Navy’s Vanishing Frigates — Allies Sail Them

Three naval warships sailing in formation on open sea
Photo: AlejandroCarnicero / Shutterstock

Nineteen American-built frigates still patrol the world’s seas—yet not one sails under the U.S. flag, a gap left when Washington retired its Oliver Hazard Perry-class without a ready replacement.

Story Highlights

  • The Navy ended its Perry-class frigates in 2015, creating a long-running gap.
  • Retired U.S. frigates continue to serve in allied navies across multiple regions.
  • Plans to replace them lagged for years, leaving missions uncovered.
  • Analysts warn the gap still strains fleet coverage and ship counts.

What Ended America’s Frigates

United States Navy leaders decommissioned the last Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, USS Simpson, in September 2015. That ceremony marked the official end of the Perry class in U.S. service. Planners expected the Littoral Combat Ship to assume many roles once held by frigates. Yet the Perry-class left faster than the new ships arrived, and gaps in regional missions appeared, including in the Southern Command area. The choice closed a chapter on a proven ship before its replacement was fully in place.

The Navy weighed bringing some retired frigates back after 2015 to boost numbers. Senior leaders examined reactivating seven or eight hulls from mothballs in 2017. Internal reviews warned the move would cost billions and add little to modern combat power. Those memos argued reactivation would drain funds from vital upgrades to newer ships. The result was a long stretch with no U.S. frigates at sea while the fleet tried to fill the gap with other platforms and missions.

Allies Sail U.S.-Built Frigates America Gave Up

While the United States moved on, allied navies kept the American-built frigates in the fight. Transfers placed former Perry-class ships with Turkey, Egypt, Poland, Bahrain, and others. Those hulls still cover patrols, convoy escorts, and air defense in crowded waters. Their continued service shows the basic platform still had value with measured upgrades and steady upkeep. It also underscores how quickly the United States surrendered a workhorse role without a proven successor ready to go.

Defense reporting and analysis since then has stressed the real cost of that decision. Commentators noted that the end of the Perry-class left specific mission areas uncovered for years. The Navy’s effort to backfill with Littoral Combat Ships ran into delays and shortfalls. That left destroyers and other high-end ships doing routine escort and presence tasks. Using billion-dollar destroyers for jobs a frigate could handle strains crews, budgets, and maintenance cycles over time.

The Replacement That Stalled and Today’s Path Ahead

The Navy’s next plan aimed to field a new frigate class to restore balance. But the Constellation-class effort faltered with cost growth and delays, and the service cut the program back in late 2025, accepting only two ships and canceling others. Analysts at the Center for Maritime Strategy called the outcome predictable and urged bold trials with allied designs to fill the gap faster. Their case rests on time lost since 2015 and the need for affordable, repeatable ships that free destroyers for major threats.

Fleet math adds pressure. The Congressional Budget Office reports that from 2026 to 2030, the Navy’s inventory will trail where it would be under past build tempos by about 20 ships on average. That shortfall makes the missing frigate tier even more painful. A right-sized frigate force would spread presence, enforce sanctions, and escort commerce without burning out top-tier warships. Until a reliable frigate returns in numbers, the fleet will keep paying for a past bet that did not pay off.

Sources:

19fortyfive.com, vietnam.vn, defensenews.com, asiatimes.com, naval-technology.com, globalsecurity.org, nationalinterest.org, usni.org

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