View source for USS Curts

{{Short description|1982 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:USS Curts (FFG-38) underway on 16 November 1992 (6485321).jpg|300px|USS Curts FFG-38]]
|Ship caption=USS ''Curts'' (FFG-38)
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|2013}}
|Ship name=''Curts''
|Ship namesake= [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Maurice Curts]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=27 April 1979
|Ship builder=[[Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division]], [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]], [[California]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=1 July 1981
|Ship launched=6 March 1982
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship acquired=2 September 1983
|Ship commissioned=8 October 1983
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=25 January 2013
|Ship maiden voyage= 
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=[[Naval Base San Diego]]
|Ship identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]:FFG-38
*[[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]:NHOC
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Hotel}}{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|Charlie}}
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname= ".38 Special"
|Ship honours=
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate=Sunk as a target, 19 September 2020
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge= [[File:USS Curts FFG-38 Crest.png|150px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class={{Sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate}}
|Ship displacement={{OHP frigate displacement}}
|Ship length={{OHP frigate length}}
|Ship beam={{OHP frigate beam}}
|Ship draft={{OHP frigate draft}}
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|Ship propulsion={{OHP frigate propulsion}}
|Ship speed={{OHP frigate speed}}
|Ship range={{OHP frigate range}}
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|Ship complement={{OHP frigate complement}}
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|Ship sensors={{OHP frigate sensors}}
|Ship EW=[[AN/SLQ-32]]
|Ship armament={{OHP frigate armament}}
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=2 × [[SH-60 Seahawk|SH-60 LAMPS III]] helicopters
|Ship aircraft facilities={{OHP frigate aircraft facilities}}
|Ship notes=
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'''USS ''Curts'' (FFG-38) '''was the twenty-ninth ship of the {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|0}} of guided-missile [[frigate]]s. She was named for [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]] [[Maurice Curts]] (1898–1976). ''Curts'' is the first ship of that name in the US Navy.

Ordered from [[Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division]], [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]], [[California]] on 27 April 1979 as part of the FY79 program, ''Curts'' was laid down on 1 July 1981, launched on 6 March 1982, and commissioned on 8 October 1983. She was decommissioned on 25 January 2013.

== Service history ==

=== 1980s ===
''Curts''{{'}}s early years in commission were focused on [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) operations and ''Curts'' was the first Pacific Fleet unit with the complete SQQ-89 ASW suite. The ship received the meritorious unit commendation for tactical proficiency in the tracking of [[Soviet]] submarines in 1987.

In 1988, ''Curts'' received the armed forces expeditionary medal for serving with the {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|6}} battle group during [[Operation Earnest Will]] in the north [[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Gulf of Oman]]. Additionally, ''Curts'' changed homeport to [[Yokosuka]], Japan, becoming one of the first two guided-missile frigates to join the Forward Deployed Naval Force (FDNF). ''Curts'' was first to bring SH-60B [[LAMPS]] MK III helicopters to [[Naval Air Facility Atsugi]].

=== Operation Desert Storm ===
On 24 January 1991, during [[Operation Desert Storm]], the ship and her embarked navy and army helicopters captured an Iraqi garrison on [[Qaruh Island]] in the northern [[Persian Gulf]], taking the island and custody of 51 Iraqi prisoners. ''Curts'' destroyed two mines, sank an Iraqi minelayer and provided support to combat helicopter operations during the battle of [[Bubiyan Island]]. The ship received the navy unit commendation for her exceptional operational performance.

=== 1990s ===
Upon return from combat operations in June 1991, the ship became an important part of [[Operation Fiery Vigil]] rescuing numerous refugees to safety when Mount Pinatubo erupted near Subic Bay, Republic of The Philippines.

In 1993, ''Curts'' was upgraded with the 4100-ton class modification, extending her stern another {{convert|8|ft|m}} and enhancing her combat capabilities. [The information about extending her stern by 8 feet was probably sourced from the DANFS history, which is not always 100% accurate. ''Curts'' was built as a long-hull FFG-7, which were 8 feet longer than the short hull versions, so this is unlikely]. ''Curts'' joined the {{USS|Independence|CV-62|2}} Battle Group in 1993 to participate with the [[Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force]] in joint anti-submarine warfare exercise MAREX. Later that year, the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf conducting 89 boardings of merchant vessels in the [[Red Sea]] as part of [[United Nations]] sanctions enforcement against Iraq. ''Curts'' material and operational readiness was rewarded with the battle efficiency award for 1994.

