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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books About the Name Reuben James Accidents aboard the Ship Image Gallery to end of page |  |
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 | |
| Armament: one | |
| Crew: 17 Officers and 198 Enlisted |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew 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.
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageUSS 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:
| Date | Where | Events |
|---|---|---|
| December 6, 1997 | While 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. |
back to top go to the end of the pageUSS REUBEN JAMES Image Gallery:
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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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