View source for USS Ouellet

{{Short description|Knox class frigate}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = 330-CFD-DN-SC-86-08821 (22865456274).jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Ouellet'' (FF-1077)
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1994}}
| Ship name = ''Ouellet''
| Ship namesake = [[David George Ouellet]]
| Ship sponsor = Mrs. Chester J. Ouellet
| Ship ordered = 22 July 1964
| Ship builder = [[Avondale Shipyard]], [[Bridge City, Louisiana]]
| Ship laid down = 15 January 1969
| Ship launched = 17 January 1970
| Ship acquired = 3 December 1970
| Ship commissioned = 12 December 1970
| Ship decommissioned = 6 August 1993
| Ship identification = FF-1077; Call Sign = NDNR
| Ship struck = 11 January 1995
| Ship fate = Transferred to Thailand
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Ship class = {{sclass|Knox|frigate}}
| Ship displacement = 3,232 tons (4,212 full load)
| Ship length = {{convert|438|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|46|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship draught = {{convert|24|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = *2 × CE 1200psi boilers
*1 Westinghouse geared turbine
*1 shaft, {{convert|35000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = over {{convert|27|kn}}
| Ship complement = 18 officers, 267 enlisted
| Ship sensors = *AN/SPS-40 air search radar
*AN/SPS-67 surface search radar
*AN/SQS-26 [[sonar]]
*AN/SQR-18 [[towed array sonar]] system
*[[AN/SPG-53|Mk68]] gun fire control system
| Ship EW = [[SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite|AN/SLQ-32 electronics warfare system]]
| Ship armament = *1 x Mk-16 8 cell missile launcher for [[ASROC]] and [[Harpoon missile]]s
*1 x Mk-42 [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun|5-inch/54]] caliber gun
*[[Mark 46 torpedo]]es from four single tube launchers
*1 x Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for [[Sea Sparrow]] missiles, later replaced by [[Phalanx CIWS]]
| Ship aircraft = 1 x [[SH-2 Seasprite]] (LAMPS I) helicopter
}}
|}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:Phutta Loetla Naphalai.jpg|300px|Royal Thai Navy HTMS ''Phutthaloetla Naphalai'']]
|Ship caption=''Phutthaloetla Naphalai'' in June 2008
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= Thailand
|Ship flag=  [[Image:Naval Ensign of Thailand.svg|100x35px|Thai Navy Ensign]]
|Ship name= ''Phutthaloetla Naphalai''
|Ship namesake= King [[Buddha Loetla Nabhalai]] (Rama II)
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=
|Ship acquired=27 November 1996
|Ship commissioned= 1997
|Ship decommissioned= 1 April 2015
|Ship identification=F-462
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck= 
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
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}}
|}
'''USS ''Ouellet'' (FF-1077)''' was a {{sclass|Knox|frigate}} of the [[United States Navy]]. ''Ouellet'' was the first and only (as of January 2014) ship of the U.S. Navy to bear the name of Seaman [[David George Ouellet]], a posthumous recipient of the [[Medal of Honor]]. The vessel was one of a class of frigates specifically designated to locate and destroy enemy [[submarine]]s. The ship entered service in 1970 and was decommissioned in 1993. ''Ouellet'' was sold to [[Thailand]] in 1996 and renamed {{ship|HTMS|Phutthaloetla Naphalai}}.

== Construction and career ==
''Ouellet'' was laid down 15 January 1969<ref name=NVR>{{cite web |url= {{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=FF1077}} |title=OUELLET (FF 1077) |website= US Naval Vessel Register |date= 20 February 2016}}</ref><ref>NVR differs from DANFS 14 Jan 1969, but 15 appears correct.</ref> by [[Avondale Shipyard]]s Inc., [[Westwego, Louisiana]]; launched 17 January 1970; sponsored by Mrs. Chester J. Ouellet; and commissioned 12 December 1970.<ref name=DANFS>{{cite DANFS |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ouellet.html |title= Ouellet}}</ref>

=== 1970s ===
''Ouellet'' arrived at her homeport in [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii on 15 April 1971, with her first deployment to the [[Pacific Ocean|Western Pacific]] commencing on 27 January 1972. ''Ouellet'' twice came under hostile fire during this deployment, however no casualties were sustained.<ref name="1992 History">{{cite journal |url= https://www.fold3.com/image/1/302507254 |title= History |journal= USS Ouelett Cruise Book |year=1992 |page=2 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

During ceremonies re-establishing the U.S. [[United States Third Fleet|Third Fleet]] on 1 February 1973, ''Ouellet'' became the first Third Fleet [[flagship]] since World War II.<ref name="1992 History" />

''Ouellet'' made her second deployment to the Western Pacific from May through 7 December 1973. She began her first regular overhaul on 14 September 1974, with completion on 3 June 1975. ''Ouellet'' was selected as the CINCPACFLT flagship for the U.S. Navy's 200th birthday ceremonies.<ref name="1992 History" /> ''Ouellet'' completed two more Western Pacific deployments prior to overhaul in late 1978.{{citation needed|date=February 2016}} Regular overhaul was completed mid-1979 with three Western Pacific deployments to follow commencing September 1980, April 1982, and October 1983 respectively.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason= Deployment dates not cited}}

=== 1980s ===
''Ouellet'' started the 1980s with the joint exercise RIMPAC in February 1980. In March of that year she headed east to conduct training and deployment work ups with the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Ranger|CV-61|2}} and Battle Group Echo. In September 1980 she deployed with Battle Group 'E' to the [[Indian Ocean]] and the [[Gulf of Oman]] for the Iranian Crisis.

