About this Unit
USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate of the United States Navy. Commissioned on June 30, 1984, she was named in honor of Ensign Robert G. Bradley, a Navy Cross recipient killed during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in World War II. Throughout her service, the Robert G. Bradley conducted various operations, including counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and deployments to the Mediterranean and Persian Gulf, supporting U.S. and NATO missions. The ship was decommissioned on March 28, 2014, after nearly 30 years of distinguished service.
Historical Facts
•
Namesake Heroism: USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG-49) is named after Ensign Robert G. Bradley, a naval officer who displayed remarkable bravery during World War II and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
•
Olson-Class Frigate: She is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, a class renowned for versatility and service with multiple navies worldwide.
•
Keel Laid in 1982: The ship’s keel was laid on December 28, 1982, at Bath Iron Works in Maine, continuing a storied tradition of American shipbuilding.
•
Commissioned in 1984: USS Robert G. Bradley was commissioned on June 30, 1984, and served the U.S. Navy for nearly three decades.
•
Combat Operations: The frigate participated in Operation Earnest Will, escorting re-flagged Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran-Iraq War, and later supported counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean.
•
Rescue Missions: In 1995, the ship rescued Cuban migrants as part of Operation Able Vigil, demonstrating the humanitarian side of naval operations.
•
Counter-Narcotics Success: In the 2000s, the ship was credited with multiple successful drug interdictions, seizing tons of illegal narcotics in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
•
Missile Defense Capabilities: Equipped with the Mk 13 missile launcher and anti-submarine torpedoes, she was a versatile platform for both air and subsurface threats.
•
International Exercises: USS Robert G. Bradley participated in international exercises like UNITAS and NATO deployments, strengthening alliances and interoperability.
•
Transfer to Bahrain: After decommissioning on March 28, 2014, the ship was transferred to the Bahraini navy in 2019 and now serves as RBNS Al Muharraq (F-91), continuing her legacy in a new fleet.