USS Jack Williams (FFG-24), sixteenth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Jack Williams, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

USS Jack Williams (FFG-24)
USS Jack Williams (FFG-24) on 1 March 1983
History
United States
NameJack Williams
NamesakeU.S. Navy Pharmacist Mate, Jack Williams
Ordered28 February 1977
BuilderBath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down25 February 1980
Launched30 August 1980
Sponsored byMrs. Fern Williams Carr, sister of PhM3c Williams
Commissioned19 September 1981
Decommissioned13 September 1996
Stricken13 September 1996
HomeportMayport, Florida
Identification
Motto
  • Guardez Bien
  • (Guard Well)
Nickname(s)The Arky
FateTransferred to Bahrain as RBNS Sabha, 1996
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length445 feet (136 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draught22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried1 × SH-2F LAMPS I

Construction and career

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Ordered from Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, on 28 February 1977 as part of the FY77 program, Jack Williams was laid down on 25 February 1980; launched on 30 August 1980, sponsored by Mrs. Fern Williams Carr, sister of PhM3c Williams; and commissioned on 19 September 1981.

in 1983, the ship accidentally launched a live MK-46 torpedo while berthed at Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The torpedo skidded across the top of a concrete pier but did not detonate.

Decommissioned and stricken on 13 September 1996, she was transferred to Bahrain the same day and recommissioned as RBNS Sabha (90).

Jack Williams (FFG-24) was the first ship of that name in the US Navy.

References

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  1. ^ "USS Jack Williams (FFG 24)". Navsource.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

  This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.

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