10TH OF THE CLASS — The Navy guided-missile frigate Stephen W. Groves was launched recently from Maine's Bath Iron Works before one of the largest crowds ever to attend such a ceremony in that state. The Groves was the 10th ship of the new guided-missile frigate class to be launched by BIW and, like the other FFGs delivered to the Navy by the Maine yard, is projected to be delivered ahead of schedule and under budget. The new ship was named in memory of Ensign Stephen W. Groves of East Millinocket, Maine, a Navy flyer who died protecting U.S. carriers at the Battle of Midway during World War II. The Feeney-Groves American Legion Post of East Millinocket provided the color guard for the launching ceremony. The post was named in memory of the late ensign.
10th Of The Class
Photo caption
The Navy guided-missile frigate Stephen W. Groves, 10th of the FFG class from Bath Iron Works, was launched before one of the largest crowds ever to attend such a ceremony in Maine.
Mentioned in this article
Vessel
- Stephen W. Groves Navy guided-missile frigate
Company
- Bath Iron Works shipbuilder, Maine
Contact
- Ensign Stephen W. Groves namesake, Navy flyer
Organization
- Feeney-Groves American Legion Post color guard provider
Transcribed from the May 15, 1981 print edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News. Text is OCR-derived and may contain errors.