Building ordered on 22 July 1964, laid down by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington, USA on 6 January 1969, launched on 1 August 1970, handed over on 22 June 1971, commissioned on 31 July 1971, decommissioned on 28 August 1993, leased to Turkey and commissioned as the Kotacepe, sold to Turkey on 22 February 2002 sunk while used as a target in the Mediterranean on 4 May 2005.
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.
