USS Reid (FFG 30)

- decommissioned -

USS REID was one of the short-hull versions in the OLIVER HARZARD PERRY class of guided missile frigates. She was last homeported in San Diego, CA. After decommissioning the frigate was transfered to the Turkish Navy on January 5, 1999 and was renamed GELIBOLU.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: January 23, 1978
	Keel Laid: October 8, 1980
	Launched: June 27, 1981
	Commissioned: February 19, 1983
	Decommissioned: September 25, 1998
	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: 445 feet (133.5 meters)
	Beam: 45 feet (13.5 meters)
	Draft: 24,6 feet (7.5 meters)
	Displacement: 4,100 tons
	Speed: 28+ knots
	Aircraft: one SH-2F (LAMPS 1)
	Armament: one Mk 13 guided missile launcher (36 Standard (MR) and 4 Harpoon missiles), 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 REID. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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Click here to see which USS REID memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS REID Cruise Books:

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

On the seal the red, white and blue refer to the national flag, and thus to the suggestion made by Sailing Master Samuel Chester Reid which was incorporated into the Act of 1818 governing the United States flag design providing for the retention of the original thirteen stripes and the addition of a new star for each new state. The cannon denotes firepower and marksmanship. The swords and cannon allude to the gallant action of Sailing Master Reid at Fayal, in the Azores, during the War of 1812 at which time the vessel in his command inflicted severe damage to a powerful British invasion fleet, delaying their arrival at New Orleans, thus contributing to the American victory there. The swords are adapted from the Officer and Enlisted Surface Warfare Badges and are crossed satirewise to indicate strength and readiness.

The torches, symbolic of light, refer to the signal code system and the lightship off Sandy Hook that Sailing Master Reid established while Harbor Master of New York. The armed sea lion, a Philippine symbol, is a personification of naval courage representing the previous USS REID (DD 369) and her crew, who fought and died so bravely during the liberation of the Philippine Islands. The enflamed torches also allude to the kamikaze attacks in which she went down. The sea lion is red to signify this wartime service.

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About the Ship's Name:

USS REID commemorates the name borne by three former destroyers in honor of Sailing Master Samuel Chester Reid, U.S. Navy (1783-1861), hero of the War of 1861 and designer of the United States flag in its present form. He received the thanks of the New York State Legislature for gallantry in command of the New York privateer brig GENERAL ARMSTRONG which inflicted such casualties and damage to a powerful British squadron at Fayal, Azores, that it delayed the arrival of the British invasion fleet off New Orleans sufficiently to aid General Andrew Jackson's defense preparations for victory.

His design for a national ensign to include thirteen stripes and a star for each state was adopted by Congress on 4 April 1818. Congress appointed him a Sailing Master in the U.S. Navy on 3 June 1843. As the harbor master of New York, he made notable contributions in improving the pilot-boat service and established a lightship off Sandy Hook.

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USS REID Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by Karl-Heinz Ahles and shows USS REID at Naval Base San Diego, Ca., in October 1997.

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