Jarrett (FFG 33) - Naval Cruise Book

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SHIP ' S CHARACTERISTICS Built By: Todd Pacific Shipyards Corporation Los Angeles Division San Pedro, California Keel Laid: II February 1981 Christened: 17 October 1981 Commissioned: 2 July 1983 at Long Beach Naval Station, Long Beach, California Displacement: 3600 Tons Length: 445 Feet Beam: 47 Feet Complement: 15 Officers, 15 Chief Petty Officers, 153 Enlisted Propulsion: • Two General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines (40.000 Shaft Horsepower) • One Controllable Reversible Pitch Propeller • Two 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxiliary Propulsion Units Auxiliaries: Four 1000 Kilowatt Ship ' s Service Diesel Generators Speed: 28+ Knots Aircraft: Two SH-2 LAMPS Helicopters Armament: • MK 13 Guided Missile Launcher • HARPOON Anti-Ship Missile • Standard Anti-Aircraft Missile • MK 75 76MM 62 Caliber Rapid Firing Gun • MK 32 ASW Torpedo Tubes (Two Mounts) • MK 15 Close-in Weapon System

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Shield: The sea-griffin grasping a cannon alludes to Vice Ad- miral Jarrett as commander of bombardment groups in the Pacific Theater and is placed with a ring symbol- izing his command of destroyer screens for fast carrier task forces operating in the Pacific during World War II. The three stars refer to the Admiral ' s rank. Crest: The cross refers to the Navy Cross the admiral was awarded for heroism during the Battle of the Coral Sea. The pheon allude to the multidirectional fire pow- er of the destroyer screen and bombardment group Ad- miral Jarrett commanded during World War II and reflect the Legion of Merit he was awarded for com- mand of destroyer support fire during Pacific island campaigns. The two stars on the disc symbolizes the admiral ' s personal heroism for which he was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star. Motto: Valens et egregius which translated from latin means able and excellent

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Commanding Officer Commander Leslie S. Blankinship United States Navy Commander Leslie Scott Blankinship. born August 21, 1945, in Charlottesville, Virginia, is the son of Leslie C. and Elizabeth Blankinship. He received his commission in June 1967 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Program (NROTC) at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He was also awarded a Masters Degree in Communications Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1974. Commander Blankinship first served in USS BORDELON (DD 881) as Communications Officer, Combat Information Center Officer and as Operations Officer from July 1967 to June 1970. Upon completion of Destroyer School (Surface Warfare Officers Department Head Course) in early 1 97 1 , he returned to sea as Operations Officer in USS EUGENE A. GREENE (DD 711). He served as Executive Officer, USS MCCLOY (FF 1038) from December 1974 to September 1976, and USS AINSWORTH (FF 1090) from October 1980 until May 1982. Assignments ashore have included a tour as Assistant to the Navy Satellite Communica- tions Program Coordinator for Plans, Programs, and Resources; Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He attended the Armed Forces Staff College in 1980 and most recently served as Staff Officer for Communications Interoperability for the Chief Naval Signal Officer, Ministry of Defense, London, England. Commander Blankinship is married to the former Carol L. Dunn of Maxton, North Caroli- na. They have one son, Wesley ( 76).