View source for USS Reuben James (FFG-57)

{{Short description|Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate}}
{{Other ships|USS Reuben James}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
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|Ship image=USS Reuben James;075702.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Reuben James'' (FFG-57), Pacific Ocean, port bow view, 5 November 1985.
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{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country=United States
|Ship name=''Reuben James''
|Ship namesake=[[Boatswain's mate (United States Navy)|Boatswain's Mate]] [[Reuben James]]
|Ship flag={{USN flag|2013}}
|Ship awarded=22 March 1982
|Ship builder=[[Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division]], [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]], [[California]]
|Ship laid down=19 November 1983
|Ship launched=8 February 1985
|Ship purchased=
|Ship sponsor=Lois Haight Herrington
|Ship commissioned=22 March 1986
|Ship decommissioned=18 July 2013
|Ship captured=
|Ship struck=18 January 2016
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=Sunk as target 18 January 2016 by [[USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53)|USS ''John Paul Jones'']]
|Ship identification=*[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]:FFG-57
*[[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]:NNRJ
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Juliet}}
|Ship badge=[[File:USS Reuben James. FFG-57 Crest.png|100px]]
|Ship motto="Back with a Vengeance"
}}
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|Ship class={{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|0}} [[guided missile frigate]]
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|Ship EW=[[AN/SLQ-32]]
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* [[Mk 38]] Mod 2 in place of Mk 13
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|Ship aircraft=2 × [[SH-60B Seahawk|SH-60B LAMPS Mk III]] helicopters
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'''USS ''Reuben James'' (FFG-57)''', an [[Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate|''Oliver Hazard Perry''-class]] [[guided missile]] [[frigate]], was the third ship of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] named for [[Reuben James]], a [[Boatswain's Mate (US Navy)|boatswain's mate]] who distinguished himself fighting the [[Barbary pirates]]. Her crew totaled 201&nbsp;[[Enlisted rank|enlisted]], 18&nbsp;[[Chief Petty Officer|chief petty officers]], and 26&nbsp;[[Officer (armed forces)|officers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ship's History |url=http://www.reuben-james.navy.mil/history.htm |website=USS Reuben James |date=2006 |access-date=21 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205153226/http://www.reuben-james.navy.mil/history.htm |archive-date=5 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Ship history ==

===1980s ===
The contract to build ''Reuben James'' was awarded on 22 March 1982 to [[Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division]], [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]], [[California]]. Her keel was laid on 19 November 1983, and she was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 8 February 1985; sponsored by Lois Haight Herrington, wife of [[Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)]] [[John S. Herrington]]. She was delivered to the Navy on 3&nbsp;March 1986, and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 22&nbsp;March. She was faster than 30 knots (34.5&nbsp;mph; 55.5&nbsp;km/h) and powered by two gas turbine engines. Armed with anti-air and anti-ship missiles, an automated three-inch (76&nbsp;mm) gun, an anti-missile defense system, and two [[SH-60 Seahawk]] anti-submarine helicopters, ''Reuben James'' was tasked with hunting submarines as well as with [[Carrier battle group|battle group]] escort and maritime interception. ''Reuben James'' joined the Red Stallions of [[Destroyer Squadron]] Thirty-One in June 1987.

Assigned to Mideast Force on her maiden deployment, ''Reuben James'' participated in twenty-two [[Operation Earnest Will]] convoy missions, serving as the convoy commander's flagship on ten of those missions.

===1990s ===
On 10 September 1990, ''Reuben James'' [[1990 United States Navy visit to Vladivostok|visited Vladivostok]] in the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/DefenseLINK_Search/Still_Details.cfm?SDAN=DNSC9102252&JPGPath=/Assets/1991/Navy/DN-SC-91-02252.JPG |title=Still Asset Details for DNSC9102252 |access-date=22 April 2007 |website=DefenseLink |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704000530/http://www.dodmedia.osd.mil/DefenseLINK_Search/Still_Details.cfm?SDAN=DNSC9102252&JPGPath=%2FAssets%2F1991%2FNavy%2FDN-SC-91-02252.JPG |archive-date=4 July 2007}}</ref>

In August 1991, ''Reuben James'' moved from [[Long Beach, California]], to [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii. On 1&nbsp; October 1998, she joined the "Ke Koa O Ke Kai", [[Destroyer Squadron]] Thirty-One.

In 1994 ''Reuben James'' collided with {{USNS|Pecos|T-AO-197|6}} while fueling underway (UNREP). The flight deck sustained damage in addition to hangar fire and external hangar wall damage. [[HSM-37|HSL-37]] detachment was on board.

