USS Taylor (FFG-50)

USS Taylor (FFG-50), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, is a ship of the United States Navy named for Commander Jesse J. Taylor (1925–1965), a naval aviator who was awarded the Navy Cross posthumously for his heroism in the Vietnam War.

Taylor's keel was laid down by Bath Iron Works Corp., Bath, Maine, on May 5, 1983. She was launched November 5, 1983, and commissioned December 1, 1984 in Bath Maine.

TAYLOR was homeported in Charleston, SC from 1985-1993. The ship deployed to Northern Europe as part of the Standing Naval Forces, Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) in 1987 and the Persian Gulf in 1988 and 1990. Participated in Operation Earnest Will. In 1993, the TAYLOR changed homeport to Mayport, FL with the closing of Charleston Naval Station.

As of 2005, Taylor is homeported at NS Mayport, Florida, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 14.

In August 2008 Taylor entered the Black Sea conducting a pre-planned routine visit to the Black Sea region to interact and exercise with NATO partners Romania and Bulgaria. It joined ships from Poland, Germany and Spain.

In December 2009, TAYLOR celebrated 25 years in Commission.

In September 2010, Taylor was buzzed by a Russian Tu-95 bomber. However, as of 2004, all significant anti-aircraft capability was deleted from this class.