USS McInerney ( FFG - 8 ) USS " McInerney " ( FFG - 8 ) , second ship of the " Oliver Hazard Perry " class of guided - missile frigate s , is the first United States Navy ship named for Vice Admiral Francis X . McInerney ( 1899 – 1956 ) . Ordered from Bath Iron Works on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY75 program , " McInerney " was laid down on 16 January 1978 , launched on 4 November 1978 , and commissioned on 15 December 1979 . 1980s . " McInerney " s mission was to provide multi - threat protection for military and merchant shipping , amphibious task forces and underway replenishment groups . During her first two years of service , " McInerney " was the US Navy test platform for the LAMPS MK - III ( SH - 60B helicopter ) anti - submarine warfare system and the Recovery Assist , Secure , and Traverse ( RAST ) system . Her efforts during this period earned her a Meritorious Unit Commendation . In 1981 , " McInerney " appears to have been part of Destroyer Squadron 8 . " McInerney " s first major deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean began in November 1982 . During this deployment she embarked a LAMPS Mk - I ( SH - 2 Seasprite ) helicopter detachment . " McInerney " made brief port visits to Tangiers , Morocco , and Catania , Sicily and supported the Multi - National Force in Beirut , Lebanon ( earning her the Navy Expeditionary Medal ) . After transiting the Suez Canal , " McInerney " operated in the Indian Ocean and made port calls to Karachi , Pakistan , Columbo , Sri Lanka , and Mombasa , Kenya . She also crossed the equator en route to Diego Garcia . Following this deployment , " McInerney " operated in the Caribbean and visited Port Limon , Costa Rica and Tela , Honduras . She received the Coast Guard Operational Meritorious Unit Citation for her efforts in law enforcement during this period . In October 1984 , " McInerney " deployed again to the Middle East in the midst of the Iran / Iraq Tanker War . She had now been fitted with the Phalanx CIWS and also carried a LAMPS Mk - I ( SH - 2 Seasprite ) helicopter detachment . During this deployment she visited ports in Djibouti , United Arab Emirates , Saudi Arabia , Bahrain , Pakistan , and Palma , Spain . " McInerney " returned from this cruise in March 1985 , and conducted law enforcement operations and other fleet exercises . In May 1986 , " McInerney " began a 10 - month - long overhaul ( extended Selected Restricted Availability ) in Boston , MA . During this yard period she received the AN / SQQ - 89 ( V ) 2 Anti - Submarine Warfare Suite , fin stabilizers , and the Single Audio System . The RAST equipment was also reinstalled and made operational . In August 1988 , " McInerney " was underway for her third deployment — this one to the Mediterranean . This deployment was highlighted by " McInerney " being awarded the COMSIXTHFLT “ Hook ‘ Em ” Award for excellence in Anti - Submarine Warfare and a Meritorious Unit Commendation . " McInerney also performed an abandon ship rescue when the keel of sinking motor vessel Jenneastar cracked and sank " . " McInerney " returned from the Mediterranean in February 1989 , and departed for the Northern Atlantic in the spring of 1989 . Anti - Submarine Warfare operations led the " McInerney " above the Arctic Circle , and " McInerney " returned to Mayport in May 1989 . 1990s . " McInerney " deployed to the Middle East in January 1991 and was awarded her second “ Hook ‘ Em ” Award after a brief ASW operation in the Mediterranean Sea . " McInerney " then entered the Persian Gulf in support of coalition forces against Iraq . " McInerney " performed in every warfare area during the conflict , including convoy escort , mine , anti - air and anti - surface operations . " McInerney " earned the Navy Unit Commendation , the National Service Defense Medal , the Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star , the Kuwait Liberation Medal ( Saudi Arabia ) and the Kuwait Liberation Medal ( Kuwait ) for her wartime service . The ship returned from the Middle East in July 1991 after escorting more than 50 merchant vessels through the mine - swept waters to Kuwait ports . Her continued , proven prowess earned her the Battle “ E ” for efficiency , and the COMNAVSURFLANT ASW Award , designating her as the top AN / SQQ - 89 - configured ASW platform on the East Coast . " McInerney " s humanitarian efforts include assisting the tug " Taurus " in the Jacksonville Operating Area , transferring a wounded merchant seaman during the Tanker War , rescuing Sailors from the sinking motor vessel " Jenneastar " in the Mediterranean and escorting merchant ships carrying needed supplies to the ports of Kuwait through mine - swept channels in the aftermath of Operation Desert Storm . In 1999 , " McInerney " participated in the UNITAS 40 – 99 deployment to South America UNITAS along with the Samuel B . Roberts FFG - 58 XXXV . 2000s . " McInerney " completed a highly successful SOUTHCOM Counter - Drug Operations Deployment in November 2001 . The highlight of the deployment was a drug bust of an Ecuador ian fishing vessel in which nearly 10 tons of cocaine were seized . For her efforts throughout the deployment , " McInerney " was awarded the Humanitarian Award and the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation . On 13 September 2008 , " McInerney " , working with Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 404 , intercepted a 59 - foot self - propelled semisubmersible carrying seven tons of cocaine off the coast of Guatemala . Four Colombian drug smugglers were captured aboard . The cargo had an estimated street value of $ 187 million . On 5 October 2009 , " McInerney " left Mayport Naval Station on its final deployment . On 3 April 2010 , an MQ - 8 Fire Scout from " McInerney " helped to confiscate 60 kg of cocaine from a speedboat . Pakistan Transfer . In September 2008 the US Congress approved the transfer of the frigate to Pakistan with a delivery date of August 2010 . Citing the Foreign Assistance Act and the Arms Export Control Act , Pakistan is considered a " major non - NATO ally " , able to receive older unneeded US military equipment . Additionally , the 32 - year old frigate will be given a US $ 65 million refurbishment including anti - submarine capability paid for with foreign military aid provided by the U . S . to friendly countries . PNS Alamgir will receive a mostly mechanical overhaul , which has to be conducted in the US as part of the deal . All four diesels were removed and overhauled , along with air conditioning units and refrigeration . Fuel oil tanks and voids were cleaned , inspected , repaired and painted . All shafting was removed and renovated . The controllable pitch propeller system was overhauled . Sea valves were removed and either repaired or replaced , and almost every pump was opened and inspected and overhauled as needed . Ventilators and fans went through a similar process of inspection and overhaul . Breakers , NR3 switchboard , windlass , and boat davit all got inspections and overhauls . Completely new equipment includes a new navigation suite and bridge , the composite dome over the fully overhauled AN / SQS - 56 sonar , and a VIP cabin . The crew of PNS Alamgir moved aboard in December 2010 , and are being qualified in firefighting and damage control , PMS and 3 - M , and trained to U . S . Navy PQS standards . Sea trials are expected in mid - late January 2011 , with a goal of sailing PNS Alamgir away on 10 February 2011 . On 24 March 2011 it docked in the British North Atlantic territory of Bermuda . Incidents . On 21 January 2011 the ship was damaged while testing its engines , this resulted in heavy damage to the bow as well as to the pier . The hull of the ship was reported to be crumpled .