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Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - R - G - B
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 stars
Second Row: CG Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ CG "O" - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (+4) - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star
Third Row: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 stars - Armed Forces Service Medal w/ 2 stars
Fourth Row: Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 5 stars - CG Special Operations Service Ribbon w/ 5 stars - United Nations Medal


"Power To Prevail"
Specifications:
Class: Oliver Hazard Perry (Long Hull, LAMPS III modified, As Built)
Type: SCB No. 261 / 1979 - 1984
Number in Class: 26 (8, 36-43, 45-61)
Displacement: 3174 tons (std), 4082 tons (full)
Length: 408' (wl), 453' (oa)
Beam: 45.4' (extreme)
Draft: 24' 6" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 GE LM 2500 gas turbine engines; 41,000 shp; 1 shaft, cp propeller, 325 hp retractable propeller pods
Speed: 29 kts
Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots, 5400 nm @ 16 knots
Complement: 13 / 206 (includes 19 man air detachment)
Missiles: 1-Mk 13 Mod 4 launcher, 4 SSM McDonnell-Douglas Harpoon missiles, 36 GDC-Pomona Standard SM-1MR missiles
Guns: 1-Mk 75 3"/62 cal. OTO Melara gun, 1-Vulcan Phalanx CIS, 4-.50 cal. MG's
ASW Weapons: 6-324mm Mk 32 (2 triple) tubes / Mk 46 torpedoes
Radars: AN/SPS-55 (surface), AN/SPS-49(V)214 (air)
Sonars: AN/SQS-56, AN/SQR-19 TACTAS (Towed Array)
Elec. Warfare: SLQ-25 Nixie System, SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Countermeasures System
Fire Control Systems: 1 Mk13 Weapon-Direction System, 1 Mk92 weapons FCS, 1 modified SPG-60 STIR radar (Separate Target Illumination Radar)
Helicopter: 2-SH-60 LAMPS III Helicopters, RAST (Recovery, Assistance, Securing and Traversing System) helicopter hauldown system
Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) Building and Operational Data:
  • 28 April 1980: Building contract awarded to the Bath Iron Works Corp.
  • 28 December 1982: Keel laid by the Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Me.
  • 13 August 1983: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Edna D. Woodruff, mother of Lt. Bradley
  • 30 June 1984: Commissioned at Bath, Cmdr. Thomas I. Eubanks in command, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 6 at Charleston, S.C.
  • 11 August 1984: Ceremonial commissioning held at the State Pier in Portsmouth, N.H.
  • 17 September 1984: Moored at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, commenced four weeks of shakedown training
  • 02 March 1995: Made a four day port visit to Koper, Slovenia, the first U.S. warship to ever visit that country
  • 13 July 1995: Homeport changed to Norfolk, Va., reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 20
  • 01 August 1997: Homeport changed to Mayport, Fla., reassigned to the Western Hemisphere Group
  • 01 July 1999: Reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 14
  • 28 March 2014: Scheduled for decommissioning
  • Present Status: Active, Atlantic Naval Reserve Force, at Mayport, Fla. with DesRon 14
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Robert G. Bradley 75k Artist's conception of Robert G. Bradley 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 long hulled guided missile frigates ARE available. 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
    Robert G. Bradley 30k Robert Graham Bradley (26 September 1921 - 24 October 1944) was born in Washington DC and graduated the US Naval Academy on 19 June 1942 as part of the Class of 1943. He reported to the New York Shipbuilding Corporation at Camden, N.J. for the fitting out of USS Princeton (CVL 23). While serving in Princeton he received promotions to Lieutenant, as the ship took part in many operations ranging from the occupation of Baker Island (September 1943) to the Battle of Leyte Gulf (October 1944), in which the ship was lost.

    On 24 October 1944, Princeton was operating of the coast of Luzon, in the Leyte Gulf, about 150 miles east of Manila, when a Japanese dive bomber attacked her, releasing a single bomb that penetrated the flight hanger and main decks and then exploded, touching off a conflagration that soon had the carrier's entire hanger deck ablaze. A series of explosions then rocked the ship. Lieutenant Bradley, Princeton's Ass't First Lieutenant, led a repair party in the effort to control the fires until the intense heat generated by those flames forced him and his men to fall back. After ensuring that no wounded men had been left behind during the abandonment, Bradley followed his men into the water at about 1005 and was picked up by the destroyer Morrison (DD 560).

