FFG retirements raise doubts about drug war

The Elrod shook, rattled and rolled as it made all haste at 27 knots toward the coast of Panama. So constant was the ship’s throb that one crew member was overheard saying that “we’re going so fast the paint is peeling.”

The frigate was moving with a purpose, chasing a “go fast” boat heading north, likely out of Colombia, and suspected of carrying cocaine.

That boat, with dual outboard engines, had been located by one of the two SH-60B helicopters operated from Elrod by the “Jaguars” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 60.

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