American Frigate Oliver Hazard Perry Country: USA Type: Frigate Service: 1977 - 2008 Ships in class: 51

The Oliver Hazard Perry class (sometimes referred to as the Perry class or FFG-7 class), is a class of frigates designed in the United States as general-purpose escort vessels, capable of most naval operations, yet inexpensive enough to be bought in large quantities to replace World War II-era destroyers. Fifty-one Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates were built for the US Navy between 1977 and 1989. The Perry class frigates were designed primarily as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships. The ships are equipped to escort and protect carrier battle groups, amphibious landing groups, underway replenishment groups and convoys. They can also conduct independent operations. The addition of NTDS, LAMPS helicopters, and the Tactical Towed Array System (TACTAS) gave these ships a combat capability far beyond the class program expectations, and has made the ships an integral and valued asset in virtually any war-at-sea scenario. In 2008, 30 long-hull Perry class frigates remain in active service with the US Navy.

In addition to the 51 Perry frigates built for the USN, four were built in the USA for the Royal Australian Navy. Eight were built in Taiwan, 6 in Spain and 2 in Australia for their respective navies, and decommission US Navy ships have been acquired by the navies of Bahrain, Egypt, Poland and Turkey. Pakistan requested six ships in 2007.