USS Fahrion FFG 22 / Admiral Frank George Fahrion / Oliver Hazard Perry class Guided Missile Frigate
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Naval Forces Technology, History & Information

 

Guided Missile Frigate

FFG 22   -   USS Fahrion

USS Fahrion (FFG 22)

US Navy photo

Type, Class:

 

Guided Missile Frigate; Oliver Hazard Perry – class (short hull);

planned and built as FFG 22;

Builder:

 

Todd Pacific Shipyard, Seattle, Washington, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: February 28, 1977;

Laid down: December 1, 1978;

Launched: August 24, 1979;

Commissioned: January 16, 1982;

Decommissioned: March 31, 1998;

 

Fate: stricken: March 31, 1998;

transferred to Egypt (grant aid) on March 31, 1998;

renamed ENS Sharm El-Sheik (F-901); in service in Egyptian Navy;

Homeport:

 

-

Namesake:

 

Named after and in honor of Admiral Frank George Fahrion (1894 – 1970);

> see history, below;

Ship's Motto:

 

> TENACITY <

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Guided Missile Frigate / Oliver Hazard Perry - class.

 

Pictures, photos & more ...

 

Frank George Fahrion

 

 

Photo credits: US Navy, US Naval Historical Center

 

Namesake & History:

Admiral Frank George Fahrion (April 17, 1894 – January 16, 1970);

 

Admiral Frank George Fahrion, United States Navy, served his country with distinction through times of war and peace.

Admiral Fahrion was born on 17 April 1894 in Pickens, West Virginia. He was graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1917, and served in a succession of destroyers. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, he lead a destroyer division guarding convoys to Iceland and to Mid-Atlantic rendezvous with British escorts.

During World War II, Fahrion was the Destroyer Screen Commander for the "YORKTOWN" carrier task force in the early Central Pacific raids on the Gilbert Islands. For service as Chief of Staff to Commander North Pacific Force, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He earned a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for the skillful direction or research development and manufacturing phases of the successful torpedo program, while commanding the Naval Torpedo Station in Newport, Rhode Island, February 1943 - July 1944. The Bronze Star Medal for Valor was won by Fahrion as Commanding Office of the battleship USS NORTH CAROLINA (BB 55) during Fleet raids ranging from the Philippines to Iwo Jim and Okinawa. He was advanced to flag rank in January of 1945. In recognition of his skillful and intensive direct naval gunfire support missions while commanding Cruiser Division Four throughout the Okinawa Campaign, Admiral Fahrion received a Gold Star in lieu of a second Bronze Star Medal.

At the close of World War II, Admiral Fahrion was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit for superbly organizing and directing the target and salvage units of the Joint Task Force One during "Operation Crossroads," the atomic bomb tests of July 1946 at Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands.

Before retirement, he served as Inspector General, Pacific and U.S. Pacific Fleet: Commander Destroyers, U.S. Pacific Fleet (1946-1948), and Superintendent of the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D.C. In July 1950, he assumed command of the Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, from January 1952 until his retirement on 1 May 1956.

After retirement from the Navy, Admiral and Mrs. Fahrion made their home in La Jolla, California, where he died on 16 January 1970.  The Admiral was buried in Section 3 of Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.  His first wife, Gladys Yates Fahrion (1893-1944) is buried with him.

 

USS Fahrion (FFG 22):

 

... FFG 22 history wanted ...

 

… and patches …

 

 

 

 

 

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