USS Sides (FFG-14)

USS "Sides" (FFG-14), eighth ship of the "Oliver Hazard Perry" class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Admiral John H. Sides (died 1978). Ordered from Todd Shipyards, San Pedro, CA on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY76 program, "Sides" was laid down on 7 August 1978, launched on 19 May 1979, and commissioned on 30 May 1981. "Sides" escorted tankers through the Straits of Hormuz during the Tanker War and participated in Operation Praying Mantis, the retaliation for Iranian mining operations. [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/ffg-14.htm] The "Sides" was also part of the Surface Action Group under USS|Vincennes|CG-49|6 when Iran Air 655 was shot down. Decommissioned on 28 February 2003, "Sides" is currently laid up in reserve at Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility Bremerton, WA.

"Sides" was expected to join the Portuguese Navy in 2006, together with her sister ship USS|George Philip|FFG-12|2, but the Portuguese Navy dropped the offer and chose two Dutch Karel Doorman Frigates instead.

"Sides" was expected to join the Turkish Navy in the summer of 2008, together with her sister ship USS|George Philip|FFG-12|2, but the Turkish Navy dropped the offer.

Further reading

*cite book
author=Wise, Harold Lee
title= [http://www.insidethedangerzone.com Inside the Danger Zone: The U.S. Military in the Persian Gulf 1987-88]
location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press
year=2007
id=ISBN 1-59114-970-3

References

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/sides_ffg14_page_1.htm MaritimeQuest USS Sides FFG-14 pages]
* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FFG14.htm NVR FFG-14]