USS - Curts (FFG-38)

• 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.