Almost two months into its final deployment and in the Black Sea supporting security during the XXII Olympic Winter Games being held in Sochi, Russia, the USS Taylor (FFG 50) was capping a long and distinguished service in the U.S. Navy. Then it ran aground while preparing to moor in Samsun, Turkey.
The Mayport-based Taylor ran aground on Feb. 12. There were no reported injuries to the approximately 200 sailors aboard and mooring continued without further incident. The grounding is currently under investigation.
The Mayport-based Taylor ran aground on Feb. 12. There were no reported injuries to the approximately 200 sailors aboard and mooring continued without further incident. The grounding is currently under investigation.
The U.S. 6th Fleet flag ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) conducts small boat operations with the guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), Feb. 11, 2014. Taylor, homeported in Mayport, Fla., was deployed to the Black Sea in support of the XXII Olympic Winter Games, being held in the Black Sea port of Sochi, Russia. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. (j.g.) David Hancock
Deployed to the 6th Fleet area of operations, the Taylor and the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) are operating in the Black Sea in support of the Olympics. Taylor has been operating in the Black Sea since Feb. 5, while the Mount Whitney arrived on Feb. 4.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate’s namesake was a naval aviator who was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
The Taylor is scheduled for decommissioning in 2015 and is currently on a seven-month deployment that started on Jan. 8, when the Taylor left Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
Team USA marches into Fisht Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the XXII Olympic Winter Games, Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014. Security concerns about the Olympics prompted the deployment of the Taylor and Mount Whitney to the Black Sea. U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps
The Taylor entered service on Dec. 1, 1984, and is named after Cmdr. Jesse Junior Taylor. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate’s namesake was a naval aviator who was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism during the attempted rescue of a pilot near the North Vietnamese port of Haiphong on Nov. 17, 1965.