About this Unit
USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on 17 April 1982. Named in honor of Ensign Stephen W. Groves, a naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions during the Battle of Midway, the ship served in various operations including drug interdiction, maritime security, and multinational exercises. Throughout her service, Stephen W. Groves participated in significant missions such as humanitarian assistance in Haiti and anti-piracy operations off the coast of Africa. After three decades of active duty, the frigate was decommissioned on 24 February 2012.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29) was named after Ensign Stephen W. Groves, a U.S. Navy pilot who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroic actions during the Battle of Midway in World War II.
• Class & Type: She was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, designed for anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and escort missions.
• Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 17 April 1982 at Bath, Maine, with Mrs. Ruth Groves, the mother of Stephen W. Groves, serving as the ship’s sponsor.
• Maiden Deployment: Her first deployment was to the Middle East in 1983, where she participated in operations to ensure the safe passage of ships during the Iran-Iraq War.
• Operation Earnest Will: USS Stephen W. Groves took part in Operation Earnest Will, escorting reflagged Kuwaiti tankers through the Persian Gulf amid threats from Iranian forces in the late 1980s.
• Counter-Narcotics Operations: She was actively involved in numerous counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, intercepting drug traffickers and seizing significant quantities of illegal narcotics.
• Rescue of MV Magellan Star: In September 2010, the ship played a key role in the rescue of the merchant vessel MV Magellan Star from Somali pirates, successfully capturing nine pirates without any casualties.
• Homeport: Her homeport for most of her service was Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and later Naval Station Pascagoula, Mississippi.
• Decommissioning: USS Stephen W. Groves was decommissioned on 24 February 2012 after nearly 30 years of service and was later sold for scrap.
• Legacy: The ship received multiple awards during her service, including the Navy Unit Commendation and the Battle "E" Efficiency Award, reflecting her crew’s dedication and operational excellence.