In May 1982, ''Ouellet'' rescued 72 [[Vietnamese boat people]] travelling in a sinking fishing boat around {{convert|180|nmi|km}} south of Vietnam.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19820529&id=P_pVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6293,7076797&hl=en |title= US Frigate Rescues Vietnamese Refugees |agency=UPI |location= Eugene, OR |newspaper= The Register-Guard |date= 29 May 1982}}</ref>

''Ouellet'' began her third{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason="3rd" major overhaul not cited by a source}} major overhaul in February 1985.<ref name="1992 History" /> She received extensive upgrades to her gun mount, received [[CIWS]], and SNAP II computers.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=Specifics of overhaul not cited, though probably accurate}} In 1986 ''Ouellet'' was again preparing for a Western Pacific deployment. ''Ouellet'' deployed for her eighth time in April 1987.<ref name="1992 History" /> ''Ouellet'' deployed with fellow Pearl Harbor ships {{USS|Worden|CG-18|2}} and {{USS|Leftwich|DD-984|2}} to join the {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|2}} battle group known as "Battle Group Delta". The frigate spent time in [[Subic Bay, Philippines]] before transiting the [[Strait of Malacca]] on the way to Diego Garcia, BIOT. When {{USS|Stark|FFG-31|6}} got [[USS Stark incident|hit]] by an Iraqi Exocet missile in May 1987, the ''Constellation'' battle group deployed to the North [[Arabian Sea]], while ''Ouellet'' went south to have port visits at [[Saint-Denis, Réunion]] – which was a historic visit of sorts as no American Navy ship made a port call there in over 100 years{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason="Historic" visit needs citation}} – then off to [[Victoria, Seychelles|Port Victoria, Seychelles]]. The warship then joined the rest of the battle group in the North Arabian Sea in support of [[Operation Earnest Will]]. ''Ouellet'' was detached from Battle Group Delta and proceeded with {{USS|Cochrane|DDG-21|2}} with port visits to [[Phuket (city)|Phuket]], Thailand and [[Singapore]]. The frigate then detached from ''Cochrane'' and proceeded to Subic Bay, RPI where she had a 3-week stay before the battle group caught up and proceeded home with her.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=Basic dates are supported by sources, but details like ports and Stark / Earnest Will items are not specifically mentioned / cited}} She returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 October 1987.<ref name="1992 History" />
[[File:USS Ouellet (FF-1077) underway in 1987.jpeg|thumb|left|''Ouellet'' underway in 1987]]
''Ouellet'' started out 1988 with a special operation coordinated by the [[United States Coast Guard]] to capture ''Christina M'', a cargo vessel laden with over 12 tons of [[marijuana]]. Instead of regular overhaul, ''Ouellet'' spent most of 1988 in a Ship's Restricted Availability repairing and upgrading most of her systems.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason= Christina M anecdote and SRA dates not cited}} Following extensive training, ''Ouellet'' made her ninth deployment in mid December 1988,<ref name="1992 History" /> where she headed to the [[Sea of Japan]] and the North Pacific Ocean. On 21 April 1989 USS Ouellet was first US Naval Vessel on scene for security and initial salvage of a [[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird]], AF Ser. No. 61-7974. She returned on 26 May 1989 to turn around and prepare to get underway again in September 1989 for "Pacific Exercises 89" (PAC EX 89).

In May 1989, ''Ouellet'' assisted firefighting efforts aboard {{USS|White Plains|AFS-4}} where six sailors were killed.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19890509&id=1WoaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5116,25610&hl=en |title= Fuel leak cited as possible cause |newspaper= The Milwaukee Journal |date= 9 May 1989 }}</ref>

Upon return to Pearl Harbor in November 1989 she went into [[dry dock]], refloating in February 1990.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=Drydock period / dates not cited}} After extensive preparations and an exhaustive inspection cycle, ''Ouellet'' departed in August 1990 to [[Central America]] in support of law enforcement operations.<ref name="1992 History" />

=== 1990s ===
Operations with a [[Law Enforcement Detachments|detachment]] of [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] personnel to act as a legal "policing force" aboard ''Ouellet''. This was the first time that a Coast Guard flag flew from a U.S. Navy warship in operations such as these.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=Claimed "first" requires citation}} In search for [[Illegal drug trade|drug smugglers]], the frigate recovered close to 1 ton of pure, unprocessed [[cocaine]], which was jettisoned from an unknown vessel trying to elude authorities.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason= Ton details not cited}} While on Law Enforcement Ops '90", ''Ouellet'' transited through the [[Panama Canal]] with follow-on ports-of-call in [[Panama]] and [[Curaçao]], Netherlands Antilles. After returning in to Pearl Harbor in November 1990 ''Ouellet'' was awarded the "Battle E" for overall excellence and the [[Joint Meritorious Unit Citation]].<ref name=Awards /><ref name="1992 History" />

