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ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko

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USS Wadsworth (FFG-9) underway.
Underway as Wadsworth, 1983
History
United States
NameWadsworth
NamesakeCommodore Alexander S. Wadsworth (1790–1851)
Ordered27 February 1976
BuilderTodd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down13 July 1977
Launched29 July 1978
Sponsored byMrs. Patricia P. Roberts, great-great-great-granddaughter of Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth
Commissioned2 April 1980
Decommissioned28 June 2002
Stricken23 July 2002
HomeportSan Diego, California (former)
Identification
Motto"For One's Country"
FateTransferred to Poland
Badge
As Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko, 2012
Poland
NameGenerał Tadeusz Kościuszko
NamesakeTadeusz Kościuszko
Commissioned28 June 2002
HomeportOksywie, Gdynia
Identification
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length445 feet (136 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draft22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers (US Service)
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried

ORP Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko, formerly USS Wadsworth (FFG-9), is one of two Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates in the Polish Navy.[1] She is the 2nd "short-hull" ship to be built and 3rd overall. She is named after Tadeusz Kościuszko, an American Revolutionary War hero as well as a hero of Poland's struggle for independence; in US Navy service she was named after Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth. Originally commissioned in 1980, she served in the US Navy until 2002, when she was decommissioned and immediately turned over to the Polish Navy.[2] Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko has participated in numerous NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea.

History

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Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY75 program, Wadsworth, originally classified PF-111, was laid down on 13 July 1977, launched on 29 July 1978, and commissioned on 28 February 1980. Wadsworth was sponsored by Mrs. Patricia P. Roberts, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth.[3]

Wadsworth portrayed USS Reuben James (FFG-57) in the 1990 film The Hunt for Red October[4] along with USS Gary (FFG-51).

The ship's motto in American service was "For One's Country" and originates from the words of Captain Isaac Hull, Commanding Officer of USS Constitution before her August 1812 battle with HMS Guerriere. Hull said, "Men, now do your duty. Your officers cannot have entire command over you now. Each man must do all in his power for his country."[5].

Wadsworth and her crew received Battle Effectiveness Awards for operations in 1993, 1998 and 2001.[6]

Decommissioned on 28 June 2002, Wadsworth was handed over to Poland the same day as part of the Foreign Military Sales programme and commissioned under her current name. She was formally stricken from the Navy list on 23 July 2002.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Saunders, p. 558
  2. ^ a b "Poland - Transfer of Second Frigate and Helicopters". US Department of State Archive. 17 July 2002. Retrieved 13 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Wadsworth III (FFG-9)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  4. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 24 April 2012.
  5. ^ "Coat of Arms". Archived from the original on 14 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Navy Unit Awards". Archived from the original on 14 October 2004.

Bibliography

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  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–2005. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.