    Shortly after 1300, Bradley left Morrison and rejoined his ship. Unfortunately a submarine and air alert at 1330 drew off Birmingham (CL 62) and Morrison to assume screening positions, at a time when the fire was almost totally under control. The persistent blaze flared up. With renewed vigor Morrison and Birmingham attempted to renew their efforts alongside Princeton getting a line onboard the carrier at about 1515. Shortly thereafter, at 1523, the flames touched off a mass detonation of 100-pound bombs stowed aft in a torpedo magazine, and literally blew off the carrier's stern, killing Bradley and every man in the repair party that had been in the vicinity.

    Bradley had repeatedly risked his life, entering the most dangerous areas below decks to ascertain the extent of damage and to fight the fires blazing onboard ship. Lieutenant Robert Graham Bradley was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and FFG 49 is named in his honor. (drawing of R.G. Bradley from the ship's first cruise book)
    Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 112k 3 August 1983: Bath, Me. - Edna D. Woodruff (Mother of Lt. Bradley), left, sponsor of the guided missile frigate Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) and Sybil Godfrey Geiger, matron of honor, stand near the ship's bow during the launching ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05414 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the Defense Visual Information Center) Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 121k 3 August 1983: Bath, Me. - Edna D. Woodruff, sponsor of Robert G. Bradley christens the ship during its launching ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05415 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 118k 3 August 1983: Bath, Me. - A bow view of Robert G. Bradley sliding down the ways. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05417 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 110k 3 August 1983: Bath, Me. - A starboard bow view of Robert G. Bradley in the water after its launching. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05416 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 124k 30 July 1984: Bath, Me. - A starboard bow view (in fog) of Robert G. Bradley as its commissioning ceremony gets underway. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-07033 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 117k 30 July 1984: Bath, Me. - Commander Thomas I. Eubanks, prospective commanding officer of Robert G. Bradley, speaks during the ship's commissioning. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05422 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 106k 30 July 1984: Bath, Me. - Cdr Thomas I. Eubanks accepts command of Robert G. Bradley during the ship's commissioning. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-05423 by Bath Iron Works Corp. from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 90k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - A port bow view of Robert G. Bradley as its ceremonial commissioning gets underway at Portsmouth, N.H. The ship's crew stands in formation to the right. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-06947 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 133k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - A Marine Corps color guard participates in the commissioning of Robert G. Bradley. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-07022 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 114k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - Crewmen march along the pier prior to going aboard Robert G. Bradley during its commissioning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-07003 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 131k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - Mrs. Edna D. Woodruff, right, sponsor, sits with members of her family during the ceremonial commissioning ceremony for Robert G. Bradley. Mrs. Woodruff is the mother of the ship's namesake who was killed during World War II. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-06950 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 146k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - An overall view of the commissioning ceremony for Robert G. Bradley. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-07009 by PH3 Joan Zopf from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 195k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - Mrs. Barbara Bradley Caves, the widow of Lt. Robert G. Bradley is welcomed aboard for the reception after the commissioning ceremony. Stepping off the brow behind her is the mayor of Portsmouth, N.H. Cap't John H. Lobdell, USN (Ret.)
    USNA Class of 1943
    Classmate of Lt. Robert G. Bradley
    Robert G. Bradley 78k 11 August 1984: Portsmouth, N.H. - The cake being served at the Commissioning Ceremony reception.
    Robert G. Bradley 40k date / location unknown Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 61k date / location unknown Igancio F. Lopez
    Spanish Navy (Ret.)
    Robert G. Bradley 64k date / location unknown
