Pakistan commissions ex-USN frigate

The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS McInerney was paid off by the US Navy (USN) on 31 August and immediately recommissioned into the Pakistan Navy (PN).

The 4,100-ton vessel was renamed PNS Alamgir (F 260) during the 'hot transfer' ceremony at the Mayport naval base in Florida, which followed an agreement between the United States and Pakistan under the former's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Alamgir is likely to be followed into Pakistani service by several other members of its class. In 2009, the government in Islamabad was pressing Washington to agree to transfer a further five or six Oliver Hazard Perrys as they become surplus to USN requirements.

Originally commissioned in December 1979, the lead ship will now be refurbished in the US while its crew completes a training package under USN instruction. The engineering work may include the addition of a surface-to-air missile system; the original Mk 13 launchers (for SM-1 missiles) were removed in US service.

The FMS deal was worth about USD78 million, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said when it notified Congress of the possible sale in February this year.