The ORP Generał Kazimierz Pułaski is a guided-missile frigate of the Oliver Hazard Perry class, serving in the Polish Navy. Originally constructed for the United States Navy, she was launched as USS Clark (FFG-11) and commissioned on 9 May 1980. The vessel was built by Bath Iron Works, following an order placed on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY76 program. Her construction began with the laying down of her keel on 17 July 1978, and her launch occurred on 24 March 1979. The ship features a propulsion system powered by two General Electric LM-2500 gas turbines, which provide high-speed capabilities, complemented by two 350-horsepower electric drive auxiliary propulsion units that aid maneuverability. As a frigate, she was designed for multi-role operations including anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. Throughout her service with the US Navy, USS Clark participated in notable operations such as rescuing three sailors from the Atlantic Ocean off Spain in July 1982, after they were washed overboard from the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy. In December 1992, she was involved in rescue operations during an incident off Virginia when crew members of an F-14 eject during training. The vessel's helicopter rescued the radar intercept officer, while a United States Coast Guard helicopter rescued the pilot. Clark was homeported in various locations during her US Navy service, including Philadelphia, Mayport, Newport, and Norfolk before her decommissioning on 15 March 2000. That same day, she was transferred to Poland and commissioned as ORP Generał Kazimierz Pułaski on 25 June 2000, in a ceremony attended by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Named after Kazimierz Pułaski—an important figure in both Polish and American history—the ship now operates out of Gdynia (Oksywie). Since her transfer, the vessel has actively participated in numerous NATO exercises in the Baltic Sea, demonstrating her ongoing maritime and strategic importance to Poland and NATO operations. The ship's legacy includes her distinguished service record and her role as a symbol of Polish-American military cooperation.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.