Name De Wert Laid down 14 June 1982 Decommissioned 4 April 2014 Launched 18 December 1982 Draft 6.71 m Builder Bath Iron Works | Awarded 28 April 1980 Commissioned 19 November 1983 Construction started 14 June 1982 Length 138 m Beam 14 m | |
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Namesake Hospitalman Richard De Wert | ||
USS De Wert (FFG-45), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, was a ship of the United States Navy. She was named for Hospitalman Richard De Wert (1931–1951). De Wert posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his heroism while serving with the 7th Marines during the Korean War.
De Wert was laid down on 14 June 1982 by the Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine; launched on 18 December 1982, sponsored by Rita C. Kennedy; and commissioned on 19 November 1983 at Bath, Commander Douglas Armstrong in command.
Comnander Destroyer Squadron Six conducted a Command Administration Inspection 24–26 August 1985. The ship got underway with an air detachment embarked 13 August through 7 September to participate in a Readiness Exercise (READEX 3-85), along with fifteen surface ships, two (2) submarines of the United States Atlantic Fleet and one unit of the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The ship got underway on 2 October for its first major overseas deployment. De Wert joined the Sixth Fleet on 14 October and participated in Operation Display Determination 85, under the command of Commander Task Force 60 with 2 carriers, 16 warships, and 130 aircraft of the Sixth Fleet. This exercise proved to be predominately an anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare exercise.
On 16 February 2007, De Wert was awarded the 2006 Battle "E" award.
In 2011, De Wert earned all command excellence awards and was awarded the 2010 Battle E award.
On 11 October 2011, De Wert, along with the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Fort Victoria, rescued the Italian vessel Montecristo after it was boarded by Somali pirates, while on joint anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean.
De Wert was decommissioned on 4 April 2014.