Guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43)

Guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) 0Guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) 1Guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) 2

Classification

Type:

Basic information

Namesake:
Admiral John Thach
Operator:
Country of build:
Ordered:
Laid down:
Launched:
Commissioned (service):
Decommissioned (out):
Sunk:
Status:
Fate:
Sunk as part of a sinking exercise on 14 July 2016 during RIMPAC 2016 SINKEX

Ship measurements

Displacement:
4,200 t
Length:
138 m
Beam:
14 m
Draft:
6.7 m

Machine

Propulsion system:
Propulsion:
  • 2 * General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) through a single shaft and variable pitch propeller
  • 2 * Auxiliary Propulsion Units, 350 hp (260 kW) retractable electric azimuth thrusters for manoeuvring and docking
Speed:
29 knots
Range:
5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)

Personnel

Complement:
205

Combat assets

Electronics:
  • AN/SPS-49 air-search radar
  • AN/SPS-55 surface-search radar
  • CAS and STIR fire-control radar
  • AN/SQS-56 sonar
  • AN/SLQ-32
Armament:
  • 1 * OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun
  • 2 * Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes
  • 1 * Vulcan Phalanx CIWS
  • 4 * .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine guns.
  • 1 * Mk 13 Mod 4 single-arm launcher for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and SM-1MR Standard anti-ship/air missiles (40 round magazine)
Aircraft:
  • 1 * SH-60 LAMPS III helicopter

USS Thach (FFG-43), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, was the only ship of the United States Navy named for Admiral John Thach, a Naval Aviator during World War II, who invented the Thach Weave dogfighting tactic. Thach was laid down on 6 March 1981 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California; launched on 18 December 1982; sponsored by Mrs. Madalyn J. Thach, widow of the namesake; and commissioned on 17 March 1984 at Long Beach, Cmdr. Dale H. Moses in command. She was the frigate long-hull variant (Flight II).

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