USS Reuben James ( FFG - 57 ) USS " Reuben James " ( FFG - 57 ) , an " Oliver Hazard Perry " - class guided missile frigate , was the third ship of the U . S . Navy named for Reuben James , a boatswain ' s mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates . Her crew totaled 201 enlisted , 18 chief petty officers , and 26 officers . Ship history . 1980s . The contract to build " Reuben James " was awarded on 22 March 1982 to Todd Shipyard of San Pedro , California . Her keel was laid on 19 November 1983 , and she was launched on 8 February 1985 . She was delivered to the Navy on 3 March 1986 , and commissioned on 22 March . She was faster than and powered by two gas turbine engines . Armed with anti - air and anti - ship missiles , an automated three - inch ( 76 mm ) gun , an anti - missile defense system , and two SH - 60 Seahawk anti - submarine helicopters , " Reuben James " was tasked with hunting submarines as well as battle group escort and maritime interception . " Reuben James " joined the Red Stallions of Destroyer Squadron Thirty - One in June 1987 . Assigned to Mideast Force on her maiden deployment , " Reuben James " participated in twenty - two Operation Earnest Will convoy missions , serving as the convoy commander ' s flagship on ten of those missions . 1990s . On 10 September 1990 " Reuben James " visited Vladivostok in the Soviet Union In August 1991 , " Reuben James " moved from Long Beach , California , to Pearl Harbor , Hawaii . On 1 October 1998 , she joined the " Ke Koa O Ke Kai " , Destroyer Squadron Thirty - One . On a WestPac deployment in 1995 – 96 , the ship ' s rudder fell off . The ship docked in Bahrain for repairs . 2000s . " Reuben James " participated in the CARAT 2000 exercises , including phases in the Philippines , Thailand , Indonesia , Brunei , Malaysia , and Singapore . The first phase of CARAT began in the Philippines on 14 June and the final phase , conducted in Singapore , ended on 22 September . CARAT 2000 demonstrated U . S . commitment to security and stability in Southeast Asia while increasing the operational readiness and capabilities of U . S . forces . The exercise also promoted interoperability and cooperation with U . S . regional friends and allies by offering a broad spectrum of mutually beneficial training opportunities . In Malaysia , CARAT 2000 encompassed two weeks of extensive training to promote interoperability between U . S . naval forces and the Royal Malaysian Navy and Army . The Strait of Malacca was the setting for several exercises . These included anti - submarine warfare , anti - air warfare , and gunnery exercises . One of the exercises was a final battle problem , or night encounter exercise . The two navies ’ task groups steamed together in formation for more than 25 hours . The Malaysian - U . S . naval task group was divided into two opposing forces . The Blue Forces consisted of " Reuben James " , , , and the Malaysian ships KD " Sri Indera Sakti " and KD " Lekir " . The Blue Forces were supported by U . S . helicopters from Helicopter Squadron Light 37 , Detachment Four , from Hawaii . The Orange Forces consisted of the frigate , the Malaysian ships KD " Perkasa " , KD " Laksamana Tun Abdul Jamil " , and a U . S . Navy P - 3C Orion aircraft . , homeported in Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , and , homeported in San Diego , also joined the task group in individual phases . For nine months from 2 August 2002 , to 27 April 2003 , " Reuben James " deployed to the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of Cruiser - Destroyer Group Three , the " Abraham Lincoln " Battle Group . After serving approximately six months in theater , " Reuben James " started to make its way back to Pearl Harbor . On New Year ' s Day 2003 , while in port in Brisbane , Australia , the ship was ordered to turn around and go back to the Persian Gulf and the deployment was extended indefinitely . Finally , after an extended deployment of almost nine months , the " Abraham Lincoln " Battle Group was relieved by . This deployment was extremely long , breaking a number of records , including the longest deployment ever for a nuclear - powered aircraft carrier . In July 2003 , " Reuben James " hosted the Japanese destroyer JDS " Shimakaze " ( DDG 172 ) for exercises in Pearl Harbor . On 23 October 2003 the crew of the " Reuben James " dressed ship and manned the rails to render honors to President George W . Bush as he toured Pearl Harbor and visited the USS " Arizona " Memorial . From February to April 2004 , she deployed to the Eastern Pacific with an embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment in support of counter - drug operations . Between July and December 2004 , " Reuben James " went through an extensive modernization and maintenance program . In October 2004 , " Reuben James " participated in PASSEX exercises with the French frigate FS " Prairial " ( F 371 ) . As part of Expeditionary Strike Group 3 ( ESG 3 ) , " Reuben James " deployed on 15 February 2006 on a WESTPAC mission to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom . The strike group also consisted of Amphibious Squadron ( COMPHIBRON ) 3 , the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit ( Special Operations Capable ) , , the guided - missile cruiser , the guided - missile destroyer , the amphibious transport dock , the dock landing ship , Tactical Air Control Squadron ( TACRON ) 11 , and the " Black Jacks " of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron ( HSC ) 21 . En route to the Persian Gulf , " Reuben James " stopped in New Caledonia . The strike group relieved on station in early April 2006 and began its mission of conducting maritime security operations . During operations , " Reuben James " performed services such as providing medical assistance to Sri Lankan fishermen and rescuing Kenyan sailors . Expeditionary Strike Group 3 was relieved on 9 July 2006 and " Reuben James " returned to Pearl Harbor in August 2006 . " Reuben James " participated in a Passing Exercises ( PASSEX ) with the Philippine Navy frigate BRP " Gregorio del Pilar " ( PF - 15 ) off the coast of Hawaii on 30 July 2011 . The frigate completed what is expected to be her final deployment on 3 May 2013 . " Reuben James " is scheduled to be decommissioned during the northern summer of 2013 . She was decommissioned on 18 July 2013 . Cultural references . " Reuben James " played a significant role in Tom Clancy ' s 1986 novel " Red Storm Rising " . She appeared in the 1990 movie , " The Hunt for Red October " ( although her appearance in the film was anachronistic , since she was commissioned about a year after the events in the film ) . In some scenes , " Reuben James " was portrayed in the film by another " Oliver Hazard Perry " frigate — USS " Wadsworth " ( now ORP " Generał Tadeusz Kościuszko " ) . The ship was later featured prominently in the 2010 novel by Don Brown entitled " Malacca Conspiracy " .