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Artist's conception of Thach by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett, with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company, Navy Yard Associates, offers prints of most destroyers, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. ALL the Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates are available as built, in short or long hull configuration. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. When you purchase artwork from them, please indicate that you heard about their work from Navsource. |
Navy Yard Associates |
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John Smith Thach was born in Pine Bluff AR on 19 April 1905 and graduated the US Naval Academy in 1927. Designated a Naval Aviator early in 1930, he received several flight assignments over the next decade and gained a reputation as an expert in aerial gunnery. During the early 1940s, while commanding Fighting Squadron Three, Thach developed the fighter combat technique that came to be known as the "Thach Weave", a tactic that enabled the generally mediocre performing U.S. fighters to hold their own against the Japanese "Zero".
Lcdr Thach led "Fighting Three" from USS Lexington (CV-2), and from USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the June 1942 Battle of Midway. After a period of instructing other pilots in combat tactics, Commander Thach became Operations Officer to Vice Admiral John S. McCain's fast carrier task forces, and was present at the Japanese Surrrender on 2 September 1945.
Thach served in several air training staff assignments during the later 1940s. He commanded USS Sicily (CVE-118) in action during the Korean War and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42) in 1953-54. Attaining flag rank in 1955, he held a number of important assignments, including command of the antisubmarine development unit Task Group Alpha in 1958-59. Rising to full Admiral over the next decade, Admiral Thach was Commander in Chief, US Naval Forces, Europe, from March 1965 until shortly before his retirement in May 1967. He died on 15 April 1981.
USS Thach (FFG-43) is the first ship named in his honor. (US Navy photos #80-G-K-14025 and #NH 96873 from the US Naval Historical Center) |
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12 November 1983: San Pedro CA - An elevated port bow view of Thach under construction at Todd Pacific Shipyards. The ship is 90 percent complete. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-03082 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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12 November 1983: San Pedro CA - An elevated port quarter view of Thach under construction at Todd Pacific Shipyards. The ship is 90 percent complete. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-03083 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - A port beam view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-04977 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An elevated starboard bow view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-04978 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial starboard bow view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07900 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - A port bow view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-04979 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial starboard beam view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07907 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial starboard view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07903 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial port bow view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07904 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial starboard quarter view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07905 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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10 January 1984: The Pacific Ocean - An aerial port quarter view of Thach underway during sea trials. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-07906 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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17 March 1985: San Pedro CA - A view of the bow of Thach during an inclining test. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-10031 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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17 March 1985: San Pedro CA - A starboard amidships view forward of Thach during an inclining test. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-10032 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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17 March 1985: San Pedro CA - A starboard amidships view aft of Thach during an inclining test. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-10033 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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17 March 1985: San Pedro CA - A view of the stern of Thach during an inclining test. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-86-10034 by Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp. from the DVIC) |
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date / location unknown |
Tom Kermen |
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1 May 1987: The Persian Gulf - Crew members stand by at the refueling station of Thach during an underway replenishment with the replenishment oiler USS Kansas City (AOR 3). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-02720 by PH1 Chuck Mussi from the DVIC) |
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Thach underway, with an SH-60B helicopter on her landing platform, circa late 1980s or early 1990's. (US Navy photo #96874 from the US Naval Historical Center) |
Fred Weiss |
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24 May 1991: Yokosuka, Japan - The amphibious command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) is moored to a pier following arrival in port. Thach and other U.S. Navy ships are moored directly across from Blue Ridge which has just returned from deployment in the Persian Gulf area during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. (US Navy photo DVID #DNST9200408 by Ens. Jeff Hill from the DVIC) |
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March to May 1995: Yokosuka, Japan - Thach on SRA |
Peter Cole OS3
July 1994 - November 1997 |
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9 January 1996: A Standard Missile roars off the forward launcher of Thach heading toward an incoming target drone during a missile test exercise in the South China Sea. (US Navy photo) |
Fred Weiss |
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January 1996: Hong Kong - Thach makes liberty at the Crown Colony |
Peter Cole OS3
July 1994 - November 1997 |
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July 1996: Taken from Thach liberty boat while at Penang, Malaysia |
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1996: Bahrain - Thach and Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) tied up together. |
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September 1997: Thach at White Beach, Okinawa |
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1997: Thach on a port visit in Korea |
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1997: Yokosuka Japan |
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1997: Yokosuka Japan |
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November 1997: Yokosuka Japan - Thach getting underway |
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November 1997: Yokosuka Japan - Thach getting underway |
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1997: missile offload |
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26 March 2001: the Pacific Ocean - Port bow view of Thach underway in the South Pacific Ocean. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-03-11160 by PH1 Anthony C. Casullo from the DVIC) |
