USS Nicholas (FFG-47)

USS ''Nicholas'' (FFG-47), an , was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Major Samuel Nicholas, the first commanding officer of the United States Marines. A third-generation guided missile frigate of the Oliver Hazard Perry class, she was laid down as Bath Iron Works hull number 388 on 27 September 1982 and launched 23 April 1983. Sponsor at her commissioning there on 10 March 1984 was the same Mrs. Edward B. Tryon who sponsored DD 449 in 1942.

''Nicholas'' was designed to provide in-depth protection for military and merchant shipping, amphibious task forces, and underway replenishment groups. Her 453-foot (loa) hull displaces 4,100 tons and her gas turbine power develops for a single screw, giving a top speed of over .

Since her commissioning, ''Nicholas'' has deployed to the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and North Sea, as well as participating in maritime interdiction operations and various fleet exercises. During her first four years as a commissioned vessel, she earned three Battle Efficiency "E" awards, and the Battenberg Cup as the best ship in the Atlantic Fleet. She earned the Top Ship award from Commander Battle Force Sixth Fleet during her first deployment to the Mediterranean.

1980s

During her first years, ''Nicholas'' was part of Destroyer Squadron 6 in Charleston, South Carolina. her sister ships in DESRON 6 included and , which harkened back to the World War II s , , and . These ships had such distinguished records in World War II, especially in the Solomon Islands campaign, that Admiral Halsey ordered all three ships be present with at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

In July 1987, ''Nicholas'', together with DESRON 6 sister ship , deployed with the Battleship Battlegroup to the Mediterranean. She was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1988 during the Iran–Iraq War, where she participated in Operation Earnest Will, which was a mission to escort reflagged tanker ships. She earned her first Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

1990s

When hostilities with Iraq broke out during the Gulf War on 17 January 1991, ''Nicholas'' was serving in the extreme Northern Persian Gulf as an advance Combat Search and Rescue platform, more than forward of the nearest allied warship. During the first few weeks of the war she attacked Iraqi positions off the coast of Kuwait, capturing the first of 23 Iraqi prisoners of war, sinking or damaging seven Iraqi patrol boats, destroying eight drifting mines and rescuing a downed USAF F-16 pilot from the waters off the Kuwaiti coast. ''Nicholas'' also escorted the battleships ''Missouri'' and during naval gunfire support operations near Khafji off the coast of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

In her 1993 six-month deployment, ''Nicholas'' conducted operations in the Red Sea, Mediterranean, Ionian Sea and Adriatic Sea. This deployment was in support of the United Nations sanctions against the governments of Iraq and the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. During these operations, she safely conducted over 170 boardings of merchant vessels to inspect for illegal cargo shipments.

In 1995, ''Nicholas'' deployed to the Adriatic and was assigned to the Standing NATO Force Atlantic, again operating in support of United Nations resolutions in Operation Sharp Guard. She intercepted over 120 vessels in enforcing sanctions against the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.
In September 1995 ''Nicholas'' located and rescued Albanian citizens seeking clandestine entrance across the Adriatic into Italy. Their boat was found capsized after reportedly being run over by a ferry ship and catching on fire in the night. Many sustained injuries, burns and were severely dehydrated. The ship's SAR swimmer with the assistance of the deck crew rescued 16 survivors including a four-year-old girl and her mother. Three bodies of deceased members of the group were also recovered with assistance from helicopter operations. All survivors were given immediate medical attention, water and food and brought safely back to port for full recovery.

2000s

The 2001 deployment took ''Nicholas'' to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf. While in the Mediterranean, she conducted numerous boardings in support of United Nations sanctions. On 11 September, ''Nicholas'' sortied on an emergency basis from Valletta, Malta and conducted sustained underway operations until returning to her home port of Norfolk, Virginia two months later.

In 2003 the vessel became the first warship to enter Neum, Bosnia since 1917, and the first U.S. warship ever. While there, ''Nicholas'' hosted the Bosnian Tri-Presidency and numerous government and military officials.

''Nicholas'' operated as the sole US warship in the Mediterranean for her six-month deployment and acted as a surrogate for the Argentina ship ''Sarandi'', enhancing international relations and building new alliances. She participated in multiple exercises and operations and achieved historic distinction when she tracked and assisted in the interception of a merchant ship loaded with nuclear centrifuges bound for Libya. US Government officials directly linked the interception of this vessel to the abandonment of Libya's nuclear weapons program.

''Nicholas'' deployed again in 2005 on a 3-month cruise, making port calls in Spain, Denmark, Turkey, France and Greece. In 2006 she deployed once more to the Persian Gulf, conducting patrols around the Iraqi oil terminals Kaot & Abot, alongside USS ''McFaul'', HMAS ''Ballarat'', and other coalition warships. In 2008 ''Nicholas'' deployed once more as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group-1.

2010s

On 1 April 2010, ''Nicholas'' came under fire from Somali pirates while deployed in the waters off of East Africa near the coast of Kenya and Somalia conducting anti-piracy operations. ''Nicholas'' seized five pirates, sank their skiff, and captured a pirate mother ship. The pirates were tried in the U.S. and convicted of piracy, which carries a mandatory life sentence.

Awards

''Nicholas'' has earned the Combat Action Ribbon, Southwest Asia Service Medal (with three bronze stars), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), Armed Forces Service Medal, Sea Service Ribbon (with seven bronze stars), Meritorious Unit Commendation, a Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation (with O for Law Enforcement), and six Battle Efficiency "E" awards as top ship in her squadron.

Decommissioning

On 10 March 2014, Commander Cory Blaser (Commanding Officer) of USS ''Nicholas'' FFG-47, decommissioned USS ''Nicholas'' at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, 30 years to the date of commissioning on 10 March 1984.

On 28 February 2023, ''Nicholas'' was removed from the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began its journey to Brownsville, Texas, where it will be scrapped.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yUcKB_PkpQ

References

External links

USS ''Nicholas'' official website
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navysite.de: USS ''Nicholas''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicholas (FFG-47)
Piracy in Somalia
1983 ships
Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy
Gulf War ships of the United States
Ships built in Bath, Maine
Cold War frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States