ORP ''Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko'', formerly USS ''Wadsworth'' (FFG-9), is one of two guided-missile frigates in the
Polish Navy. She is the 2nd "short-hull" ship to be built and 3rd overall. She is named after
Tadeusz Kościuszko, an
American Revolutionary War hero as well as a hero of
Poland's struggle for independence; in
US Navy service she was named after Commodore
Alexander S. Wadsworth
Commodore Alexander Scammel Wadsworth (1790–April 5, 1851) was an officer of the United States Navy. His more than 40 years of active duty included service in the War of 1812.
Biography
Wadsworth was born in 1790 at Portland, Maine. He was ...
''.'' Originally commissioned in 1980, she served in the US Navy until 2002, when she was decommissioned and immediately turned over to the Polish Navy.
''Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko'' has participated in numerous
NATO exercises in the
Baltic Sea.
History
Ordered from
Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division,
San Pedro,
California on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY75 program, ''Wadsworth'', originally classified PF-111, was laid down on 13 July 1977, launched on 29 July 1978, and commissioned on 28 February 1980. ''Wadsworth'' was sponsored by Mrs. Patricia P. Roberts, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth.
''Wadsworth'' portrayed
USS ''Reuben James'' (FFG-57) in the 1990 film ''
The Hunt for Red October'' along with
USS ''Gary'' (FFG-51).
The ship's motto in American service was "For One's Country" and originates from the words of Captain
Isaac Hull
Isaac Hull (March 9, 1773 – February 13, 1843) was a Commodore in the United States Navy. He commanded several famous U.S. naval warships including ("Old Ironsides") and saw service in the undeclared naval Quasi War with the revolutionary Fre ...
, Commanding Officer of
USS ''Constitution'' before her
August 1812 battle with HMS ''Guerriere''. Hull said, "Men, now do your duty. Your officers cannot have entire command over you now. Each man must do all in his power for his country.".
''Wadsworth'' and her crew received
Battle Effectiveness Awards for operations in 1993, 1998 and 2001.
Decommissioned on 28 June 2002, ''Wadsworth'' was handed over to Poland the same day as part of the
Foreign Military Sales programme and commissioned under her current name. She was formally stricken from the Navy list on 23 July 2002.
See also
* , Polish ocean liner also named after Tadeusz Kościuszko
References
* ''This article incorporates text from the
public domain''
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships''. The entry can be foun
here''
* ''This article includes information collected from the''
Naval Vessel Register'', which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the
public domain. The entry can be foun
here''
Bibliography
*
Ships built in Los Angeles
1979 ships
Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the Polish Navy
Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Polish Navy
{{Europe-mil-ship-stub
Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates
Ships of the Polish Navy