    Robert G. Bradley 127k 16 August 1984: Atlantic Ocean - Starboard bow view of Robert G. Bradley underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-10573 from the DVIC) Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 125k 16 August 1984: Atlantic Ocean - Starboard bow view of Robert G. Bradley underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-10576 from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 137k 16 August 1984: Atlantic Ocean - Aerial port bow view of Robert G. Bradley underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-10578 from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 139k 16 August 1984: Atlantic Ocean - Starboard quarter view of Robert G. Bradley underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-10575 from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 113k 16 August 1984: Atlantic Ocean - Starboard quarter view of Robert G. Bradley underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-10577 from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 155k 20 August 1995: Chesapeake Bay, Va.- A starboard bow view of Robert G. Bradley entering the Hampton Roadstead following the passage of Hurricane Felix from the area. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-95-02291 by Don S. Montgomery, from the DVIC)
    Robert G. Bradley 26k June 1998: Halifax, Nova Scotia - taken during a port call. Peter Wilson
    Robert G. Bradley 30k June 1998: Halifax, Nova Scotia - taken during a port call.
    Robert G. Bradley 96k 3 November 2001: Atlantic Ocean - Robert G. Bradley arrives in Montevideo for the start of the Atlantic phase of the 42nd annual UNITAS exercise. The Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil) Niteroi Class (FFGHM) Frigate Uniao (F-45) is moored to the left. The Atlantic Phase of UNITAS XLII, held 2-18 November 2001, is a series of complex naval exercises focused on promoting inter-operability and multi-national coalition in South America and the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-05-00558 by PH2 Aaron Peterson from the DVIC) Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 116k 22 October 2003: South Atlantic Ocean - A BQM 74 remote-controlled drone is launched from the flight deck aboard the guided missile frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) to serve as a target for an anti-air warfare exercise conducted as part of UNITAS 45-04 Atlantic. The drone was launched and controlled by a detachment from Fleet Composite Squadron Six (VC-6) deployed aboard Bradley in support of the exercise. UNITAS provides the participant navies the opportunity to train together and develop interoperability in a highly technical environment. Hosted by Argentina, this year's Atlantic Phase also has the participation of naval forces from Brazil, Peru, Spain, Uruguay and the United States. (U.S. Navy photo #031022-N-2779T-001 by PH2 Robert Taylor from the Navy Newstand)
    Robert G. Bradley 115k 26 May 2004: New York City NY - Crew members assigned to the Keeper-class coastal bouy tender Katherine Walker (WLM-552) render honors to the guided missile frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) at the beginning of Fleet Week in New York City. Over 4,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen on twelve ships are participating in this year's event held from 26 May to 2 June. (U.S. Coast Guard photo #040526-C-5313L-080 by PO Mike Lutz from the Navy Newstand)
    Robert G. Bradley 168k 8 February 2007: the Pacific Ocean - The guided-missile frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) prepares for an underway replenishment with the fast fleet tanker RFA Wave Ruler (A390). Bradley is deployed under operational control of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command as part of a Joint/Inter-Agency Task force conducting Counter Narcotics Trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo #070208-N-3977J-001 by AW2 Julius Jones from the Navy Newstand) Bill Gonyo
    Robert G. Bradley 148k 12 March 2007: the Pacific Ocean - Cutlass 460, piloted by Lt.(jg) Peter Mallory and Lt. Matt Mariano, is guided into position by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Julius Jones during a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) with guided missile frigate USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49). Bradley is conducting counter narco-terrorism operations with the U.S. Coast Guard. (U.S. Navy photo #070312-N-0037M-001 by Lt. Timothy Metcalf from the Navy Newstand) Navsource
    Robert G. Bradley 171k 5 April 2007: Mayport, Fla. - Sailors attached to USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) man the rails upon return from a six-month deployment. Bradley was independently deployed to the Southern Command Area of operations to conduct Counter-Narco Terrorism operations. During her deployment Bradley trained 22 Peruvian Naval Personnel on emergency procedures and ship control. Additionally, the ship conducted six port visits, participating in a variety of community relations' projects, and transited the Panama Canal four times. (U.S. Navy photo #070405-N-1810F-048 by MC2 Lynn Friant from the Navy Newstand)
    Robert G. Bradley 140k 5 April 2007: Mayport, Fla. - Sailors attached to USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49) man the rails upon return to Mayport, Fla., following a six-month deployment. Bradley was deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations to conduct counter-narco terrorism operations. (U.S. Navy photo #070405-N-1810F-067 by MC2 Lynn Friant from the Navy Newstand) Robert M. Cieri
    Robert G. Bradley 243k 5 April 2007: Mayport, Fla. - Crewmembers greet family after returning from a six-month deployment.

