In Service to the Nation
31 MARCH 1973 to 27 MAY 1994
"She will be a proud ship...
She will have great determination...
She will have fighting spirit second to none...
She will be efficient and effective...
She will be utterly reliable...
She will make her own history."
H. Gardner Ainsworth
USS AINSWORTH is the first ship of the Navy to bear this name. AINSWORTH was built by Avondale Shipyards, Inc. of Westwego, Louisiana. She is the thirteenth ship of the JOSEPH HEWES class of frigates. AINSWORTH was commissioned 31 March 1973. The ship is primarily designed for locating and destroying enemy submarines, but is also capable of performing other missions such as patrol, search and rescue, blockade, surveillance, shore bombardment, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air warfare.
When constructed, AINSWORTH had some of the most modern and sophisticated electronic equipment for detecting ships, submarines, and aircraft. Main features include the ship's four sonar (underwater detection equipment) systems, air and surface search radars, electronic listening equipment, and gunfire control radars.
For anti-submarine warfare, AINSWORTH's principal armament is the homing torpedo. Placed in the vicinity of an enemy submarine, the torpedo will seek out and destroy its target. The three systems installed on the ship to deliver the torpedo to the target area include: over-the-side torpedo tubes, the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) launcher, and the LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System), a manned helicopter.
The 5"/54 rapid fire gun is a primary battery and is also effective for shore bombardment in support of landing forces. In August 1976, AINSWORTH became the first ship in the Atlantic Fleet to receive the production version of the Harpoon missle. The Harpoon missle with an over-the-horizon range in excess of 50 nautical miles, adds significantly to AINSWORTH's offensive punch. In addition, AINSWORTH has the MK 15 Close-In Weapons System designed to shoot down incoming missles.
|
DISPLACEMENT |
|
: |
4200 TONS |
|
LENGTH |
: |
|
438 FEET |
|
BEAM |
: |
|
47 FEET |
|
DRAFT |
: |
|
27 FEET |
|
ANTI-SURFACE WEAPONS |
: |
|
MK 116 Harpoon Launcher |
|
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE WEAPONS |
|
: |
One ASROC Launcher |
|
MAIN ENGINE |
: |
|
One Westinghouse
propulsion Turbine |
|
BOILERS |
: |
|
Two 1200 PSI Combustion Engineering |
|
SPEED |
: |
|
27 knots |
|
COMPLIMENT |
: |
|
240 (20 officers, 220 enlisted) |
Admiral Walden
L. Ainsworth
U.S.S.
AINSWORTH Ship's Seal
PHOTO ALBUMN
GO
TO SHIP's Company Page
EMAIL US TO GET YOUR INFORMATION LISTED: webmaster at uss-ainsworth dot org
SPECIAL NOTES:
· Special Thanks to Herbert & RoseMarie Nelson , Howey in the Hills, FL
· Coming Feature , Med Deployment 3/85, w/special thanks to Captain Carden.
SPECIAL COMMENT
The U.S.S. AINSWORTH.
FF-1090 after decommissioning in 1994 was leased to the Turkish Navy, and recommissioned
as the TCG EGE (AGEAN) and now sails the Med under the flag of Turkey. U.S.
Senator Bob Graham - Florida, insured that my father, Malcolm D. (Bob)
Ainsworth, Umatilla, FL, and I were on the VIP list and were there to attend
the "Decommissioning Ceremonies" on 27 May 1994 in Norfolk. This
ceremony was very moving and my father and I will always remember that moment
in our lives. A special thanks to my father and to Senator Graham for making
all this possible. I also wish to thank to the Turkish Navy for allowing me a private
"one long last walk" on board and all through the ship before leaving
Norfolk.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, TCG EGE.
· Ainsworth's were part of earliest Virginia in the 1600's
· 1675, First Recorded marriage of an Ainsworth in the United States-Virginia
· T.J. & Grant Ainsworth, War for Southern Independence, 4th Regiment, Calhoun County Arkansas, "Calhoun Invincibles", Company K, 10/15/1861 CSA
· Brig. Gen. Fred C. Ainsworth, US Army, National Archives, US War Dept, Service Records Director after War for Southern Independence
· Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, US Navy, World War II
· Dennis R. Ainsworth, President, Third Continental Congress & Major General, United States Militia
U.S.S. AINSWORTH
Email webmaster at uss-ainsworth dot org