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Perry Class
The Oliver Hazard Perry
class of frigates were designed by the U.S.
Navy in the 1970s as general-purpose escort
vessels capable enough to do most jobs adequately,
yet cheap enough to be bought in large quantities.
They replaced aging World War II-era destroyers.They
are named after Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry.
TFFG-7 (often pronounced
"FIG-7") class ships were produced
in 445 foot (136 m) "short-hull"
(Flight I) and 455 foot (139 m) "long-hull"
(Flight III) variants. The long-hull ships
(FFG 8, 28, 29, 32, 33, 36-61) carry the SH-60
Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters, while the short-hull
units carry the less-capable SH-2 Seasprite.
The principal difference between the long
and short hull versions is the relocation
of the aft capstan on the long hull version
to a step below the level of the flight deck
in order to accommodate the tail rotor of
the longer Seahawk Helicopter. Long Hull versions
also added the RAST (Recovery Assist Securing
and Traversing) system for the SH-60, a variant
of a hook and winch that could reel in a Seahawk
in flight, expanding the pitch and roll envelope
in which flight operations were permitted.
FFG 8, 29, 32, and 33 were built as short-hull
ships but later modified into long-hull ships.
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