Bronstein class frigate
Encyclopedia
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Ocean escort
Ocean Escort was a type of United States Navy warship.Ocean Escorts were an evolution of the World War II destroyer escort types. They were intended as convoy escorts and were designed for mobilization production in wartime or low-cost mass production in peacetime.Their hull classification symbol...
s (formerly called destroyer escort
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
s), but were all redesignated as frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s on 30 June 1975 in the United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification
United States Navy 1975 ship reclassification
The United States Navy reclassified many of its surface vessels in 1975, changing terminology and hull classification symbols for cruisers, frigates, and ocean escorts.- Classification prior to 1975 :...
and their hull designation changed from DE to FF.
The lead ship of the class was the , laid down May 16, 1961 and commissioned June 15, 1963, at Avondale Shipyards, Louisiana.
This class comprised the second generation of post-World War II destroyer escorts. These ships can be considered developmental vessels as many new systems were installed to test for future use, such as a new hull design, larger bow-mounted AN/SQS-26
AN/SQS-26
AN/SQS-26 was a United States Navy surface ship, bow mounted, low frequency, active/passive sonar. At one point it was installed on over 60 US Navy warships from the 1960s to the 1990s and may still be in use on ships transferred to other navies.-Capabilities:...
AX sonar system, and ASW
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
weaponry. This class was a new design from the keel up, incorporating the FRAM
Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization
The Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program of the United States Navy extended the lives of World War II-era destroyers by shifting their mission from a surface attack role to that of a submarine hunter...
improvements, and was specifically designed to operate the DASH drone helicopter. The sonar was later upgraded to the AN/SQS-26AX(R).
The top weight of the new ASW equipment and the large bow-mounted sonar made the Bronstein frigates too slow to operate with the ASW task forces for which they had been designed. Thus the US Navy decided against any further procurement of ships of this class. The later s were given a larger power plant and greater speed.
Ships
Only two ships of this class were built: and . Both were later sold to the Mexican NavyMexican Navy
The Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
.
Bronstein
- Built by: Avondale Shipyards, Avondale, LouisianaAvondale, LouisianaAvondale is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census...
- Laid down: May 16, 1961
- Launched: March 31, 1962
- Commissioned: June 15, 1963
- Reclassified: As frigateFrigateA frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
(FF) June 30, 1975 - Operations: US Pacific FleetUnited States Pacific FleetThe United States Pacific Fleet is a Pacific Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources under the operational control of the United States Pacific Command. Its home port is at Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii. It is commanded by Admiral Patrick M...
- Decommissioned: December 13, 1990
- Stricken: December 13, 1990
- Sold: To MexicoMexican NavyThe Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
, October 1, 1993; renamed Hermenegildo Galeana (E-42); later ARM Hermenegildo Galeana (F202)
McCloy
- Built by: Avondale Shipyards, Avondale, LouisianaAvondale, LouisianaAvondale is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census...
- Laid down: September 1, 1961
- Launched: June 9, 1962
- Commissioned: October 21, 1963
- Reclassified: As frigateFrigateA frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
(FF) June 30, 1975 - Operations: US Atlantic FleetUnited States Fleet Forces CommandThe United States Fleet Forces Command is an Atlantic Ocean theater-level component command of the United States Navy that provides naval resources that are under the operational control of the United States Northern Command...
- Decommissioned: December 14, 1990
- Stricken: December 17, 1990
- Sold: To MexicoMexican NavyThe Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
, October 1, 1993; renamed ARM Nicolas Bravo (E-40); later ARM Nicolas Bravo (F201)
At one time the USS McCloy held the record for largest military drug bust at 49.5 tons of marijuana (late 1980s). A sea going tug was forcefully boarded after an over night chase while the tug's crew tossed bales of cocaine overboard and weapons fire was released the following morning at dawn. One of the tugs crew was wounded by .50 cal fire and was helo'd off. A Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
detachment
Law Enforcement Detachments
Law Enforcement Detachments or LEDETs are specialized, deployable maritime law enforcement teams of the United States Coast Guard. First established in 1982, their primary mission is to deploy aboard U.S. and allied naval vessels to conduct and support law enforcement, interdiction, or security...
estimated the amount and an attempt was made to tow the tug to port. The tug had too much damage and sank in the night after several attempts to salvage her.
The McCloy made many drug busts late in her life, received several citations and was painted with Marijuana leaves for each bust.
The McCloy sustained major damage during Hurricane Floyd in 1987 losing a large portion of its mast during the storm. Shelter was sought in the city of Morehead NC while the storm passed and damage was assessed.
Other notables include Involvement in the rescue of the crew of the . One of the last U.S. Navy diesel submarines, it had a battery compartment fire and was abandoned by her crew off the coast of Florida. The McCloy ran lifeguard ops and eventually was designated the tow vessel to bring the Bonefish to Charleston SC.
Sources
- USS McCloy – navsource.org
- Class history – Gyrodyne Helicopter Historical Foundation