About this Unit
USS Damato (DD-871) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in 1946. Initially serving in the immediate post-World War II era, she participated in numerous Atlantic and Mediterranean deployments, supporting NATO operations and undertaking Cold War patrols. Damato saw action during the Korean War, providing gunfire support and screening aircraft carriers. She was modernized under the FRAM I program in the 1960s, extending her service into the Vietnam War before being decommissioned in 1970 and later transferred to the Pakistan Navy.
Historical Facts
• Gearing-class Destroyer: USS Damato (DD-871) was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of 98 built for the U.S. Navy during and just after World War II, designed for improved range and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
• Named After a Hero: The ship was named in honor of Corporal Anthony P. Damato, a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his life to save his fellow Marines during the Battle of Eniwetok in 1944.
• Commissioned after WWII: USS Damato was commissioned on 27 April 1946, too late to see action in World War II, but it participated actively in postwar operations and the Cold War era.
• Korean War Service: During the Korean War, Damato patrolled the Taiwan Strait and supported United Nations forces with shore bombardments and screening duties.
• FRAM Overhaul: In 1963, Damato received a Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization (FRAM) overhaul, which upgraded her anti-submarine warfare capabilities with new sonar, weapons, and a DASH drone helicopter system.
• Cuban Missile Crisis: USS Damato played a role in the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, participating in the naval "quarantine" of Cuba to prevent the delivery of Soviet missiles.
• Vietnam War Deployments: Damato was deployed to the Vietnam War zone, providing naval gunfire support and serving on search and rescue missions for downed American aviators in the Gulf of Tonkin.
• Rescue Operations: In 1970, Damato rescued the crew of the burning merchant ship SS Ecologist in the Mediterranean, highlighting her peacetime humanitarian roles.
• Service with the Turkish Navy: In 1980, after decommissioning from the U.S. Navy, Damato was transferred to Turkey, where she served as TCG Gaziantep (D-344) until 1984.
• Legacy: Throughout her 34 years of U.S. service, Damato earned battle stars for Korean and Vietnam War service and is remembered for her adaptability through modernization and international service.