During a WestPac deployment on 21 February 1996, the ship's rudder fell off in the Indian Ocean. The ship used its Auxiliary Power Units (APU) to try to stay on station until rendezvoused with the USNS Catawba (T-ATF-168) on 23 February.
USNS Catawba towed Reuben James to Bahrain for repairs.  Since a dry dock wasn't available, divers installed a new rudder while the ship was at the pier.

En route to WestPac deployment in 1997, the air detachment's SH-60B Seahawk helicopter was conducting deck landing practice. The Seahawk had landed and was not secured to the deck because it was preparing to lift off again.  The ship was hit by a rogue wave which caused the ship to roll steeply to port and the blades of the helicopter struck the flight deck causing the helicopter to roll on its port side and spin 90 degrees with the tail hanging over the port side of the flight deck.  The ship docked in Guam where the helicopter was craned off to be repaired. No fault was found with the flight crew or the ship's personnel for the mishap.

===2000s ===
''Reuben James'' participated in the [[Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training|CARAT 2000]] exercises, including phases in the [[Philippines]], [[Thailand]], [[Indonesia]], [[Brunei]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Singapore]]. The first phase of CARAT began in the [[Philippines]] on 14&nbsp;June and the final phase, conducted in [[Singapore]], ended on 22&nbsp;September. CARAT 2000 demonstrated U.S. commitment to security and stability in Southeast Asia while increasing the operational readiness and capabilities of U.S. forces. The exercise also promoted interoperability and cooperation with U.S. regional friends and allies by offering a broad spectrum of mutually beneficial training opportunities.

In [[Malaysia]], CARAT 2000 encompassed two weeks of extensive training to promote interoperability between U.S. naval forces and the [[Royal Malaysian Navy]] and Army. The [[Strait of Malacca]] was the setting for several exercises. These included anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and gunnery exercises. One of the exercises was a semi-final battle problem, or night encounter exercise. The two navies' task groups steamed together in formation for more than 25&nbsp;hours. The Malaysian-U.S. naval task group was divided into two opposing forces. The Blue Forces consisted of ''Reuben James'', {{USS|Germantown|LSD-42|2}}, {{USS|Mount Vernon|LSD-39|2}}, and the Malaysian ships {{ship|KD|Sri Indera Sakti}} and {{ship|KD|Lekir}}. The Blue Forces were supported by U.S. helicopters from [[List of United States Navy aircraft squadrons#Helicopter Anti-Submarine (Light) Squadrons|Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light)]] [[HSM-37|HSL-37]], Detachment Four, from Hawaii. The Orange Forces consisted of the frigate {{USS|Sides|FFG-14|2}}, the Malaysian ships [[Brave-class fast patrol boat|KD ''Perkasa'']], [[Laksamana-class corvette|KD ''Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil'']], and a [[U.S. Navy]] [[P-3C Orion]] aircraft. {{USS|Columbus|SSN-762|2}}, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and {{USS|Helena|SSN-725|2}}, homeported in San Diego, also joined the task group in individual phases.<ref>{{cite web |title=Destroyer Squadron Nine |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/desron9.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

For nine months from 2 August 2002, to 27 April 2003, ''Reuben James'' deployed to the [[Persian Gulf]] and participated in [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] and [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Home From the War: ''Paul Hamilton'', ''Reuben James'', ''Cheyenne'', VP-47, HSL-37 Return |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=7291 |first=Daniel J. |last=Calderón |date=6 May 2003 |website=U.S. Navy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205023140/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=7291 |archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref> as part of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, the [[Carrier Strike Group Nine|''Abraham Lincoln'' Battle Group]]. After serving approximately six months in theater, ''Reuben James'' started to make its way back to [[Pearl Harbor]]. On New Year's Day 2003, while in port in [[Brisbane, Queensland|Brisbane]], Australia, the ship was ordered to turn around and go back to the [[Persian Gulf]]<ref name="home">{{cite news |title=First Hawai'i troops heading home from war |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Apr/10/ln/ln04a.html |first=William |last=Cole |date=10 April 2003 |newspaper=[[The Honolulu Advertiser]] |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref> and the deployment was extended indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pearl warships to join carrier groups in Gulf |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jan/22/ln/ln01a.html |first=William |last=Cole |date=22 January 2003 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref> Finally, after an extended deployment of almost nine months, the ''Abraham Lincoln'' Battle Group was relieved by {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Last Pearl ship returns from Iraq duty |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jul/29/ln/ln13a.html |first=William |last=Cole |date=29 July 2003 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref> This deployment was extremely long, breaking a number of records,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ships Returning to Pearl Harbor |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=6861 |first=Tim |last=Paynter |date=14 April 2003 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref> including the longest deployment ever for a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.<ref name="home" />

