About this Unit
USS **Meyerkord (FF-1058)** was a Knox-class frigate commissioned into the United States Navy in 1969. Named in honor of Lieutenant Harold Dale Meyerkord, a Navy officer killed in action during the Vietnam War, the ship served primarily in anti-submarine warfare roles throughout the Cold War. Meyerkord participated in various Pacific Fleet operations, including multiple deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, supporting U.S. interests and allied exercises. The frigate was decommissioned in 1991 and later transferred to Turkey, where she served as **TCG Karadeniz (F-255)** until her retirement from active duty.
Historical Facts
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Namesake: USS Meyerkord (FF-1058) was named after Lieutenant Harold Dale Meyerkord, a U.S. Navy officer who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for heroism during the Vietnam War.
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Class and Type: Meyerkord was a Knox-class frigate, initially designated as a destroyer escort (DE-1058), before being reclassified as a frigate (FF-1058) in 1975.
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Commissioning: She was commissioned on 28 November 1970 at Long Beach Naval Shipyard, California, marking the entry of one of the later additions to the Knox-class.
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Vietnam War Service: Shortly after commissioning, Meyerkord was deployed to the Vietnam War, providing naval gunfire support and performing plane guard duties for aircraft carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
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Anti-Submarine Warfare: The ship was equipped with advanced sonar and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) systems, including the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) launcher and an embarked SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS I helicopter.
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Pacific Fleet Operations: Throughout her career, Meyerkord was homeported in the Pacific and deployed multiple times to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean for exercises, patrols, and presence missions.
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Humanitarian Assistance: In 1975, the ship participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of American and Vietnamese civilians from Saigon as South Vietnam fell.
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Collision Incident: In 1987, Meyerkord collided with the USNS Waccamaw (T-AO-109) during an underway replenishment, causing minor damage but no serious injuries, highlighting the risks of replenishment at sea.
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Decommissioning: Meyerkord was decommissioned on 14 December 1991, marking the end of over two decades of service in the Cold War and post-Vietnam era.
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Final Fate: After decommissioning, the ship was sunk as a target during a fleet exercise in 2001, providing live-fire training to the next generation of naval forces.
