RBNS Sabha

Career (US)
Name: USS Jack Williams
Owner: US Navy
Ordered: 28 February 1977
Builder: Bath Iron Works
Laid down: 25 February 1980
Launched: 30 August 1980
Decommissioned: 13 September 1996
Honours and
awards:
Jack Williams
Fate: Transferred to Bahrain on
13 September 1996
Career (BH)
Name: RBNS Sabha
Owner: RBNF
Commissioned: 13 September 1996
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Oliver Hazard Perry (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 azipods 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.
Armament:

As built:
One OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun
two Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes
one Vulcan Phalanx CIWS; four .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine guns.
one 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, Mk13 systems removed from all active US vessels of this class.
Aircraft carried: 2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters

RBNS Sabha (formerly known as USS Jack Williams FFG-24 during its career in US) is a frigate now in service with the Royal Bahrain Naval Force. The ownership was transferred to Bahrain as a gift on 13 September 1996. The frigate was ordered by the US Navy on 28 February 1977, and laid down on 25 February 1980. It was officially launched by the US Navy on 30 August 1980. The frigate is now considered as the lead frigate of the Royal Bahrain Naval Force.

History

During its career as USS Jack Williams (FFG-24) in the United States, it was the sixteenth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class of guided-missile frigates. It was named for Pharmacist's Mate Second Class Jack Williams, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The frigate was ordered from Bath Iron Works on 28 February 1977 as part of the FY77 Program. Jack Williams was laid down on 25 February 1980; launched on 30 August 1980 and commissioned on 19 September 1981. Decommissioned and stricken on 13 September 1996, she was transferred to Bahrain the same day, and recommissioned as the RBNS Sabha. USS Jack Williams (FFG-24) was the first ship of that name in the US Navy.

See also

External links