Name Sirocco Laid down 20 June 1992 Commissioned 11 June 1994 Construction started 20 June 1992 Length 53 m Displacement 300,300 kg | Ordered 3 August 1990 Acquired 11 March 1994 Homeport Atlantic Fleet Launched 29 May 1993 Weight 336.3 tons Draft 2.29 m | |
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Builder Bollinger Shipyards, L.L.C. | ||
Uss sirocco pc 6 in action
USS Sirocco (PC-6) is the sixth Cyclone-class patrol ship of the U.S. Navy. Sirocco was laid down 20 June 1992 by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana and launched 29 May 1993. She was commissioned by the Navy 11 June 1994. As of 2016, the ship was stationed in Bahrain performing coastal patrol and interdiction surveillance in the region.
Contents
History
Sirocco (PC-6) was laid down on 20 June 1992 at Lockport, La., by Bollinger Machine Shop and Shipyard; launched on 29 May 1993; sponsored by Mrs. Kathleen Smith, wife of Rear Adm. Raymond C. Smith Jr., Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command; and commissioned on 11 June 1994 at the Washington Navy Yard, D.C., Lt. David M. Caldwell in command.
Sirocco is assigned to Commander Fifth Fleet through Destroyer Squadron 50 and is homeported in Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain. 7 PC class warships are forward deployed to C5F. PC ships were formerly crewed by one of 13 rotational PC crews and homeported in Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek VA (Virginia Beach, VA, USA). There, under the auspices of Commander, Patrol Coastal Squadron One/Commander, Patrol Coastal Class Squadron the crews trained on five US based PC hulls prior to completing a six-month deployment to FIFTH fleet. PC ships such as Sirocco complete a variety of mission sets that has expanded since the transfer of the ships and associated support structures in Naval Surface Warfare. As of 2009, PC ships deployed in Bahrain primarily conducted Maritime Security Operations in the Persian Gulf with a concentration towards anti-piracy.
In 2009, Sirocco completed phase 1 of a modernization program to extend the useful lives of these hard working ships. Upgrades included new computer systems and satellite communications, as well as upgraded AC systems and a Rafeal Typhoon MK38 MOD II gun weapons system replacing the previously fitted MK96 mount.
On 28 March 2016, Sirocco seized a stateless dhow in the Arabian sea. A boarding party had been dispatched to inspect the suspicious vessel and discovered it had been transporting 1,500 AK-47 assault rifles, 200 RPG launchers, and 21 .50 caliber machine guns. After receiving reports from Sirocco, the destroyer USS Gravely also arrived on the scene to assist. After the weapons were seized and offloaded, the dhow and its crew were released.