About this Unit
USS Curts (FFG-38) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on October 8, 1983. Named after Admiral Maurice E. Curts, she served as a versatile escort vessel, conducting anti-submarine, anti-air, and surface warfare missions. Curts participated in significant operations, including Operation Earnest Will during the Iran-Iraq War, where she escorted reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. After nearly three decades of service, USS Curts was decommissioned on January 25, 2013, and later transferred to the Philippine Navy.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Curts (FFG-38) was named in honor of Admiral Maurice E. Curts, a distinguished US Navy officer who served in both World Wars and played a key role in naval communications.
• Class and Construction: Curts was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, built by Todd Pacific Shipyards in San Pedro, California. Her keel was laid on July 1, 1981, and she was launched on March 6, 1982.
• Commissioning: USS Curts was commissioned into service on October 8, 1983, with Commander Donald C. Weeks as her first commanding officer.
• Persian Gulf Service: The ship participated in Operation Earnest Will (1987-1988), escorting reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers through the Persian Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War, a critical mission in protecting vital shipping lanes.
• Rescue Operations: In 1986, Curts rescued 37 Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea, exemplifying the Navy’s humanitarian role during the “boat people” crisis.
• Counter-Narcotics Mission: During the 1990s, USS Curts was deployed to the Eastern Pacific for counter-narcotics operations, helping to interdict illegal drug smuggling routes.
• Participation in Operation Desert Storm: The ship was deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, providing escort and surveillance duties.
• Feature in Popular Culture: USS Curts appeared in the 1990 movie "The Hunt for Red October," standing in for a Soviet warship in several scenes.
• Decommissioning: After nearly 30 years of service, USS Curts was decommissioned on January 25, 2013, at Naval Base San Diego.
• Transfer to Foreign Navy: In 2019, the ship was transferred to the Mexican Navy, where she was recommissioned as ARM Cuauhtémoc (F 213), continuing her service under a new flag.
