Name Boone Laid down 27 March 1979 Construction started 27 March 1979 Length 138 m Beam 14 m | Ordered 23 January 1978 Commissioned 15 May 1982 Launched 16 January 1980 Draft 6.71 m Builder Todd Pacific Shipyards | |
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Namesake Vice Admiral Joel Thompson Boone, M.D. Sponsored by Mrs. Milton F. Heller, Jr., daughter of the late Vice Admiral Boone | ||
USS Boone (FFG-28) is the twentieth ship in the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided missile frigates.
The frigate was named for Vice Admiral Joel Thompson Boone, M.D. (1889–1974). FFG-28, the first U.S. ship to bear the admiral's name, was ordered 23 January 1978, launched 16 January 1980 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, and commissioned 15 May 1982. She has since earned numerous awards and commendations.
On 30 November 2006, the rudder fell off Mayport-based frigate Boone while on deployment in the western Mediterranean. The mishap forced the ship to send out a call for help to which Canadian destroyer HMCS Iroquois responded, providing divers who inspected the ship's underside. Within 24 hours, Boone was being towed to Rota for repairs by the German Navy's replenishment oiler Spessart. The ship was not adrift or totally dead in the water because its two 350-horsepower auxiliary propulsion units provided a “limited amount of maneuverability.” The lost rudder was replaced 27 December and, after a day of operational testing, Boone got underway again on 28 December.
Boone was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14 and was the recipient of the 2005 DESRON 14 Battle "E". On 16 February 2007, she was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
Boone was homeported in Mayport, Florida, and was a member of the Navy Reserve. In March 2010, she was assigned to the United States Fifth Fleet fighting Somali piracy.
The last Commanding Officer of Boone was LCDR Robert Speight.
Boone decommissioned 23 February 2012.