History of the USS Bowen (FF-1079)

USS Bowen (FF-1079): History, Patrols, Crews

Commissioning

The USS Bowen was the 28th ship of the Knox Class of escort destroyers (and later, frigates) of the US Navy. She was named in honor of Vice Admiral Harold G. Bowen Sr., the former head of the Naval Research Laboratory and the Office of Naval Research. At the time of the Bowen’s commissioning, Bowen’s son, Harold G. Bowen Jr., also held the rank of Vice Admiral.

The contract to build the Bowen was awarded to the Avondal Shipyard of Westwego, La., on Aug. 25, 1966. Her keel was laid on July 11, 1969; she was launched on May 2, 1970. She was commissioned on May 22, 1971.

Underway

The Bowen was part of the Atlantic Fleet for her entire career, operating primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. In 1978, she won her only Battle Efficiency “E” for outstanding combat preparedness. In 1983, she was deployed to the Mediterranean off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon, as part of a multi-national peacekeeping effort. During that time period, however, the Bowen was involved in several combat operations against enemy-held positions. The Bowen was on station on Aug. 24, 1983, when terrorists blew up the U.S. Marine barracks at Beirut International Airport. For its efforts during this time period, the Bowen was awarded the Navy Unit Citation.

The Bowen returned to the Middle East in August 1990, as part of an American task force sent to the Persian Gulf in response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2. The Bowen would serve until mid-October as part of what would be known as Operation Desert Shield, stopping vessels heading for Iraq and checking them for items that violated the United Nations embargoes on that country. The Bowen returned to the gulf in May 1991, after the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm, but her embargo-related activities continued. She would receive the Joint Naval Unit Citation for activities during both of these deployments.

Though the Bowen entered service as an escort destroyer, she would retire as a frigate. On June 30, 1975, the Bowen, along with all other members of the Knox class, was re-classified. The Bowen was then re-designated as FF-1079.

Decommissioning

The Bowen was decommissioned on June 30, 1994 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on Jan. 11, 1995. The ship was then transferred to the Turkish Navy, where it served as the Akdeniz (F-257) until 2001.

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: July 11, 1969
Launched: May 2, 1970
Acquired: May 17, 1971
Commissioned: May 22, 1971
Decommissioned: June 30, 1994
Struck: Jan. 11, 1995
Motto: Protect and Preserve
Fate: Transferred to Turkey

Timeline

August 1966: USS Bowen ordered
July 1969: Keel of USS Bowen laid
May 1970: USS Bowen launched
May 1971: USS Bowen commissioned
August 1983: USS Bowen deployed as part of multi-national peacekeeping force to the waters off Lebanon
1990-91: USS Bowen takes part in blockade efforts in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
June 1994: USS Bowen decomissioned

Crewmembers of the USS Bowen

An unofficial list of crew members that served on the USS Bowen 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/crew.php?action=ship&ship=ff_1079

Timothy Dennis (served April 1981-December 1983): “First ship in Navy. Did grunt work. PMS and Cleaned Compartments. Served with Bruce Casey Captain was Estell.”

Todd Stowell (served January 1981-April 1982): “I was on her when the boiler blew up in Gitmo. Also did the yard period in Brooklyn.”

Jim Groom (served 1981-85): “Beirut class of '83 - what a "blast." Was it all real? Did that tub bounce around like an old truck or what? Doom floats.”

Sources

http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/destroyerspostwwii.htm
http://navysite.de
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bowen_(FF-1079)

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