USS Francis Hammond (FF-1067)

Career (US)
Ordered: 22 July 1964
Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards - Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down: 15 July 1967
Launched: 11 May 1968
Acquired: 17 July 1970
Commissioned: 25 July 1970
Decommissioned: 2 July 1992
Struck: 11 January 1995
Motto: Valor Honor
Fate: Disposed of by scrapping, dismantling 31 March 2003
General characteristics
Class and type:Knox-class frigate
Displacement:3,243 tons (4,244 full load)
Length:438 ft (133.5 m)
Beam:46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Draught:24 ft 9 in (7.6 m)
Propulsion:2 × CE 1200psi boilers
1 Westinghouse geared turbine
1 shaft, 35,000 shp (26 MW)
Speed:over 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
Range:4,500 nautical miles (8,330 km) @ 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h)
Complement:18 officers, 267 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems:
AN/SPS-40 Air Search Radar
AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar
AN/SQS-26 Sonar
AN/SQR-18 Towed array sonar system
Mk68 Gun Fire Control System
Electronic warfare
and decoys:
AN/SLQ-32 Electronics Warfare System
Armament:one Mk-16 8 cell missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles
one Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber gun
Mark 46 torpedoes from four single tube launchers)
one Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for Sea Sparrow missiles later replaced by one Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried:one SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS I) helicopter

USS Francis Hammond (DE/FF-1067) is the ninth Knox-class frigate, named in honor of Hospitalman Francis Colton Hammond, a Medal of Honor recipient. She was originally designed as a Knox-class ocean escort (DE-1067), and was built by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California. She was propelled by one Westinghouse steam turbine with a total of 35,000 shp. Keel laid 15 July 1967; launched 11 May 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Phyllis Hammond Smith (widow of Hospitalman Hammond); and commissioned at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, California on 25 July 1970, Commander E. Elmore in command.

As part of the Navy's 1975 ship reclassification, Francis Hammond was reclassified as a frigate (FF-1067) on 30 June 1975.

Decommissioned 2 July 1992 in Long Beach, California after twenty-one years and nine months in active commission and struck from the Navy Register on 11 January 1995. Francis Hammond was disposed of by scrapping March 31, 2003.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Navy "E" Ribbon (4)
Navy Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star

National Defense Service Medal (with one bronze service star)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star

Vietnam Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Bronze star
Bronze star

Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two bronze service stars)
Humanitarian Service Ribbon
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

References : USS Francis Hammond on NavSource.org

External links