    (top left) Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Peter R. Berning embraces his daughter on her 3rd birthday, which happened to coincide with the ship's homecoming.

    (top right) Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Angel Melendez embraces his son.

    (bottom) Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) 1st Class Lee Mears attached to USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG 49), smiles for photos with his wife and his niece.

    (U.S. Navy photos #070405-N-1810F-141, #070405-N-1810F-200, #070405-N-1810F-152 by MC2 Lynn Friant from the Navy Newstand)

    R.G Bradley Memorabilia
    Welcome Aboard Pamphlet
    circa 1986
    Robert G. Bradley
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Welcome Aboard Pamphlet
    circa 2006
    Robert G. Bradley
    Courtesy of
    Lt.(jg) Matthew Roberts

    USS Robert G. Bradley FFG 49 History
    Note: History is unavailable at this time
    This class of ship was built too late to be covered by the DANFS project

    Robert G. Bradley's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  30 Jun. 1984 - 01 Oct. 1986Cmdr. Thomas Irvin Eubanks (New Wilmington, Pa.)
    2.)  01 Oct. 1986 - 09 Dec. 1988Cmdr. Billy Laroy Lewis (Pensacola, Fla.)
    3.)  09 Dec. 1988 - 04 Jan. 1991Cmdr. Kevin Joseph Cosgriff (Binghamton, N.Y.) (ret. as Vadm.)
    4.)  04 Jan. 1991 - 14 Jul. 1992Cmdr. Colin L. Martin
    5.)  14 Jul. 1992 - 01 Sep. 1992Cmdr. William Aloysius Walsh, Jr. (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    6.)  01 Sep. 1992 - 23 Oct. 1992Lcdr. Michael Raymond Johnston
    7.)  23 Oct. 1992 - 26 Aug. 1994Cmdr. Vinson Elmer Smith (Carthage, Tenn.) (ret. as Radm.)
    8.)  26 Aug. 1994 - 25 Apr. 1996Cmdr. Elliot Powell, Jr.
    9.)  25 Apr. 1996 - 19 Sep. 1997Cmdr. Mark Alan Stearns
    10.) 19 Sep. 1997 - 30 Apr. 1999Cmdr. Richard Warren Bump
    11.) 30 Apr. 1999 - 15 Dec. 2000Cmdr. Mark A. Baluch
    12.) 15 Dec. 2000 - 06 Sep. 2002Cmdr. David K. Wright
    13.) 06 Sep. 2002 - 09 Jul. 2004Cmdr. Michael Anthony Strano (Hammonton, N.J.)
    14.) 09 Jul. 2004 - 12 May 2006Cmdr. Edwin Lebron (San Juan, P.R.)
    15.) 12 May 2006 - 02 Nov. 2007Cmdr. James Patrick Cody (Selden, N.Y.)
    16.) 02 Nov. 2007 - 01 May 2009Cmdr. Clinton Andrew Carroll (Virginia Beach, Va.)
    17.) 01 May 2009 - 04 Nov. 2010Cmdr. Timothy Funston Sparks
    18.) 04 Nov. 2010 - 11 May 2012Cmdr. Darryl Brown
    19.) 11 May 2012 - Cmdr. Peter Ehlers (Portsmouth, Va.)

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information

    None
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
    made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
    a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
    Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources
    View This Vessel's Official Web page
    USS Robert G. Bradley (FFG49) Facebook Page (Official)
    USS Robert G. Bradley Group Facebook Page
    USS Robert G. Bradley Sailors Facebook Page
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry- USS Robert G. Bradley
    USS Robert G. Bradley Page on Military.Com
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    This page created by Daniel N. Dunham, expanded and maintained by Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated 15 February 2014