USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073)

• Namesake: USS Robert E. Peary (FF-1073) was named after Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, the famous American explorer credited with leading the first expedition to reach the geographic North Pole in 1909. • Class and Type: She was a Knox-class frigate, originally designated as a destroyer escort (DE-1073) before being reclassified as a frigate (FF-1073) in 1975. • Launch and Commission: The ship was launched on 26 September 1971 by Todd Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, and commissioned on 23 September 1972. • Early Operations: USS Robert E. Peary conducted her shakedown cruise off the West Coast and Hawaii, and played a role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercises during the Cold War. • Vietnam War Service: She participated in Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, in April 1975, providing escort and support for refugee evacuation efforts. • Global Deployments: Throughout her career, the ship was deployed to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf, participating in joint exercises and showing the flag missions. • Helicopter Capabilities: The ship was equipped with a flight deck and hangar to support the operation of the LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) helicopters, enhancing her ASW capacity. • Decommissioning: USS Robert E. Peary was decommissioned from the US Navy on 7 August 1992 after 20 years of service. • Transfer to Taiwan: After decommissioning, she was transferred to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy on 7 August 1995, where she served as ROCS Chi Yang (FFG-932). • Legacy: The ship's service with both the US and Taiwanese navies stands as a testament to military cooperation, and she played a role in Cold War naval strategy and regional security in Asia.