In 1994, ''Curts'' participated in the RIMPAC 94 exercise and sailed from its homeport in Yokosuka, Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii to participate with International Navies from around the Pacific, including Japan, Korea, Canada and more.

In 1995, ''Curts'' participated in major joint exercises with units of the U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), and later with the navies of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand for 1996 cooperation afloat for readiness and training (CARAT 96).

In 1997, after nine years of forward presence as part of the seventh fleet, ''Curts'' departed Yokosuka, Japan for a homeport change to [[San Diego]], California and in October 1998 ''Curts'' joined the Naval Reserve Force (NRF).

In 1998, ''Curts'' deployed to the multi-lateral exercise Teamwork South, where she participated in exercises with navies from the United Kingdom, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Chile. Upon completion of Teamwork South, ''Curts'' steamed to Hawaii to participate in multi-lateral exercise RIMPAC 98. ''Curts'' made national headlines when a [[Salinas, Ecuador]] hotel security guard died from injuries he received during a scuffle with a LTJG (pilot) and Senior Chief Petty Officer assigned to [[HSM-73|helicopter squadron HSL-43]] embarked on ''Curts'' for the deployment. Both men were removed from the ship and returned to the U.S. to face a court martial.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Navy Officer Demoted, Reprimanded |url=https://apnews.com/article/a0ba5b0cdb0987fa91f2bce686082167 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

In 1999, ''Curts'' deployed to counter-narco-terrorism deployment under the direction of Joint Inter-agency Task Force East (now named Joint Interagency Task Force South). In addition to seizing approximately 5 metric tons of cocaine, ''Curts'' conducted rare bi-lateral counter-narcotics exercises with the Colombian Navy. After departing a short visit to [[Aruba]] ''Curts'' responded to a distress call from M/V ''Olga'', north of the [[Guajira Peninsula]]. ''Curts'' crew were awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for joint rescue efforts that saved the lives of several ''Olga'' crew members. The half-way point of this deployment found ''Curts'' celebrating Halloween in [[Key West]], Christmas in [[Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands|St. Thomas]] and New Years again in Key West, Florida. The timing of this deployment also caused ''Curts'' to be the last U.S. warship to transit the [[Panama Canal]] under U.S. control in 1999 (ex-{{USS|New Jersey|BB-62|6}} was towed through just before ''Curts'' transit) and the first to transit it under Panamanian control in 2000.

=== 2000s ===
During [[Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training|CARAT]] cruises in 2001 and 2003, ''Curts'' conducted multilateral exercises with the navies of Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines to continue promoting international training and cooperation.

In 2004 ''Curts'' again deployed to southern command on a six-month counter-narcotics deployment with [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] [[Law Enforcement Detachments|Law Enforcement Detachment]] (LEDET) 105 and received national notoriety for the largest maritime seizure of cocaine (12 tons) in history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/Chronology_Sep.asp |title=USCG Daily Chronology: 17 September |publisher=US Coast Guard |access-date=28 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519093611/http://www.uscg.mil/history/Chronology_Sep.asp |archive-date=19 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ship received the U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for her outstanding performance during deployment.

''Curts'' deployed again in 2006 to counter-narco-terrorism deployment. Although less successful than the 2004 deployment, ''Curts'' interdicted three cocaine shipments, totalling in excess of 10 metric tons of cocaine and apprehension and transport of over 50 smugglers.

On 16 February 2007, ''Curts'' was awarded the 2006 [[Battle E|Battle "E"]] award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27895 |title=Surface Force Ships, Crews Earn Battle "E" |publisher=US Navy |date=19 February 2007 |access-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206142601/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=27895 |archive-date=6 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2007 ''Curts'' was transferred from Commander Destroyer Squadron One to Commander Destroyer Squadron Nine and incorporated into Carrier Strike Group Nine. In March USS ''Abraham Lincoln'' Strike Group (CSG-9) departed for deployment to the [[United States 5th Fleet|5th Fleet]] area of operations (Persian Gulf). This marked ''Curts'' first Strike Group deployment since transfer to the U.S. Naval Reserve. ''Curts'' primarily performed a Critical Infrastructure Protection role by acting as Scene of Action Commander for Oil Platform protection efforts at the Khawar al Amaya and al Basrah oil terminals in the northern Persian Gulf. ''Curts'' also conducted bi-lateral exercises with the Malaysian and Pakistani navies during her transit to the Gulf.