In June 1991, ''Ouellet'' participated in three phases of shipboard training for midshipmen from the United States [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]], and "Anti-Submarine Operations 91".<ref name="1992 History" /> Port calls made during this training period included visits to [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada and [[Kodiak Island]], Alaska.{{citation needed|date=February 2016|reason=Probably true butnot cited}}

''Ouellet''{{'}}s final deployment was from 25 March to 24 July 1992. This Western Pacific Rim journey was her 10th major deployment, and took ''Ouellet'' to Australia . While en route, she participated in "Pacific ASW Exercise 92",<ref name="1992 History" /> and operated with elements of the [[Royal Australian Navy]] in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]].

This was her final voyage as a United States Navy vessel, USS ''Ouellet'' was decommissioned on 6 August 1993.<ref name=NVR />

==HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai==

The [[Royal Thai Navy]] purchased the ship from the [[United States Navy|US Navy]] after she was decommissioned on August 6, 1993. The ship subsequently underwent a US$14M refit at the Cascade General Shipyard, [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], [[Oregon]],<ref name=cascade>{{cite web |url= http://www.casgen.com/pr/pr970005.htm |title= Cascade General Begins Work on Ship Conversion for Thai Navy |website= Cascade General |date= 28 July 1997 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080628133059/http://www.casgen.com/pr/pr970005.htm |archivedate= 28 June 2008 }}</ref> and arrived in Thailand in 1998. The ship was renamed and commissioned as HTMS ''Phutthaloetla Naphalai'' ({{langx|th|เรือหลวงพุทธเลิศหล้านภาลัย}}) with the identification number F-462.<ref name=cascade/> As a {{sclass|Phutthayotfa Chulalok|frigate|1}}, she has a sister ship, the ''[[HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok]]'' (FFG 461).

== US Navy Awards ==
{{Div col}}
* Vietnam Service Medal, 15-Feb-1972 to 02-Mar-1972<ref name=Awards>{{cite web |url= https://awards.navy.mil |website= Navy Unit Awards |title= Ouellet FF-1077 |access-date= 20 February 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041014224730/https://awards.navy.mil/ |archive-date= 14 October 2004}}</ref>
* Combat Action Ribbon, 10-Apr-1972 to 11-Apr-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Vietnam Service Medal, 13-Mar-1972 to 03-May-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Vietnam Service Medal, 23-May-1972 to 31-May-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Vietnam Service Medal, 03-Jun-1972 to 14-Jun-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Vietnam Service Medal, 01-Jul-1972 to 31-Jul-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Combat Action Ribbon, 24-Apr-1972<ref name=Awards />
* Navy "E" Ribbon, 01-Jul-1974 to 01-Apr-1976<ref name=Awards />
* Navy "E" Ribbon, 02-Apr-1976 to 30-Jun-1977<ref name=Awards />
* Navy Expeditionary Medal, 30-Oct-1980 to 11-Mar-1981, Iran/Indian Ocean<ref name=Awards />
* Navy "E" Ribbon, 01-Jul-1983 to 31-Dec-1984<ref name=Awards />
* Navy Expeditionary Medal, 24-Jun-1987 to 23-Jul-1987, Persian Gulf<ref name=Awards />
* Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, 24-Jul-1987 to 24-Aug-1987, Persian Gulf<ref name=Awards />
* Coast Guard SOS Ribbon, 11-Feb-1988 to 19-Feb-1988<ref name=Awards />
* Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation, 01-Dec-1988 to 01-Apr-1989<ref name=Awards />
* [[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]], 15-Aug-1990 to 18-Nov-1990<ref name=Awards />
* Navy "E" Ribbon, 01-Jul-1989 to 31-Dec-1990<ref name=Awards />
* Navy "E" Ribbon, 01-Jan-1991 to 31-Dec-1992<ref name=Awards />
* Secretary of the Navy Letter of Commendation as part of TG 75.4, 31-Mar-1992 to 17-Jul-1992<ref name=Awards />
{{div col end}}
== References ==
*{{DANFSNVR|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/ouellet.html|{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=FF1077}}}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|USS Ouellet (FF-1077)}}
{{commons category|HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (FFG 462)}}
* [http://www.uss-ouellet.org/ USS Ouellet Association]
* [http://www.ussouellet.com/ ussouellet.com]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/06021077.htm NavSource images]
* [http://navysite.de/ff/ff1077.htm Navysite.de]

{{Knox class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ouellet}}
[[Category:Ships built in Bridge City, Louisiana]]
[[Category:Knox-class frigates]]
[[Category:1970 ships]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Royal Thai Navy]]