USS Ford (FFG-54)

USS Ford (FFG-54), underway on patrol, 1 October 1987, in the Persian Gulf, as part of Operation Earnest Will, stationed in the region to safeguard shipping during the war between Iran and Iraq.
History
Name:	Ford
Namesake:	Gunner's Mate Patrick O. Ford
Awarded:	22 May 1981
Builder:	Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down:	11 July 1983
Launched:	23 June 1984
Sponsored by:	Jonda McFarlane
Commissioned:	29 June 1985
Decommissioned:	31 October 2013
Homeport:	Naval Station Everett, Washington
Identification:	Hull symbol: FFG-54 Code letters: NPOF
Motto:	Tenacious
Status:	To be sunk as a target
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate
Displacement:	4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length:	453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam:	45 feet (14 m)
Draft:	22 feet (6.7 m)
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 maneuvering and docking.
Speed:	over 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range:	5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement:	15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-49 air-search radar AN/SPS-55 surface-search radar CAS and STIR fire-control radar AN/SQS-56 sonar.
Electronic warfare & decoys:	AN/SLQ-32
Armament:	As built: 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) Note: As of 2004, Mk 13 systems removed from all active US vessels of this class. Mk 38 Mod 2 in place of Mk 13
Aircraft carried:	2 × SH-60B LAMPS Mk III helicopters
Aviation facilities:	2 × Hangars RAST helicopter hauldown system

USS Ford (FFG-54), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Gunner's Mate Patrick O. Ford (1942–1968). Ford was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism as a patrol river boatman in the Vietnam War. A description of Gunner's Mate Ford's actions can be found here.

Ford was laid down by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California on 11 July 1983. She was launched on 23 June 1984; sponsored by Jonda McFarlane, wife of National Security Advisor Robert C. McFarlane; and commissioned 29 June 1985, captained by Commander J. F. Eckler. Ford was decommissioned 31 October 2013.

Ford deployed on 28 November 1985, stopping first in San Diego to pick up Helicopter Anti-Submarine (Light) HSL 45 Detachment ONE, the embarking SH-60F Sea Hawk Detachment. After a five-hour stop Ford was underway to rendezvous with the Nimitz Battle Group under the command of Rear Admiral Lyle Bien, Commander, Carrier Group 7. The battle group then transited the Pacific Ocean from 2–20 December en route for Hong Kong. Ford participated in two ASW exercises with a US Los Angeles-class submarine and a new state-of-the-art Diesel submarine of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Ford remained part of the Carrier Group 7 battlegroup during the events of the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis.