About this Unit
USS FISKE (DDR-842) was a Gearing-class destroyer commissioned by the United States Navy in November 1945, named in honor of Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske. Initially serving in the Atlantic Fleet, she participated in numerous training exercises, NATO operations, and Mediterranean deployments during the early years of the Cold War. In 1952, FISKE was converted to a radar picket destroyer (DDR), enhancing her capabilities in air defense and surveillance missions. She continued her service through the Vietnam War era before being decommissioned in September 1980 and later transferred to Turkey.
Historical Facts
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Namesake Hero: USS FISKE (DDR-842) was named in honor of Rear Admiral Bradley A. Fiske, a prolific naval inventor and strategist who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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Gearing-Class Destroyer: The ship was a Gearing-class destroyer, one of the most numerous and successful destroyer designs used by the US Navy during and after World War II.
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Commissioning Date: FISKE was commissioned on 28 November 1945, just after the end of World War II, and thus never saw wartime service during that conflict.
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Radar Picket Role: In 1952, FISKE was converted to a radar picket destroyer (DDR), enhancing her air defense capabilities during the Cold War and serving as part of the US Navy’s early warning network.
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Cuban Missile Crisis: FISKE took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis quarantine operations in 1962, helping to enforce the naval blockade of Cuba.
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Vietnam War Deployments: The ship made multiple deployments to the Vietnam theater, providing naval gunfire support and carrier escort duties for US forces.
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NATO Exercises: USS FISKE regularly participated in NATO exercises, including operations in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean, demonstrating US commitment to allied defense.
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Collision at Sea: In 1969, FISKE collided with the Soviet destroyer Bravyy in the Mediterranean during a tense Cold War encounter, highlighting the risks of close naval operations between superpowers.
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Decommissioning and Transfer: FISKE was decommissioned from the US Navy in 1980 and transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Piyale Paşa (D350).
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Final Fate: After decades of service in two navies, the ship was finally scrapped in 1999, ending a career that spanned over fifty years and multiple eras of naval history.