In July 2003, ''Reuben James'' hosted the Japanese [[Hatakaze-class destroyer]] {{JDS|Shimakaze|DDG-172|2}} for exercises in [[Pearl Harbor]].<ref>{{cite web |title=''Reuben James'' Crew Says 'Sayonara' to Friends |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=8708 |first=Nathan |last=Christensen |date=29 July 2003 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref> On 23&nbsp;October 2003 the crew of ''Reuben James'' dressed ship and manned the rails to render honors to [[President (United States)|President]] [[George W. Bush]] as he toured [[Pearl Harbor]] and visited the [[USS Arizona Memorial|USS ''Arizona'' Memorial]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bush greets vets, pupils in whirlwind O'ahu visit |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Oct/23/br/br02p.html |first1=Mike |last1=Gordon |first2=Dan |last2=Nakaso |date=23 October 2003 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |access-date=21 February 2007}}</ref>

From February to April 2004, she deployed to the Eastern Pacific with an embarked [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] [[Law Enforcement Detachments|Law Enforcement Detachment]] in support of [[counter-narcotics]] operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Reuben James'' Heads to Central America |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11840 |first=Nathan |last=Christensen |date=17 February 2004 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205024614/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11840 |archive-date=5 February 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=''Reuben James'' Returns to Pearl Harbor |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13104 |first=Daniel J. |last=Calderon |date=3 May 2004 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070330134808/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13104 |archive-date=30 March 2007}}</ref>

Between July and December 2004, ''Reuben James'' went through an extensive modernization and maintenance program.<ref>{{cite web |title=''Reuben James'' Sails with Pride After Successful INSURV |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18524 |first=Jon |last=Derges |date=31 May 2005 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=21 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070326163552/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=18524 |archive-date=26 March 2007}}</ref> In October 2004, ''Reuben James'' participated in PASSEX exercises with the {{ship|French frigate|Prairial|F731|3}}.

As part of [[Expeditionary Strike Group 3]] (ESG 3), ''Reuben James'' deployed on 15&nbsp;February 2006 on a WESTPAC mission to the [[Persian Gulf]] in support of [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Peleliu ESG WESTPAC 06 Deployment |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/lha-5-westpac06.htm |website=GlobalSecurity.org |access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref> The strike group also consisted of Amphibious Squadron (COMPHIBRON) 3, the [[11th Marine Expeditionary Unit]] (Special Operations Capable), {{USS|Peleliu|LHA-5|6}}, the guided-missile [[cruiser]] {{USS|Port Royal|CG-73|2}}, the guided-missile destroyer {{USS|Gonzalez|DDG-66|2}}, the [[amphibious transport dock]] {{USS|Ogden|LPD-5|2}}, the [[dock landing ship]] {{USS|Germantown|LSD-42|2}}, Tactical Air Control Squadron(TACRON) 11, and the "Black Jacks" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESG 3 Deploys in Support of Global War on Terrorism |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22247 |first1=Regina L. |last1=Brown |first2=Zack |last2=Baddorf |date=15 February 2006 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref>

En route to the Persian Gulf, ''Reuben James'' stopped in [[New Caledonia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=USS ''Reuben James'' Visits New Caledonia |url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=22778 |first=Jon |last=Derges |date=19 March 2006 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=25 February 2007}}</ref> The strike group relieved {{USS|Tarawa|LHA-1|6}} on station in early April 2006 and began its mission of conducting maritime security operations. During operations, ''Reuben James'' performed services such as providing medical assistance to [[Sri Lanka]]n fishermen<ref>{{cite web |title=USS ''Reuben James'' Assists Fisherman in Arabian Sea |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23288 |first=Jon |last=Derges |date=23 April 2006 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=25 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322155107/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=23288 |archive-date=22 March 2007}}</ref> and rescuing Kenyan sailors.<ref>{{cite web |title=USS ''Reuben James'' Rescues Kenyan Sailors |url=http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=24386 |first=Jon |last=Derges |date=27 June 2006 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=25 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322155056/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=24386 |archive-date=22 March 2007}}</ref> Expeditionary Strike Group 3 was relieved on 9&nbsp;July 2006 and ''Reuben James'' returned to [[Pearl Harbor]] in August 2006.

