USS O'Callahan (DE:FF 1051)

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Branch

U.S. Navy

Members

About USS O'Callahan (DE:FF 1051)

USS O'Callahan (DE/FF-1051) was a Garcia-class destroyer escort, later reclassified as a frigate, commissioned by the United States Navy in 1968. Named in honor of Chaplain Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O’Callahan, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, the ship served extensively during the Cold War, conducting anti-submarine warfare operations and participating in training and goodwill missions across the Pacific. USS O'Callahan played a vital role in supporting U.S. naval presence, including operations off the coast of Vietnam in the early 1970s. She was decommissioned in 1989 and later transferred to the Pakistan Navy, where she served as PNS Aslat before being scrapped.

Unit Members

Shawn Davis

U.S. Navy

USS O'Callahan (DE:FF 1051)View Profile

Jay Gottshall

U.S. Navy

USS O'Callahan (DE:FF 1051)View Profile

Photos

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

FR Jose Ferrera III

U.S. Navy • 1981

About USS O'Callahan (DE:FF 1051)

About this Unit

Historical Facts

• Namesake: USS O'Callahan (DE/FF-1051) was named in honor of Lieutenant Commander Joseph T. O'Callahan, a U.S. Navy chaplain and Medal of Honor recipient for his heroism aboard USS Franklin (CV-13) during World War II. • Class: She belonged to the Knox-class of destroyer escorts (later reclassified as frigates), designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare during the Cold War. • Commissioning: USS O'Callahan was commissioned on 13 July 1968 at the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts. • Reclassification: Originally designated as DE-1051 (Destroyer Escort), she was reclassified as a frigate, FF-1051, on 30 June 1975, reflecting changes in U.S. Navy ship designations. • Vietnam War Service: O'Callahan served in the Vietnam War, providing gunfire support and anti-submarine screening for carrier task forces in the Gulf of Tonkin. • Rescue Operations: In 1972, O'Callahan assisted in the rescue of Vietnamese survivors from a sinking vessel, demonstrating the ship's humanitarian capabilities. • Notable Technology: The ship was equipped with advanced sonar and anti-submarine weapons systems, including the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) launcher and torpedo tubes. • WestPac Deployments: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, O'Callahan regularly deployed to the Western Pacific (WestPac), participating in joint exercises with allied navies and showing presence in volatile regions. • Decommissioning: USS O'Callahan was decommissioned on 30 June 1989 after over two decades of service, as newer technologies and changing strategic needs led to the retirement of the Knox-class. • Transfer to Pakistan: After decommissioning, she was transferred to the Pakistan Navy and served as PNS Aslat (F-265) until 1994, extending her operational life in another navy.