USS Brooke (DEG-1)

• First of Her Class: USS Brooke (DEG-1) was the lead ship of her class, the Brooke-class guided missile frigates, and the first American ship designed from the keel up to launch guided missiles. • Name Origin: She was named after John Mercer Brooke, a Confederate Navy officer and inventor who contributed to naval science and the development of the CSS Virginia (ironclad). • Commissioning: USS Brooke was commissioned on March 12, 1966, at the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. • Dual Role: She was originally classified as a Destroyer Escort (DEG-1) but was reclassified as a Guided Missile Frigate (FFG-1) in 1975, reflecting changing naval terminology. • Vietnam War Service: Brooke served in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support, search and rescue, and anti-aircraft duties off the coast of Vietnam. • First with Tartar Missiles: USS Brooke was equipped with the RIM-24 Tartar surface-to-air missile system, making her one of the first smaller US Navy ships to have such advanced missile capabilities. • Cold War Operations: She participated in many Cold War exercises in the Pacific, often shadowing Soviet vessels and serving as an escort for aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific. • Technical Innovations: Brooke was among the first ships fitted with the SPS-52 3D radar, enhancing her long-range air search and tracking capabilities. • Decommissioning and Transfer: USS Brooke was decommissioned on February 16, 1989, and subsequently transferred to Pakistan, where she served as the PNS Siqqat (F-267). • Legacy: The Brooke-class design influenced future US Navy frigate designs, particularly in how guided missile technology was incorporated into smaller warships.