About this Unit
USS Lockwood (FF-1064) was a Knox-class frigate commissioned by the United States Navy in 1971. Named after Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, a prominent submarine commander during World War II, the ship was primarily tasked with anti-submarine warfare and escort duties during the Cold War. Throughout her service, Lockwood participated in numerous exercises and deployments, including operations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as supporting US interests in the Western Pacific. After more than two decades of service, USS Lockwood was decommissioned in 1992 and subsequently transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Karadeniz (F-255).
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Lockwood (FF-1064) was named in honor of Vice Admiral Charles Andrews Lockwood, a prominent U.S. Navy submarine commander and strategist during World War II, renowned for his leadership of the U.S. submarine force in the Pacific.
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Class and Type: Lockwood was a Knox-class frigate (originally designated as a destroyer escort, DE-1064) built for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War era.
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Commissioning: The ship was launched on 5 March 1971 by Todd Shipyards in Los Angeles, California, and commissioned into the U.S. Navy on 3 March 1972.
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Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, Lockwood was deployed to the Western Pacific and supported U.S. operations during the final years of the Vietnam War.
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Rescue Operations: In 1975, Lockwood participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, helping to rescue South Vietnamese refugees fleeing the fall of the city.
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Anti-Submarine Role: Equipped with advanced sonar and anti-submarine weapons, Lockwood played a key role in tracking Soviet submarines during tense Cold War naval exercises and patrols.
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Reclassification: In 1975, as part of a Navy-wide reclassification, her designation changed from DE-1064 (Destroyer Escort) to FF-1064 (Frigate).
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Pacific Deployments: Throughout her career, Lockwood was homeported at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and regularly deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf.
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Decommissioning and Transfer: Lockwood was decommissioned on 30 September 1992 and subsequently transferred to the Turkish Navy, where she served as TCG Trakya (F-254) until 2003.
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Legacy: USS Lockwood received multiple awards for her service, including the Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal, and is remembered for her dedicated service during a dynamic period of U.S. naval history.
