USS McInerney (FFG 8)

• First of Her Class: USS McInerney (FFG-8) was the second ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigates, but she was the first to be constructed with the lengthened flight deck and hangar to support SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, effectively setting the standard for later ships in the class. • Namesake: The ship was named after Vice Admiral Francis Xavier McInerney, a distinguished World War II destroyer commander and later a Vice Admiral who served in various key posts including as Commander, First Fleet. • Commissioned in 1979: McInerney was commissioned on December 15, 1979, at Bath, Maine, with Mrs. Francis X. McInerney, the late admiral’s widow, serving as the ship’s sponsor. • Counter-Narcotics Operations: In the 1990s and 2000s, USS McInerney became heavily involved in counter-drug operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, playing a key role in intercepting drug smuggling vessels. • Rescue at Sea: In 2003, McInerney rescued 16 Ecuadorians from a sinking fishing vessel in the Eastern Pacific, demonstrating the Navy’s humanitarian role in addition to its combat missions. • First to Use LAMPS III: She was the first ship fitted with the SQQ-89(V)2 Sonar Suite and LAMPS Mk III (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System), which greatly enhanced her anti-submarine warfare capabilities. • Longest Serving Perry: By the time of her decommissioning, McInerney was the longest-serving Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in the U.S. Navy, marking over 30 years of active service. • Transfer to Pakistan: After decommissioning on August 31, 2010, the ship was transferred to the Pakistan Navy and recommissioned as PNS Alamgir (F260), where she remains in service. • Missile Shootdown: During her service, McInerney was involved in several live-fire exercises, successfully launching and intercepting missiles, helping to validate the capabilities of the Perry-class design. • Celebrity Visit: In 2005, actor Harrison Ford visited USS McInerney as part of a USO tour, boosting crew morale during operational deployment.