USS Voge (FF-1047)

• Namesake: USS Voge (FF-1047) was named after Rear Admiral Richard George Voge, a distinguished U.S. Navy submarine commander during World War II. • Class and Type: Voge was a Garcia-class frigate (originally designated as a destroyer escort, DE-1047), designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned on 25 November 1966 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan. • Cold War Service: USS Voge served extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the Cold War, conducting patrols and exercises aimed at countering the Soviet naval threat. • Black Sea Incident (1976): On 28 August 1976, USS Voge collided with the Soviet submarine K-22 in the Mediterranean Sea, causing significant damage to both vessels and becoming a notable Cold War naval incident. • Sonar Innovation: Voge was among the first ships equipped with the AN/SQS-26 sonar system, which greatly enhanced her capabilities in submarine detection. • Reclassification: In 1975, Voge was reclassified from a destroyer escort (DE) to a frigate (FF), reflecting changes in Navy terminology and ship roles. • Vietnam War Support: Although primarily operating in the Atlantic, Voge provided support and escort duties for ships transiting to and from the Vietnam combat zone. • Decommissioning: USS Voge was decommissioned on 23 November 1989 after over two decades of active service. • Final Fate: After being struck from the Naval Vessel Register, the ship was sold for scrap in 1995, marking the end of her naval career.