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USS Reuben James (FFG 57)

- decommissioned -
- sunk as a target -


USS REUBEN JAMES was one of the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY - class guided missile frigates and the third ship in the Navy to bear the name. The ship was last homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hi. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list, the REUBEN JAMES was sunk as a target off Kauai, Hi., on January 19, 2016. The sinking was a test of the Navy’s new anti-surface warfare (ASuW) variant of the Raytheon Standard Missile 6 (SM-6). The missile was fired from USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53).

General Characteristics:Keel Laid: November 19, 1983
Launched: February 8, 1985
Commissioned: March 22, 1986
Decommissioned: August 1, 2013
Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards Co., Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, Ca.
Propulsion system: two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines, two 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxiliary Propulsion Units
Propellers: one
Blades on each Propeller: five
Length: 453 feet (135.9 meters)
Beam: 45 feet (13.5 meters)
Draft: 24,6 feet (7.5 meters)
Displacement: 4,100 tons
Speed: 28+ knots
Aircraft: two SH-60 Sea Hawk (LAMPS 3)
Armament: one Mk 75 76mm/62 caliber rapid firing gun, MK 32 ASW torpedo tubes (two triple mounts), one Phalanx CIWS
Crew: 17 Officers and 198 Enlisted


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS REUBEN JAMES. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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USS REUBEN JAMES Cruise Books:


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About the Ship’s Name:

Reuben James was born in Delaware, Ohio about 1776. He joined the U.S. Navy and served on various ships, including the frigate USS CONSTELLATION. It was during the infamous Barbary Wars that the American frigate PHILADELPHIA was captured by the Barbary pirates. Having run aground in the pirate capital of Tripoli on the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the crew had to abandon ship and formulate a plan of attack. Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, along with a group of volunteers which included Boatswain's Mate Reuben James, entered Tripoli harbor under the cover of darkness in an attempt to set the PHILADELPHIA to the torch so that the pirates could not make use of her.

The American volunteers boarded the PHILADELPHIA on 16 February 1804 and were met by a group of the savage Barbary pirates who were guarding their prize. A furious battle ensued, and during the bloody chaos of hand-to-hand combat, a villanous pirate made ready to end the life of Lieutenant Decatur. Reuben James, with both of his hands already wounded, in an act of selfless dedication and courage did throw his hand before the pirate's cleaving blade! Willing to give his life in defense of his captain, Reuben James took the blow from the sword!

Having proved to the world over the courage and dedication of United States Sailors, Reuben James also hammered home the fact that US Sailors are undefeatable by not only surviving, but recovering from his wounds and continuing his career in the U.S. Navy! After spending many more years with Decatur, James was forced to retire in January 1836 because of declining health brought on because of past wounds. He died on 3 December 1838 at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.


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Accidents aboard USS REUBEN JAMES:

DateWhereEvents
December 6, 1997While operating in heavy seas, the REUBEN JAMES is recovering a helicopter. When the helicopter touched down, the ship takes a 20-degree roll causing the helicopter to tip over and striking the flight deck. Nobody is injured.


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The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the REUBEN JAMES laid up at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on October 21, 2014.



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