US Navy’s Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessel decomissioned

The US Navy has decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, USS De Wert (FFG 45), during a ceremony held at Naval Station Mayport, marking the end of more than 30 years of operational life.

Following completion of operations in the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, USS De Wert completed its last deployment on 23 December 2013.

As part of NATO’s counter-piracy operations, the crew provided maritime security in the Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa regions during the deployment.

De Wert commanding officer commander Joseph Thomas said, "I am grateful for the crew’s relentless service and dedication to our mission."

Over its operational life, USS De Wert had performed inspections, deployments, port visits, helicopter operations, maintenance periods and underway replenishments.

Commissioned on 19 November 1983, USS De Wert was named after Hospital Corpsman Richard De Wert, who posthumously received Congressional Medal of Honour the after repeatedly entering the battlefield to help the wounded.

Powered by two GE LM 2500 gas turbine engines, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates have a full load displacement of 4,100t and can cruise at a maximum speed of 30k.

The ship features radar suite, a AN/SQQ-89 (CV)2 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) combat system which integrates Raytheon SQS-56 active and passive hull-mounted sonar and a Gould SQR-19 towed sonar array.

Image: USS De Wert (FFG 45) departs Naval Station Mayport. Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marcus L. Stanley/Released.