''Curts'' was commanded by [[Yvette M. Davids]] from April 2007 to November 2008, making Davids the first Hispanic American woman to command a navy ship.<ref name=first>{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=40114|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510022314/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=40114|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2017|title="Las Primera" Latina to Command a Navy Ship Honored at Gala|author=Zimmerman, Elizabeth|date=1 October 2008|website=U.S. Navy|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/07/0738.htm|title=USS Curts (FFG 38)|website=NavSource|access-date=2017-10-12}}</ref>

''Curts'' was decommissioned on 25 January 2013, and was transferred to the inactive reserves on 27 February.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/03/navy-11-ships-to-be-decommissioned-in-fiscal-2013-031412w/ |title=11 ships to be decommissioned in fiscal 2013 |work=NavyTimes |last=Klimas |first=Jacqueline |date=14 March 2012 |access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/01/29/uss-curts-decommissioned-after-29-years-of-service.html |title=USS Curts Decommissioned After 29 Years of Service |publisher=Military.com |last=Behnke |first=Jason |date=29 January 2013 |access-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107231028/http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/01/29/uss-curts-decommissioned-after-29-years-of-service.html |archive-date=7 January 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:USS Curts (FFG-38) as a target ship on 19 September 2020 (200919-N-ZZ999-0007).jpg|thumb|left|''Curts'' being sunk, in September 2020.]]

In December 2012 during the 112th Session of Congress, a transfer-by-grant was proposed. The recipient would be The [[Navy of Mexico]], who may receive ''Curts'', along with {{USS|McClusky|FFG-41|2}}. Both vessels were not transferred. The act of approving the transfer of vessels by the United States does not guarantee that the vessels will actually be transferred.<ref name=status1>{{cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130106/DEFREG02/301060002/Congressional-Chaos-Costs-U-S-Navy-Millions-Leaves-Ships-Limbo |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130628235000/http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130106/DEFREG02/301060002/Congressional-Chaos-Costs-U-S-Navy-Millions-Leaves-Ships-Limbo |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 June 2013 |title=Congressional Chaos Costs U.S. Navy Millions, Leaves Ships in Limbo |work=DefenseNews |last=Cavas |first=Christopher P. |date=6 January 2013 |access-date=29 May 2015}}</ref> As of September 2016, both ships were in reserve at Pearl Harbor and slated to be disposed of as targets.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/TeamShips/SEA21/InactiveShips/InactiveShipInventory-27Sep16(3).pdf |title= Inactive ship inventory |publisher= NAVSEA, US Navy |date= 27 September 2016 |access-date= 9 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012093639/http://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/TeamShips/SEA21/InactiveShips/InactiveShipInventory-27Sep16(3).pdf |archive-date= 12 October 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

On 19 September 2020, ''Curts'' was sunk during a [[sinking exercise]] (SINKEX) in the Pacific Ocean. The SINKEX was part of [[Exercise Valiant Shield|Exercise Valiant Shield 2020]]. She was targeted with live ordnance including air-launched ordnance from fixed and rotary wing of [[Carrier Air Wing Five]], embarked aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Ronald Reagan|CVN-76}}, [[Harpoon missile|RGM-84 ''Harpoon'']] missiles from the cruisers {{USS|Antietam|CG-54}} and {{USS|Shiloh|CG-67}}, a subsurface launched missile from the submarine {{USS|Chicago|SSN-721}}, as well as various supporting U.S. Navy and [[United States Air Force]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130733|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927141710/https://www.cpf.navy.mil/news.aspx/130733|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2020|title=Valiant Shield 2020: Joint force training to protect the Indo-Pacific |work=Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet|last=U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kelly-Herard |first=Amber R. |date=25 September 2020 |access-date=28 September 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Naval Vessel Register|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=FFG38}}}}
[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr6649/text Text of the Naval Vessels Transfer Act of 2012]

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Curts (FFG-38)}}
*{{navsource|07/0738|USS Curts (FFG-38)}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101015165639/http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ffg38/Pages/default.aspx Official page]
*[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/curts_ffg_38_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest USS Curts FFG-38 pages]
*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/ffg-38.htm GlobalSecurity.org FFG-38]
*[http://thechristisens.com/wp-content/uploads/media/USSCurts/SouthernSwing97.pdf Southern Swing 1997 Cruise Book (Courtesy of Matt Christisen)]
*[http://navysite.de/cruisebooks/ffg38com/index.html USS Curts Commissioning Booklet (Contributed by DeWayne Gibson)]

{{Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate}}
{{Los Angeles SB&DDC and Todd, Los Angeles ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curts (Ffg-38)}}
[[Category:1982 ships]]
[[Category:Gulf War ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]