Commissioning
The USS Elmer Montgomery was a member of the Knox class of escort destroyers (and later, frigates) of the US Navy. She was named in honor of Marine Sgt. Elmer Montgomery, a Medal of Honor winner who was killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
The contract to build the Elmer Montgomery was awarded to the Avondale Shipyards of Westwego, La., on Aug. 25, 1966. Her keel was laid on Jan. 23, 1970; she was launched on Nov. 23 of that same year. She was commissioned on Oct. 30, 1971. She was given the motto “To the Front” in honor of Montgomery, who was killed after requesting a transfer to the front lines during the heaviest fighting on Iwo Jima.
Underway
During one of her earliest deployments, the Elmer Montgomery was sent to the Mediterranean Sea during a period of high tensions. The Yom Kippur War between Israel and several Arab nations lasted from Oct. 6 to Oct. 26, 1973, and there was a fear of the United States and Soviet Union becoming embroiled in the conflict on opposite sides. The Elmer Montgomery tracked several Soviet Navy ships during and after the war, but no shots were fired.
In 1974, the Elmer Montgomery was deployed to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. Due to the recent Yom Kippur War, the Suez Canal was closed, to the Elmer Montgomery (popularly known as the “Magoo”) passed under the continent of Africa to enter the Indian Ocean, adding a month to its transit time.
While the Elmer Montgomery would deploy to the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea numerous times during her career, her only other deployment to a combat zone came in the Persian Gulf in 1990-91. In August 1990, the Elmer Montgomery arrived in the gulf as part of a Navy task force taking part in Operation Desert Shield after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. The Elmer Montgomery spent nearly six months in the gulf helping to enforce the United Nations embargo against Iraq. Hostilities began on Jan. 16, 1991, and the Elmer Montgomery took part in Operation Desert Storm. She received a Naval Unit Citation for her service during this time period.
The Elmer Montgomery returned to the gulf in June 1991 and continued to enforce the embargo against Iraq, which had been ejected from Kuwait. During this deployment, she would receive the Joint Navy Unit Citation.
Though the Elmer Montgomery entered service as an escort destroyer, she would retire as a frigate. On June 30, 1975, the Elmer Montgomery, along with all other members of the Knox class, was re-classified. The Elmer Montgomery was then re-designated as FF-1082.
Decommissioning
The Elmer Montgomery was decommissioned on June 30, 1993 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same day. In December 1993, the ship was transferred to the Turkish Navy for continued service.
Characteristics
Class and type: Knox-class frigate
Propulsion system: 2 – 1200 psi boilers; 1 geared turbine, 1 shaft; 35,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 438 feet (133.5 meters)
Beam: 47 feet (14.4 meters)
Draft: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
Displacement: approx. 4,200 tons full load
Speed: 27 knots
Armament: one Mk-16 missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles, one Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber gun, Mk-46 torpedoes from single tube launchers, one Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for Sea Sparrow missiles
Aircraft: one SH-2F (LAMPS I) helicopter
Career
Ordered: Aug. 25, 1966
Builder: Avondale Shipyard, Westwego, Louisiana
Laid down: January 23, 1970
Launched: November 21, 1970
Acquired: October 14, 1971
Commissioned: October 30, 1971
Decommissioned: June 30, 1993
Struck: June 30, 1993
Motto: To the Front
Fate: Disposed of through the Security Assistance Program (SAP), transferred, (Foreign Assistance Act (FAA) Section 516, Southern Region Amendment), to Turkey December 13, 1993.
Timeline
August 1966: USS Elmer Montgomery ordered
January 1970: USS Elmer Montgomery’s keel laid
November 1970: USS Elmer Montgomery launched
October 1971: USS Elmer Montgomery commissioned
1990-91: USS Elmer Montgomery takes part in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
June 1993: USS Elmer Montgomery decommissioned
Crewmembers of the USS Elmer Montgomery
An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Elmer Montgomery can be found on the unofficial navy website at: http://navysite.de. This list is compiled by former crewmembers that voluntarily register. Some quoted comments from former crewmembers are listed below; many more are available on the source website at the following Web address:
http://www.navysite.de/crewlist/commandlist.php?commandid=561
Jeff Hamilton (served December 1989—July 1992): “My God, what a ride! Ironic that the ship with possiblly the best crew in the Navy got sent to Turkey for use as parts. No doubt, some of the finest people on the planet rode on the Monty.”
Brad Atchison (served May 1989—April 1991):”Hard tour on the Magoo, but very rewarding. Now living in Kansas City, Mo. Got out of the Navy in 96′ don’t regret it a bit.”
Stephen Thompson (served 1989—91): “Served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.”
Sources
http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/mesothelioma/veterans/navy-destroyers-post-ww2/
http://navysite.de
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Elmer Montgomery_(FF-1082)
http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/06021082a.htm
