Frigates – FFG

Designed toprotect other vessels deployed in a mission, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate (FFG) is anadept undersea warfare (USW) platform that provides protection by acting as an anti-submarine warfare combatant. Named after the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie, the Oliver Hazard Perry-class FFG was initially designed as a general-purpose escort shipinexpensive enough to be procured in large quantities to replace the aging fleets of World War II-era destroyers and 1960s-era Knox-class frigates.

Equipped with the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS-III) of manned Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk helicopters, U.S. Navy frigates are utilized in Protection of Shipping (POS) missions, accompanying amphibious expeditionary forces, underway replenishment groups, and merchant convoys.

Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were the second class of surface ships (after the Spruance-class destroyers) in the U.S. Navy to be powered via gas turbine propulsion. The gas turbine propulsion plant was more automated than other naval propulsion systems at the time and could be centrally monitored and controlled from a remote engineering control center away from the engines. The gas turbine propulsion plants also allowed the ship's speed to be controlled directly from the bridge via a throttle control, a first for the US Navy.

However, since the Perry-class frigate was designed to be inexpensive and cost-efficient, it lacks the multi-mission capability of modern surface combatants when faced with advanced technology threats. Perry-class FFGs were initially integrated with Raytheon’s AN/SLQ-32(V)2 self-defense electronic support measures (ESM) system which provided limited frequency cover. The ESM was upgraded with a jammer after the 1987 incident where Iraqi enemy forces attacked the USS Stark (FFG-31) with two Exocetcruise missiles. FFG-31 survived the attack, demonstrating the resilience of the platform and its ability to withstand considerable damage despite its other shortcomings.