About this Unit
USS GARCIA (FF-1040) was a Garcia-class frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on December 21, 1964. Named in honor of U.S. Marine Private First Class Fernando Luis Garcia, the ship was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War era. Throughout her service, USS GARCIA participated in numerous Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, supporting NATO operations and maintaining a forward presence. She was decommissioned on January 31, 1989, and later transferred to the Pakistan Navy, where she served as PNS Saif.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Garcia (FF-1040) was named in honor of Private First Class Fernando Luis Garcia, the first Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipient, who was killed in action during the Korean War.
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Class: Garcia was the lead ship of the Garcia-class frigates, a class of 11 ships originally designated as destroyer escorts (DE) before being reclassified as frigates (FF) in 1975.
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Launch and Commission: The ship was launched on 31 October 1963 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, and commissioned on 21 December 1964.
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Vietnam War Service: USS Garcia participated in the Vietnam War, performing duties such as plane guard for aircraft carriers and conducting anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.
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Reclassification: In 1975, as part of a Navy-wide reclassification, Garcia was redesignated from DE-1040 (Destroyer Escort) to FF-1040 (Frigate).
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Sonar Capabilities: The USS Garcia was equipped with advanced sonar systems for its time, including the SQS-26 bow-mounted sonar, making it a key ASW platform during the Cold War.
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Homeport: Her homeport for much of her career was Newport, Rhode Island, and she was an integral part of the Atlantic Fleet's anti-submarine forces.
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NATO Operations: Garcia participated in several NATO exercises, including operations in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, strengthening interoperability with allied navies.
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Transfer to Pakistan: After decommissioning from US service on 31 January 1989, Garcia was transferred to the Pakistan Navy and renamed PNS Saif (F-263), where she served until 1994.
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Legacy: The USS Garcia and her class were instrumental in the evolution of US Navy frigate design, bridging the gap between World War II-era escorts and modern multi-role frigates.
