Mark Roberts is handling all pages and E-mails concerning the Knox & Brooke class Frigates.

Compiled by: OS2 Tim Spreier

The USS Trippe (FF-1075) was commissioned on 19 September 1970 at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina. She was the fourth ship of the Navy bearing the name of LT John Trippe.

Following her fitting out availability in Charleston, Trippe completed refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Post shakedown availability at Boston Naval Shipyard. Trippe was the first ship to fire the ISSM Weapons System and the first destroyer to be configured with the Basic Point Defense Missile System.

In June of 1972, Trippe deployed to Southeast Asia as escort to the USS America (CVA-66) conducting strike operations into North Vietnam. Following duty in the Gulf of Tonkin Trippe proceeded on a goodwill mission to the Indian Ocean. Returning to Newport, RI in December 1972, Trippe became the first Knox Class Ocean Frigate to completely circumnavigate the globe.

Trippe deployed to the Mediterranean for duty with the Sixth Fleet in August 1973 and returned to Newport, RI in January 1974. Following a homeport change to Charleston, SC in March 1974, Trippe deployed to the Indian Ocean for duty with Middle East Forces in January 1975. Trippe underwent a major overhaul in Charleston Naval Shipyard from October 1975 to May 1976. Returning to the Fleet in June 1976, Trippe conducted refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba receiving a 91 percent completion score, the highest given any U.S. Navy ship in a year and one half.

Trippe deployed to Middle East Forces in January 1977 conducting a goodwill tour of three West African ports prior to arrival in the Middle East. Upon completion of a highly successful Middle East deployment that included several "firsts," Trippe returned home to Charleston, SC in September 1977.

(1977 to 1978 missing.)

In June 1979 Trippe was one of three ships assigned to the UNITAS XX 79 goodwill tour to South America. The UNITAS XX 79 cruise was highlighted by transiting the Panama Canal, port visits to twenty different ports in twelve different countries including Kings Road, Puerto Rico, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, Valparaiso, Chile, Talcahuano, Chile, Montevideo, Uruguay and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. November of 1979 was spent touring the West African ports of Monrovia, Liberia, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Banjul, Gambia, Dakar, Senegal and Cape Verde. Trippe returned to her homeport, Charleston, SC in December 1979.

Trippe was sent to Bath Ironworks Shipyards, Bath, Maine in February 1980 for major retrofit which was scheduled for twelve months, but Trippe and her crew completed the shipyard retrofit by December 1980, including post retrofit sea trials. Trippe returned to her homeport in Charleston, SC in December 1980. Trippe then conducted refresher training in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from April 1981 through May 1981 with a three day interruption for Special Operations as no other sea going ASW ships were available for duty.

In September 1981 Trippe was deployed to MED 1-82 Cruise for operations with NATO Naval Forces starting with Ocean Safari 81. Port of calls were made in England, Scotland, Belgium, France, Spain, Algeria and Italy. Trippe returned to her homeport in Charleston, SC on 18 February 1982. In June of 1982 Trippe and her crew were off the west coast of Central America conducting special operations when a Nicaraguan Gun Boat open fired on the Trippe�s LAMPS helicopter. Trippe again conducted special operations off the west coast of Central America from October 1982 to December 1982. Trippe transited the Panama Canal five times between June 1979 and December 1982.

On 1 March 1983 Trippe was deployed to IO 2-83 for operations in the Indian Ocean with the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on her maiden voyage. Trippe conducted operations with NATO Naval Forces in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea as part of the Sixth Fleet. This deployment was highlighted by the coming and going transits of the Suez Canal and special ASW operations in the Mediterranean Sea tracking "Foxtrot" and "Juliet" Class Soviet submarines. Trippe also experienced an all time low when on 1 May 1983 her LAMPS helicopter crashed on the flight deck while conducting night landings in the Red Sea. The pilot, one of three crew members aboard the helicopter, was lost. Trippe returned to her homeport in Charleston, SC in September 1983.

Trippe�s Captains:  

CDR  J. C. Rodger       ?/77 to 8/79
CDR  B. G. Taylor       8/79 to 8/81
CAPT  C. M. Barker      8/81 to 2/83
CDR  T. S. Weaver       2/83 to ?

Last quarter 1983 to 1992 missing.