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Navy ship Reuben James visits Saipan
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Posted on Nov 27 2008
The U.S. Navy vessel USS Reuben James is currently on Saipan for a five-day rest-and-recreation stop, allowing its crew a chance to visit some of the island’s tourist spots and historical sites.
Ruth Coleman, executive director of the Military and Veterans Affairs Office, said the ship arrived on Monday and will leave today for its homeport in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
The frigate’s commander is Commodore Joseph Naman.
Coleman said there are over 200 Navy officers on board.
“They are here for R&R and will be back today for homeport,” Coleman said.
According to Wikipedia, the ship was commissioned in 1986. She travels faster than 30 knots (30 mph/60 km/h) and is powered by two gas turbine engines.
The frigate is armed with anti-air and anti-ship missiles, an automated three-inch (76 mm) gun, an anti-missile defense system, and two SH-60 Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters.
Reuben James was tasked with hunting submarines as well as battle group escort and maritime interception. Reuben James joined the Red Stallions of Destroyer Squadron Thirty-One in June 1987.
Assigned to Mideast Force on her maiden deployment, Reuben James participated in 21 Operation Earnest Will convoy missions, serving as the convoy commander’s flagship on 10 of those missions.
As a unit of the Pacific Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Readiness Squadron, she was a key participant in the continuing research and development of anti-submarine tactics and equipment.
The ship has participated in several missions around Asia, the Persian Gulf and even in Russia and other European countries.
In 2000, the ship was part of the CARAT exercises, including phases in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore.