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8 June 2001: Arabian Gulf - USS Thach comes alongside the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) for an underway refueling exercise. Constellation and Thach were on deployment in the Arabian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch. (US Navy photo #010608-N-0295M-002 by PH2 Daniel J. McLain from the Navy News Stand) |
Bill Gonyo |
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8 June 2001: As in above photo (US Navy photo #010608-N-0295M-001 by PH2 Daniel J. McLain from the Navy News Stand) |
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5 September 2001: The Pacific Ocean - An HH-60H Seahawk from the "Golden Falcons" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine/Combat Search and Rescue Squadron Two (HS-2) flies past USS Thach. (US Navy photo #010905-N-7949W-004 by PH2 Daniel N. Woods from the Navy News Stand) |
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2 November 2002: San Diego CA - The guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) passes by the San Diego skyline, with her crew "manning the rail," as she departs on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Thach is part of the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV 64) Battle Group. (US Navy photo #021102-N-0226M-001 by PHCS Mahlon K. Miller from the Navy News Stand) |
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2 November 2002: USS Thach stands by off a San Diego pier as it is ready to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (US Navy photo from ComNavSurfPac Public Affairs) |
JO2(SW) Jason Heavner |
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29 November 2002: At sea aboard USS Constellation (CV-64) - The Military Sealift Command Ship USNS Pecos (T-AO-197) provides fuel and supplies to the USS Thach (FFG-43) while conducting an underway replenishment in the Pacific Ocean. Thach is part of the Constellation Battle Group which is currently on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (US Navy photo #021129-N-4142G-043 by PH2 Felix Garza, Jr. from the Navy News Stand) |
Bill Gonyo |
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19 December 2002: Central Command Area of Responsibility - The US Navy guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) as she cruises in the Arabian Gulf. Thach is in the Central Command Area of Responsibility on a regularly scheduled six-month deployment in support of UN Sanctions against Iraq. (US Navy photo #021219-N-5319A-001 by PH1 Brian Aho from the Navy News Stand) |
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23 March 2003: The Arabian Gulf (Mar. 23, 2003) - The guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) steams along as a helicopter lands on its flight deck is support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multi-national coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate weapons of mass destruction, and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (US Navy photo #030325-N-4142G-013 by PH2 Felix Garza, Jr. from the Navy News Stand) |
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23 March 2003: The Arabian Gulf - The U.S. Navy frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) comes alongside the USS Constellation (CV-64). Thach is conducting missions with the Constellation battle group in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein. (US Navy photo #030325-N-4142G-017 by PH2 Felix Garza, Jr. from the Navy News Stand) |
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2 June 2003: Naval Station San Diego, Calif. - The guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) returns to her homeport of Naval Station San Diego, Calif., following an extended deployment in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Family and friends await the Thach’s return on the pier. (US Navy photo #030602-N-9214D-042 by PH3 Juan E. Diaz from the Navy News Stand) |
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11 October 2003: San Francisco CA - Ships in formation parade across San Francisco Bay to commence Navy Fleet Week 2003 festivities. This marks the 22nd year of the Navy Fleet Week of the city by the bay. Pictured fore and aft, the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG-53), Thach and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper DDG-70. (US Navy photo #031011-N-9214D-018 by PH2 Juan E. Diaz from the Navy Newstand) |
Robert M. Cieri |
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7 May 2004: Pacific Ocean - Ships assigned to "The Golden Arrows" of Commander Destroyer Squadron Seven, assemble in a formation off the coast of San Diego CA. Pictured are the guided missile destroyers USS Benfold (DDG-65), left, USS Milius (DDG-69), center bottom, USS John Paul Jones (DDG-53), center top, and the guided missile frigate, USS Thach (FFG-43), right. (US Navy photo #040507-N-5362A-394 by PH1 Arlo K. Abrahamson from the Navy News Stand) |
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20 February 2005: Persian Gulf - The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43), patrols the Persian Gulf during a regularly scheduled deployment. (US Navy photo #050220-N-1444C-050 by PH2 Peter J. Carney from the Navy News Stand) |
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20 February 2005: Persian Gulf - Crew members assigned to the guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43), stand ready for their line handling duties as the ship makes her approach to the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE-2) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD-6). The three ships will be conducting simultaneous under-way replenishment operations. Thach and Duluth are currently participating in exercise Arabian Gauntlet 2005. Arabian Gauntlet is a multi-lateral surface, air and mine countermeasure exercise designed to practice maritime security operations with our coalition partners and allies in the region. (US Navy photo #050324-N-6932B-022 by PH1 Richard J. Brunson from the Navy News Stand) |
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23 March 2005: Persian Gulf - The guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) conducts operations in the Persian Gulf while participating in Exercise Arabian Gauntlet. Arabian Gauntlet is a multi-lateral surface, air and mine countermeasure exercise designed to practice maritime security operations with our coalition partners and allies in the region. (US Navy photo #050323-N-6932B-043 by PH1 Richard J. Brunson from the Navy News Stand) |
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23 March 2005: Persian Gulf - The guided missile frigate USS Thach (FFG 43) conducts operations in the Persian Gulf while participating in Exercise Arabian Gauntlet. Arabian Gauntlet is a multi-lateral surface, air and mine countermeasure exercise designed to practice maritime security operations with our coalition partners and allies in the region. (US Navy photo #050323-N-6932B-059 by PH1 Richard J. Brunson from the Navy News Stand) |
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30 June 2008: the Sulu Sea - The guided-missile frigate USS Thach (FFG-43) steams near the Philippine Islands during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Fengshen. Thach is at the ready to refuel helicopters which have been air-lifting food and water to remote locations on Panay Island. (US Navy photo #080630-N-5961C-015 by MCCS Spike Call from the Navy Newstand) |
Robert M. Cieri |
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23 August 2008: the Indian Ocean - Thach steams through the Indian Ocean waiting to participate in a replenishment at sea with the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10). Thach is on a routine deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility with the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class . (US Navy photo #080823-N-3659B-060 by MC2 Joseph M. Buliavac from the Navy Newstand) |
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