Thach (FFG 43) - Naval Cruise Book

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. SHIP'S MISSICN SS THACH QFI-TG-432 is the thirty-seventh ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided missile frigates. THACH's mission is to provide anti-air, anti-submarine and anti-surface protection for Aircraft Carrier Battle GrouPS, UI1dC1'WaY ReP1eniShment GWUPSQ COHVOYS, Amphibious Forces and other military and merchant shipping. In order to ensure a homogeneous class of cabable, yet relatively inexpensive ships, many innovative concepptsjvvere incorporated into the design. These innovations include modular construction techniques,fnumcrQt1S l21l5Q1T9S3YiDg devices, automatic Control and moni' toring systems and shore based some of the most comfortable living accomodations ever providedfor combatant' Success in the warfare environment of beyond will require thorough CV21ll13ti011a rapid decision-making and almost to postulated threat. The systems aboard THACH havg been designed to dynamic prerequisites, and to do so with minimum human interface. Her il1CliiilC'Sttlffiiieifl-Sl11'f3C3if?111d Surface-to-air missiles, 3 76mm gun, a close-in weapons systems The Lamps Mark III video data link system brings state-of-the-art technologytoothevvarfareiarena, as well as integrating sensors and weapons to provide a total ,weapons system. In addition, computers control turbine engines fthe same engine as installed in the DC-105 and electrical generators. iiii logic circuits and remotely operated valves are monitored in a central control station Waimea initiate engine start and result in a ready to gov status in less than ten minutes. But the real heart of the ship is the crew. High technology systems demand skilled technicians and professional leadership. The concept of minimum manning means, simply that with professional sailors THACH can meet the challenges of modern naval Warfare with approximately half the crew found on other ships of comparable size and capability We Welcome you aboard the finest Guided Missile Frigate in the World, living up to the motto, Ready 86 Able . .I.l...liu...f BUILT BY: ...... KEEL LAID: ....... CHRISTENED: COMMISSIONED' DISPLACEMENT: ...... LENGTH: ............ BEAM: ................ COMPLEMENT: ......... PROPULSION: .. SHIP'S CHARACTERISTICS Todd Shipyards Corporation Los Angeles Division San Pedro, California 6 March 1982 18 December 1982 17 March 1984 at Long Beach Naval Station, Long Beach, California 4100 tons 453 feet I'47feet 7 I 17 Officers, I1 1 Chief .Petty Officers, . 181 Enlisted f 2 General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbines for 41,000 Shaft Horsepower ' 1 Controllable Reversible Pitch Propeller ' 2 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxillary Propulsion Units 6 SHIP'S MISSION 81 SHlP'S CHARACTERISTICS AUXILLARIES: .......... SPEED: ........... ....... AIRCRAFT: ............... ARMAMENTS: ........... i M, 1-1 i Icomanaitsvaeiils- 4 1000 Kilowatt Ship Service Diesel Generators .28+ knots .2 SH-60B Seahawk Helicopters ' MK 32 ASW Torpedo Tubes i2 Triple Mounts ' MK 13 Guided Missile Launcher ' Standard Anti-Aircraft Missile 0 HARPOON Anti-Ship Missile 0 MK 75 76mm Rapid Firing Gun ' .Close-in Weapon System Integration System ANlSQRe19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar ' ANISQS-56 Sonar ' ANISLQ-25 Torpedo Countermeasure Set ' Lamps MK III Weapon System ' ANISPS-49 Air Search Radar ' ANISPS-55 Surface Search Radar ' MK 92 Fire Control System ' ANISLQ-32 Electronic Warfare System ' MK 36 SRBOC Decoy System Z 3 I i v I I 1 1 Wi l' i E El 5 i .. i a 1 l i . i 1 3 l I l I -A

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SMITH TH CH ADMIRAL JOHN IE, UNITED STATES NAW ohn Smith Thach was born in Pine Bluffs, Arkansas, on 19 April 1905. In 1923 he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Acad- emy where on 20 june 1927, he was graduated and commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy Admiral Thach was assigned to the battleship USS MISSISSIPPI and USS CALIFORNIA, until he was ordered to flight training at Pensacola, Florida, in 1929. In January 1930, Admiral Thach was designated a Naval Aviator and was assigned to his first op- erational squadron. From the beginning, Admiral Thach proved himself a highly ca- pable pilot, becoming recognized as one of the Navy's aerial gtmnery experts, repeatedly shooting top scores in every type of combat aircraft he flew. During the next few years of his career, Admiral Thach's superior performance qualified him to be a test pilot and flight instructor and to receive a letter of commendation in 1940 for exceptional skill and technique in aerial gunnery and bomb- ing, efficient and meticulous operation of a squadron gunnery department, and marked ability to train other pilots in fighting plane tactics and gunnery . When the United States entered World War II, Admiral Thach was a Lieutenant Commander commanding Fighter Squadron Three, embarked on the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA. At the time, Admiral Thach was one of the top fighter tacticians in the Navy. Intelligence reports from the Sino-japanese war convinced him that the Navy's top carrier fighter, the F4F Grumman Wildcat, was no match for the superior flying performance of the japanese Zero. Admiral Thach sought to devise a means to give his squadron a fighting chance against the Zero. The result which he worked out with match sticks on his kitchen table, was the famous Thach Weavei' still used today by modern jet fighters. He initiated the practice of having U.S. fighter planes operate in pairs, instead of trios. The pair would weave back and forth as they encountered the Zero, thus providing the wingman opportunity to shoot at -the Zero on his partner's tail and vice versa. This tactic proved highly success- ful at the Battle of Midway. Admiral Thach retumed to Pearl Harbor to instruct other pilots in the use of his new technique. Later in the war, Admiral Thach was assigned to the Fast Carrier Task Force as Air Operations Officer, where he developed the system of blanketing enemy airfields with a continuous patrol of carrier-based fighters. This tactic is credited with destroying the air offensive of japan. His direction of the Navy's final offensive blows to the japanese mainland led to an invitation to participate in the japanese surrender aboard the battleship USS MISSOURI. Admiral Thach continued his distinguished career after the war, commanding the aircraft carrier USS SICILY in the Korean conflict, and later the carrier USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in November 1955, Vice Admiral in january 1960 and to Admiral in March 1965. Admiral Thach became Commander of the Anti-Submarine Warfare Force of the Pacific Fleet in 1960. In recognition of his work, the Navy annually awards the best anti- submarine warfare aircraft squadron The Admiral Thach Awardv. In 1965 Admiral, Thach was ordered to duty as Com- mander-in-Chief of U.S. Forces in Europe and served there until his retirement in May 1967, after more than 40 years of service. Admiral Thach died on 15 April 1981. Admiral Thach participated in twelve major engagements or campaigns and was awarded the following distinctions: Distinguished Service medal, Navy Cross, Letter of Commendation from Fleet Admiral Nimitz, Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit, plus other various campaign, unit and service awards. Admiral Thach is survived by his wife, the former Madalyn jones and their two sons, john Smith Thach, jr. and William Leland Thach. -I-hefiilw ADMIRAL JOHN SMITH THACH 5

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