Frigate Thach heading out to fight drug trafficking

Written by Gary Robbins
2:13 p.m., Jan. 7, 2013
Updated 2:34 p.m.


The 453-foot Thach was built at Todd Pacific Shipyards in San Pedro. US Navy

The frigate Thach, on what's likely to be one of the ship's last missions, will leave for the waters off Central America on Tuesday to counter illegal drug trafficking. The ship, which turns 30 in March, will carry a crew of 220, including Coast Guardsmen.

In a statement, Commander Hans Lynch said, "The crew is anxious to put all their hard training to good use."

Thach is a Perry-class frigate, ships that are being phased out of service. The Navy decided not to upgrade the Cold War-era frigates, deciding instead to invest in a new vessel, the littoral combat ship. The role of frigates also has been constrained by a decision to remove guided missiles from the ships.

San Diego is home to six frigates, including the Curts, which will be decommissioned later this month.

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/07/frigate-thach-deploying-central-america/