USS Garcia (FF-1040) was the lead ship of her class of destroyer escort ships, later reclassified as frigates, in the United States Navy. She was named for U.S. Marine Private First Class Fernando Luis Garcia, the first Puerto Rican Medal of Honor Recipient.

USS Garcia
USS Garcia
The USS Garcia off the shores of Newport, Rhode Island in August 1972
History
United States
NameUSS Garcia
Awarded22 June 1961
BuilderBethlehem Steel, San Francisco, California
Laid down16 October 1962
Launched31 October 1963
Sponsored byDaisy Garcia de Alvarez
Acquired3 December 1964
Commissioned21 December 1964
Decommissioned31 January 1989
Out of service1989
Reclassified30 June 1975*
Stricken31 January 1989
HomeportCharleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Identification
  • DE-1040 (1964)
  • FF-1040 (1975)
Nickname(s)Greasy-G
FateScrapped 29 March 1994
Badge
Pakistan
Acquired31 January 1989
Out of service1994
RenamedSiaf
IdentificationF264
General characteristics
Class and type
Displacement2,624 tons (light)
Length414 ft 6 in (126.34 m)
Beam44 ft 1 in (13.44 m)
Draught24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
Propulsion2 Foster-Wheeler boilers, 1 Westinghouse turbine, 35,000 shp (26,000 kW), single screw
Speed27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
Complement
  • 16 officers
  • 231 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
Aircraft carried1 x SH-2F Seasprite LAMPS I

Laid down on 16 October 1962 by Bethlehem Steel of San Francisco, California, Garcia was launched on 31 October 1963 and commissioned on 21 December 1964. Originally designated DE-1040, she was redesignated FF-1040 in 1975 as part of the Navy's 1975 ship reclassification.

She served in the Atlantic Fleet and was homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, and Charleston, South Carolina.

Pakistan service edit

Following her decommissioning on 31 January 1989, she was transferred to Pakistan on the same day. Renamed Saif, she was returned to the United States on 13 January 1994 and was then sold for scrap on 29 March 1994.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons edit

Navy Unit Commendation (with one star)
  Navy "E" Ribbon
  Navy Expeditionary Medal
  National Defense Service Medal
  Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal

References edit

External links edit