Building ordered on 22 July 1964, laid down by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington, USA on 22 September 1970, launched on 24 April 1971, handed over on 28 April 1972, commissioned on 6 May 1972, decommissioned on 26 September 1991, stricken on 11 January 1995 and sold to be broken up which was realized by end September 2000.
Knox-class frigates, preceded by Garcia and Brooke-classes frigates and succeeded by Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates. Totally 55 planned but 46 completed. The DE-1098-1107 were cancelled on 24 February 1969. Laid down as ocean escorts (earlier called destroyer escorts) specialized in antisubmarine warfare by reclassified as frigates under the 1975 ship reclassification plan on 30 June 1975. A part of the Knox-class was modified and called the Joseph Hewes-sub class. The ships served in the navies of the USA, Taiwan, Egypt, Greece, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey. A modified design was used by Spain for building the Baleares-class. General class specifications. With a full load displacement of 4.260 tons were the dimensions 126,5 (waterline)-133,5 (over all) x 14,2 x 7,5 metres or 415-438 x 46.9 x 24.9 feet. The machinery consisted of 1 Westinghouse steam turbine served by 2 boilers delivering maximum 35.000 shp allowing with the single screw a speed of more as 27 knots. The crew numbered 257 men (including 17 officers). The armament consisted of 1-Mk-18 cell missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles, 1-12,7cm/5” cal 54 Mk-42 gun, 2x2 32,4cm/12.75” fixed Mark 46 torpedo tubes, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow (BPDMS) replaced by Phalanx CISW(since the 1980s) and a DASH drone helicopter later replaced by a SH-2D/F Seasprite LAMPS 1 helicopter.
