About this Unit
USS Glover (AGDE-1), later reclassified as FF-1098, was a unique experimental destroyer escort commissioned by the United States Navy in 1965. Named after Rear Admiral John Glover, the ship was designed to test and evaluate advanced anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems and tactics during the height of the Cold War. Throughout her service, USS Glover operated primarily with the Atlantic Fleet, participating in numerous trials and exercises to improve the Navy’s ASW capabilities. She was decommissioned in 1990, having contributed significantly to the development of modern naval technology and warfare techniques.
Historical Facts
• First of Her Kind: USS Glover (AGDE-1) was the United States Navy's first and only ship designated as an "experimental ocean escort," serving as a testbed for new sonar and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) technologies during the Cold War.
• Namesake: The ship was named after Rear Admiral John Glover, a distinguished officer in the Continental Navy who played a vital role during the American Revolutionary War.
• Unique Hull Number: Glover was initially designated DE-539, but her designation was changed to AGDE-1 (Auxiliary General Destroyer Escort) to reflect her experimental mission. Later, she was reclassified as AGFF-1 and then FF-1098.
• Commissioning Date: USS Glover was commissioned on 13 November 1965, at the Boston Naval Shipyard.
• Experimental Role: Glover was used extensively to test the latest sonar, electronic warfare, and anti-submarine capabilities, influencing the design and tactics of future US Navy surface ships.
• Multiple Reclassifications: Over her career, Glover was reclassified three times—AGDE-1, AGFF-1, and then FF-1098—reflecting changes in her role and the Navy's hull classification system.
• Service in the Atlantic: Glover operated primarily with the Atlantic Fleet, conducting exercises and tests along the US East Coast and in the Caribbean.
• Cold War Contributions: The ship played an important part in Cold War naval strategy by evaluating ASW technologies critical to countering the Soviet submarine threat.
• Decommissioning: USS Glover was decommissioned on 15 September 1990, after almost 25 years of service, and was later sold for scrap in 2000.
• Legacy: The innovations and data collected aboard Glover contributed to the advancement of sonar and ASW tactics, leaving a lasting impact on US Navy ship design and operations.
