Knox class frigate
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Image:USS Badger FF 1071 1975.jpg Image:Midway Refueling Badger 1975.jpg Knox class frigates was originally laid down as ocean escorts (formerly called destroyer escorts), but were all redesignated as frigates on 30 June 1975 in the USN 1975 ship reclassification and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.
The lead ship of the class was the USS Knox (DE-1052), laid down October 5, 1965 and commissioned April 12, 1969, at Todd Shipyards in Seattle.
These ships were designed primarily as antisubmarine (ASW) platforms. They each had AN/SQS-26 hull-mounted sonar manufactured by General Electric and capable of active echo ranging in the 3.2Khz range. The active modes of operation included omni-directional, phased directional, bottom bounce, and convergence zone. The battle displays included A and B scans. There was also a "Unit 31" chart readout display capable of long-distance passive detection, often well beyond the ranges capable of the surface search radar. The frigates were also equipped with an AN/AQS-35V Independent Variable Depth Sonar (IVDS) manufactured by EDO Corportaion of College Point, NY, operating actively in the 13Khz range with dual Planned Position Indicator (PPI) battle displays. The IVDS' sonar transducers were packaged within a 2 ton fiberglass-enclosed "fish" containing the sonar array and a gyro-compass/sensor package launched by the massive 13V Hoist from a stern compartment, located just beneath the main deck, to depths of up to 600 feet. The IVDS could take advantage of water layer temperature conditions in close-range (less than 20,000 yard) submarine detection, tracking and fire-control.
At 4200 tonnes, with a length of 438 feet and a beam of 47 feet, they are driven by a single screw geared turbine developing 35,000 shaft horsepower (26 MW), giving them a speed of 27 knots. The steam plant for these ships consists of two boilers, each equipped with a high-pressure (supercharger) forced draught air supply system, allowing a plant working pressure of 1,200 PSI and superheat. This design allows fast acceleration, crucial while prosecuting a submarine attack. They are equipped with one 5 in (127 mm) 54 calibre Mark 42 gun forward, an ASROC abaft the gun and forward of the bridge, and a 20 millimetre Phalanx close-in weapons system. Since they are single purpose platforms their surface defense capability is nominal; however they do mount Harpoon missiles and Mk-46 torpedoes. They are equipped with a helicopter hangar aft.
These ships were retired with the end of the Cold War and the removal of the need for an advanced ASW capability. By 1994 all ships of this class had been retired from the US Navy, although some remain in service with foreign nations such as Egypt, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey and Mexico.
Units
- USS Knox (FF-1052)
- USS Roark (FF-1053)
- USS Gray (FF-1054)
- USS Hepburn (FF-1055)
- USS Connole (FF-1056)
- USS Rathburne (FF-1057)
- USS Meyerkord (FF-1058)
- USS William S. Sims (FF-1059)
- USS Lang (FF-1060)
- USS Patterson (FF-1061)
- USS Whipple (FF-1062)
- USS Reasoner (FF-1063)
- USS Lockwood (FF-1064)
- USS Stein (FF-1065)
- USS Marvin Shields (FF-1066)
- USS Francis Hammond (FF-1067)
- USS Vreeland (FF-1068)
- USS Bagley (FF-1069)
- USS Downes (FF-1070)
- USS Badger (FF-1071)
- USS Blakely (FF-1072)
- USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073)
- USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074)
- USS Trippe (FF-1075)
- USS Fanning (FF-1076)
- USS Ouellet (FF-1077)
- USS Joseph Hewes (FF-1078)
- USS Bowen (FF-1079)
- USS Paul (FF-1080)
- USS Aylwin (FF-1081)
- USS Elmer Montgomery (FF-1082)
- USS Cook (FF-1083)
- USS McCandless (FF-1084)
- USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085) (to Turkey as Karadeniz)
- USS Brewton (FF-1086)
- USS Kirk (FF-1087)
- USS Barbey (FF-1088)
- USS Jesse L. Brown (FF-1089) (to Egypt as Damyat)
- USS Ainsworth (FF-1090)
- USS Miller (FF-1091)
- USS Thomas C. Hart (FF-1092)
- USS Capodanno (FF-1093)
- USS Pharris (FF-1094)
- USS Truett (FF-1095)
- USS Valdez (FF-1096)
- USS Moinester (FF-1097) (to Egypt as Rasheed)