USS Squall (PC-7) is the seventh Cyclone-class patrol ship. Squall was laid down 17 February 1993 by Bollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana and launched 28 August 1993. She was commissioned by the United States Navy 4 July 1994.

USS Squall underway in the Arabian Sea on 10 September 2016
History
United States
NameSquall
NamesakeSquall
Ordered3 August 1990
BuilderBollinger Shipyards, Lockport, Louisiana
Laid down17 February 1993
Launched28 August 1993
Acquired9 May 1994
Commissioned4 July 1994
Decommissioned14 March 2022[1]
HomeportNaval Support Activity Bahrain
Motto"Per Mare Per Terras" (By sea and land)
StatusDecommissioned
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeCyclone-class patrol ship
Displacement331 tons
Length174 ft (53 m)
Beam25 ft (7.6 m)
Draught7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Speed35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph)
Complement4 officers, 24 ratings, 8 Special Forces
Armament

Operational history

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In 2013, Squall shifted homeport to Naval Support Activity Bahrain.

On August 24, 2016, while operating in the northern end of the Persian Gulf, the Squall fired three .50 caliber machine gun warning shots at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards boat which had been harassing the Squall, the USS Tempest and a ship of the Kuwaiti Navy. During the encounter, the Iranian boat closed within 200 yards (180 m) of the Tempest and ignored earlier warnings to leave the area conveyed by radio and loud speaker and reinforced with the firing of flares. In accordance with standard maritime procedure, the warning shots were fired into the water. The Iranian boat then left the area.[2][3]

Squall was decommissioned on 14 March 2022 at Naval Support Activity Bahrain.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "USS Squall". Naval Vessel Register.
  2. ^ Starr, Barbara; Gaouette, Nicole; Sciutto, Jim; Rizzo, Jennifer (August 25, 2016). "First on CNN: US fires warning shots at Iranian vessel after close encounter". CNN. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  3. ^ Ryan, Missy; Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (August 25, 2016). "Navy patrol ship fires warning shots amid series of confrontations with Iranian vessels". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
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