Page 38: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (October 15, 1983)

NATO Frigates (continued from page 35) and a Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launcher.

The U.S. Navy, with its own particular technical needs and op- erational requirements, partici- pated only marginally in the NATO

Project Group studies. In fact, the

U.S. decision was for a "low mix" unit, a ship as inexpensive as pos- sible but capable of operating as an escort on the Atlantic supply route or to be effectively inte- grated into a large task group.

The capability to operate alone was only partially considered. The main problem was the economic one; in emergency situations or in wartime, large numbers would be needed and as many as possible should be built.

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In the early 1970s, the U.S.

Navy planned the construction of a class of 59 frigates—the FFG-7 program. They were follow-on ships to the large numbers of ocean es- corts (DE and later FF) built in the 1950s, but with emphasis on anti-missile and antiship defenses.

These would complement other units that emphasized antisub marine capabilities, such as the

Knox Class fitted with SQS 26 large sonar and ASROC. The new frigates have a viable antisubmar- ine role, employing a medium sonar and two helicopters plus the Mk 32 torpedo tubes and weapons sys- tem for close-in defense.

The lead ship, named Oliver

Hazard Perry, was authorized in the Fiscal Year 1973 new con- struction program; the last, with the Navy number FFG-60 and as yet unnamed, was authorized in the FY 83 program. To permit se- ries building with its attendant large-scale economies, construc- tion of all 59 ships of the Perry

Class was allocated to two compa- nies—Bath Iron Works at Bath,

Maine, and Todd Shipyards Cor- poration's yards at San Pedro, Cal- ifornia, and Seattle, Washington.

To date, 38 of these frigates have been commissioned and the pro- gram is to be completed in 1987.

The Perry Class ships are slightly longer but lighter than the earlier Knox Class, with a full-load displacement of 3,600 tons.

They have been designed to fulfill basic requirements of seaworthi- ness, long range and comfortable crew accommodations. Fin stabi- lizers will be fitted at a later date; space and weight considerations are in the design.

Armament includes a single-arm

Mk 13 missile launcher capable of firing both Standard MR surface- to-air missiles and Harpoon sur- face-to-surface missiles. A mixed missile magazine provides for 40

Harpoon/Standard Missiles.

The Perry Class features a me- dium- to long-range defense mis- sile system, whereas the other

NATO frigates have the short- to medium-range point defense Sea

Sparrow or Aspide 8-cell launcher.

At the same time, the Perry's only launcher has to fire the Harpoon antiship missiles (instead of the six to eight independent launchers on the European frigates) and this fact is considered a severe limita- tion in the event of damage.

The principal gun on the Perry is a single 76-mm OTO Melara with a firing rate of 90 rounds per minute. One 20-mm Phalanx Mk 16 CIWS (Close In Weapons Sys- tem) is to be fitted atop the hangar as a last-ditch anti-missile de- fense. Two side-by-side hangars can accommodate two Kaman

SH2F LAMPS-2 helicopters capa- ble of antisubmarine and antiship operations, or after 1985, the new

Sikorksy SH60 LAMPS-3 heli- copters.

The Mk 92 fire control system is installed atop the bridge and has a dome-shaped antenna. Other sensors include a Raytheon SPS 49 long-range radar, a Westing- house SPS 55 search and naviga- (continued on page 38)

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