The US Navy has successfully decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class vessel, USS Robert G Bradley (FFG 49), during a ceremony held at Naval Station Mayport, US, marking the end of its 30-year operational life.
The warship was named to honour for a Washington DC native lieutenant Robert Graham Bradley who served as assistant first lieutenant aboard Princeton, where he led a repair team to save the ship after a Japanese dive bomber attacked it during the battle of Leyte Gulf.
Bradley and his team lost their lives when the flames spread to an aft torpedo magazine and detonated four bombs.
Bradley was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions.
Following participation in UNITAS in the Western Caribbean Sea in September 2012, USS Robert G Bradley completed a board of inspection and survey and departed in late October for a seven-month deployment to the 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility.
USS Robert G Bradley commanding officer commander Pete Ehlers said: "For nearly 30 years, this ship has carried Lt Robert G Bradley’s name and spirit in defence of our nation."
In addition to completing more than 900 flight hours with the MQ-8B Fire Scouts, the crew conducted the first concurrent dual-air-vehicle mission with another fire scout-equipped frigate.
The US Navy has also formally decommissioned Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Miami (SSN 755), during an indoor ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, marking the end of the ship’s nearly 24-year service.
Commissioned on 30 June 1990, USS Miami fully employed its capabilities while operating in maritime regions near North America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East during its more than 12 deployments.
Image: USS Robert G Bradley (FFG 49) during its decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. Photo: courtesy of US Navy by mass communication 2nd class Salt Cebe/Released.
