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MAYPORT, Fla. (Jan. 8, 2014) The guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) departs Naval Station Mayport for a seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. This is Taylor’s final deployment as the ship is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marcus L. Stanley/Released) CLICK TO BIG UP
According to the local media in the Republic if China (Taiwan), the U.S. Senate has finally approved H.R. 3470 which sets up a transfer of up to 8 high-mileage Oliver Hazard Perry-class (FFG-7) guided missile frigates to three U.S. allies. The bill has been held up by a variety of budget issues. It had already passed the House on a voice vote where it was introduced more than a year ago.
It will save an estimated $40 million in costs to the U.S. Navy (about $5 million per ship) which would be the estimated cost to store the ships per year as a mobilization asset.
Going to Taiwan (who already operate eight modified Perrys as the Cheng Kung class) would be USS Taylor (FFG-50), Gary, USS Carr (FFG-52) and USS Eldrod (FFG-55)
Mexico would pick up the slightly older USS Curts (FFG-38) and USS Mcclusky (FFG-41) while Thailand would get USS Rentz (FFG-46) and USS Vandegrift (FFG-48).
The newest of these ships is the 29-year old Elrod, currently set to decommission in January 2015 while the oldest, 31-year old Curts has been laid up since January 2013.
The bill has strings attached however and requires that (1) transfer costs shall be charged to the recipient, and (2) the country to which a vessel is transferred shall have necessary vessel repair and refurbishment carried out at U.S. shipyards (including U.S. Navy shipyards) to the maximum extent practicable.
These ships are supposedly replaced in U.S. service by the new littoral combat ship.
