About this Unit
USS Julius A. Furer (FFG-6) was a Brooke-class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on 11 May 1966. Named after Rear Admiral Julius A. Furer, the ship served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, undertaking anti-submarine warfare operations and participating in NATO exercises. During her service, she was actively involved in Cold War patrols, escort missions, and goodwill visits to allied ports. Decommissioned on 31 July 1989, USS Julius A. Furer was later transferred to Pakistan, where she served as PNS Siqqat (F-267).
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Julius A. Furer (FFG-6) was named after Rear Admiral Julius Augustus Furer, a distinguished naval officer, engineer, and innovator who served in both World Wars and contributed greatly to naval ship design.
• Class Pioneer: She was the lead ship of the Brooke-class guided missile frigates, a class designed during the Cold War to provide advanced anti-air and anti-submarine capabilities.
• Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 11 May 1967 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, highlighting the Navy’s push for modern, missile-armed escorts during the Vietnam era.
• Unique Armament: FFG-6 was among the first U.S. frigates equipped with the Tartar Guided Missile System and the ASROC anti-submarine rocket system, advancing surface and subsurface warfare capabilities.
• Vietnam Service: USS Julius A. Furer served in the Vietnam War, performing escort and patrol duties and providing naval gunfire support, earning one battle star for her service.
• Distinct Hull Designation: Originally designated as DEG-6 (Destroyer Escort, Guided Missile), she was reclassified as FFG-6 (Guided Missile Frigate) in 1975 as part of a Navy-wide reorganization of ship types.
• Special Missions: The ship participated in numerous NATO exercises and Mediterranean deployments, working closely with allied navies to strengthen collective security during the tense years of the Cold War.
• Rescue Operations: FFG-6 was involved in humanitarian missions, including the rescue of Vietnamese boat people in the South China Sea in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
• Decommissioning: USS Julius A. Furer was decommissioned on 31 July 1989, after over 22 years of service, marking the end of the Brooke-class in active U.S. Navy service.
• Final Fate: After being struck from the naval register, the ship was transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Adatepe (F-251) until her retirement and scrapping—extending her legacy beyond the U.S. Navy.
