· 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to Todd Shipyards Corp. · 05 September 1968: Keel laid by the Todd Shipyard Corp., Seattle, WA · 13 December 1969: Launched · 28 August 1971: Commissioned, Cmdr. Edmund B. Bossart, Jr. in command · 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1070) · 05 June 1992: Decommissioned after 20.8 years of service · 11 January 1995: Stricken from the NVR · 15 August 2003: Sunk as a target off the West Coast by harpoon missiles launched from P-3 aircraft * Transfer to Taiwan was considered, but Taiwan was no longer interested in obtaining any more vessels of this class. (Ex-Aylwin, and Valdez were purchased outright and the remaining 6 vessels already in service, Robert E. Peary, Joseph Hewes, Cook, Brewton, Kirk and Barbey will be purchased at the end of their 5 year lease.)
Class: Knox Type: SCB No. 199C / 1964 Number in Class: 46 Displacement: 3020 tons (std), 4065 tons (full) Length: 415' (wl), 438' (oa) Beam: 46' 9" (extreme) Draft: 24' 9" (draft limit) Propulsion: 2 Combustion Engineering 1200psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft Speed: 27 kts Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots Complement: 16 / 211 Missiles: 1 8-tube Mk25 Sea Sparrow BPDMS in DE 1052-1069, 1071-1083, 1 8-tube Mk29 NATO Sea Sparrow IPDMS in DE 1070, Harpoon missiles from modified ASROC launcher Guns: 1 x 5"/54 cal. DP Mk 42 (600 rds) ASW Weapons: 1 Mk16 ASROC launcher (16 missiles), 4-12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 (4x1 fixed) tubes / Mk 46 torpedos (6) Radars: AN/SPS-10 (surface), AN/SPS-40 (air), AN/SPS-58 threat warning in some ships Sonars: AN/SQS-26CX, AN/SQS-35 IVDS in FF-1052, 1056, 1063-1071, 1073-1076, 1078-1097 Fire Control Systems: Mk68 Mod. 11/13/14 Gun FCS, Mk114 Mod 14/16 ASW FCS Helicopter: 1 - SH-2 LAMPS Helicopter Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign: N - M - F - A Crew: Crew: 18 officers, 267 enlisted
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 star (Navy Battle "E" Ribbon) Navy Expeditionary Medal w/ 1 star National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Humanitarian Service Ribbon Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
2/20/1981 Indian Ocean USS DOWNES is under tow by the USNS NARRAGANSETT (T-ATF 167) from Diego Garcia to Subic Bay, Philippines, for repairs following casualties to both boilers. On February 22, the DOWNES is able to bring one boiler back into operation and continues to Subic Bay on its own power in company with the NARRAGANSETT. 10/17/1989 Off Coast of Japan A sailor is lost off the USS DOWNES after falling overboard while the ship is on exercises; two others injured.