''Reuben James'' participated in a Passing Exercises (PASSEX) with the Philippine Navy frigate {{ship|BRP|Gregorio del Pilar|PF-15|2}} off the coast of Hawaii on 30&nbsp;July 2011.<ref name=menafn>{{cite web |url=http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid={55f78fbe-e988-4bac-ac1d-e22b1b5584ad} |title=Newest Philippine Navy Ship Gets Aloha Welcome |date=28 July 2011 |website=Middle East North Africa Financial Network |access-date=31 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320040431/http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story.asp?storyid=%7B55f78fbe-e988-4bac-ac1d-e22b1b5584ad%7D |archive-date=20 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The frigate completed her final deployment on 3 May 2013. During the final cruise, the ship visited Japan, Brunei and the Philippines in support of theatre security operations and CARAT 2012. ''Reuben James'' was also awarded the [[USCG]] [[Meritorious Unit Citation]] for fisheries patrols in the economic exclusion zones of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Nauru.<ref name="Reuben James Makes Final Return">{{cite web |title=USS Reuben James Makes Final Return to Hawaii |url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73899 |first=Travis |last=Dickerson |date=3 May 2013 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=6 July 2013}}</ref>

==Final disposition==
''Reuben James'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 18 July 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/07/18/uss-reuben-james-decommissioning-ceremony/ |title=USS Reuben James Decommissioning Ceremony |first=Jason |last=Kelly |date=18 July 2013 |website=U.S. Navy |access-date=18 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130718173631/http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2013/07/18/uss-reuben-james-decommissioning-ceremony/ |archive-date=18 July 2013}}</ref> and sunk on 18 January 2016 in a test of a new [[anti-surface warfare]] variant of the Raytheon [[RIM-174 Standard ERAM|Standard Missile 6 (SM-6)]] at the U.S. Pacific Missile Range Facility near Hawaii.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.usni.org/2016/03/07/navy-sinks-former-frigate-uss-reuben-james-in-test-of-new-supersonic-anti-surface-missile |title=Navy Sinks Former Frigate USS Reuben James in Test of New Supersonic Anti-Surface Missile |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |date=7 March 2016 |website=USNI News |access-date=24 February 2019}}</ref>

==Cultural references ==

''Reuben James'' played a significant role in [[Tom Clancy]]'s 1986 novel ''[[Red Storm Rising]]''. She appeared in the 1990 movie ''[[The Hunt for Red October (film)|The Hunt for Red October]]'' (although her appearance in the film was anachronistic, since she was commissioned about a year after the events in the film). In some scenes, ''Reuben James'' was portrayed in the film by other ''Oliver Hazard Perry'' frigates — ''Wadsworth'' (now [[ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko|ORP ''Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko'']])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usswadsworth.org/html/history.html |title=History |website=USS Wadsworth |access-date=14 December 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424232006/http://www.usswadsworth.org/html/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and {{USS|Gary|FFG-51|2}} (the hull number can be seen as Soviet submariners are in their rafts) The ship was later featured prominently in the 2010 novel by [[Don Brown (author)|Don Brown]] entitled ''[[Malacca Conspiracy]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Donates Autographed Books to ''Reuben James'' Sailors |url=http://www.hookelenews.com/author-donates-autographed-books-to-reuben-james-sailors/ |first=Ben |last=Dalton |date=8 July 2011 |website=Ho'Okele News |access-date=8 July 2011 |archive-date=27 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827045251/http://www.hookelenews.com/author-donates-autographed-books-to-reuben-james-sailors/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also ==
*[[List of frigates of the United States Navy]]
*[[List of ships sunk by missiles]]
*[[Abraham Lincoln Battle Group|''Abraham Lincoln'' Battle Group]]

==References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Naval Vessel Register|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=FFG57}}}}

==External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Reuben James (FFG-57)}}
* {{Official website|http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ffg57|USS ''Reuben James'' official website}}
*{{navsource|07/0757|USS Reuben James (FFG-57)}}
*[http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=21350409&x=-157943706&z=19&l=0&m=a&v=2 USS ''Reuben James'' at WikiMapia]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050320122041/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16868 WWE Divas Tour Pearl Harbor]
* {{Official website|http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/HSL37-New/main.html|Helicopter Squadron Light 37 official website}}

{{Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate}}
{{Los Angeles SB&DDC and Todd, Los Angeles ships}}
{{2016 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reuben James (Ffg-57)}}
[[Category:Ships built in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:1985 ships]]
[[Category:Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships sunk as targets]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2016]]