is in thepublic domain.The entry can be foundhere. Public DomainThis article incorporates text from thepublic domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.The entry can be foundhere.

External links[edit]

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