USS Harold E. Holt (DE-1074)

• Namesake Hero: USS Harold E. Holt (DE-1074) was named after Harold Edward Holt, the 17th Prime Minister of Australia, who mysteriously disappeared in 1967 while swimming. • Knox-class Frigate: The ship was a Knox-class frigate, originally classified as a destroyer escort (DE), and later reclassified as a frigate (FF-1074) in 1975. • Commissioning: USS Harold E. Holt was launched on December 29, 1969, and commissioned into the US Navy on March 26, 1971. • Vietnam War Service: The ship saw action in the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and participating in "Operation Market Time" patrols to interdict enemy supply lines. • Mayaguez Incident Heroics: In May 1975, USS Harold E. Holt played a key role in the rescue operation of the SS Mayaguez and her crew, making the first hostile ship-to-ship boarding by US forces since the Civil War. • Helicopter Support: The ship was equipped to carry the SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS helicopter, enhancing its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. • Australian Ties: The naming of the ship for an Australian Prime Minister symbolized the close US-Australia alliance, with Holt remembered for strengthening defense ties with the United States. • Decommissioning: USS Harold E. Holt was decommissioned on July 2, 1992, after over 21 years of service. • Fate: After decommissioning, the ship was sunk as a target during a fleet training exercise off the coast of Hawaii in 2002. • Combat Awards: The ship earned numerous awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon and the Navy Unit Commendation for its actions during the Mayaguez Incident.