The public is allowed to tour the ship as guests of its Commanding Officer, Commander Charles B. Dixon, June 22 and 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Crewmembers from Hawes will participate in a number of events during Windjammer Days including the ``Sea Creatures'' Street Parade.

Hawes has a crew of 16 officers, 15 chief petty officers, and 185 sailors. Hawes' Commanding Officer is Commander Charles Dixon. Hawes was the 20th OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class frigate built by Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine.

Hawes carries the name of Rear Admiral Richard E. Hawes. During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, USS Pigeon, under the command of Admiral Hawes, managed to tow the submarine USS Seadragon to safety.

Hawes utilizes two marine gas turbine engines for main propulsion, and is configured with surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles, a 76 mm gun, as well as a variety of sophisticated self-defense weapon systems, electronics, radars and communications equipment. Hawes is also configured to carry two SH-60B LAMPS III (Light Airborne Multi-purpose) helicopters, which are integrated with the ship's combat systems suite to enhance the ship's anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

Hawes is a multi-mission platform capable of performing in a variety of roles ranging from convoy escort and littoral operations to air and surface warfare. The addition of NTDS, LAMPS helicopters, and the Tactical Towed Array System (TACTAS) has given USS Hawes a combat capability far beyond the class program expectations of the mid-1970's.

For more information or to arrange a tour of USS Hawes, please contact the Navy Office of Information New England at (617) 951-2690. For more information about the Navy, visit our web site at www.navy.mil.