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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia About the Ship's Coat of Arms About the Ship's Namesake USS Donald B. Beary's COs History to end of page

USS Donald B. Beary (FF 1085)

- decommissioned -
- formerly DE 1085, later FFT 1085 -


USS DONALD B. BEARY was the 34th KNOX-class frigate and one of the eight ships of her class transfered to the Naval Reserve Force serving as Reserve Training Frigates (FFT). Each of the eight Reserve Training Frigates had its own reserve crew, and was also assigned four "nucleus crews" which would man the 32 decommissioned KNOX-class frigates in the case of a reactivation of these ships.

USS DONALD B. BEARY (FFT 1079) was last homeported in Norfolk, Va. Stricken from the Navy list on January 11, 1995, the BEARY was leased to Turkey in 1998. There the ship was recommissioned as KARADENIZ. On February 22, 2002, the ex-DONALD B. BEARY was finally sold to Turkey.

General Characteristics:Awarded: August 25, 1966
Keel laid: July 24, 1970
Launched: May 22, 1971
Commissioned: July 22, 1972
Decommissioned: May 20, 1994
Builder: Avondale Shipyards, New Orleans, La.
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 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft: one SH-2F (LAMPS I) helicopter
Crew: 18 officers, 267 enlisted


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS DONALD B. BEARY. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The coat-of-arms of the DONALD B. BEARY, designed from the ideas of the original ship's company, is composed of elements from the Beary family crest and symbols of modern naval technology.

The upper portion of the insignia depicts the silhouete of the KNOX-class frigate. The Trident of Neptune portrays seapower; while the key symbolizes knowledge.

The traditional coat-of-arms of the Beary Family is represented on the lower portion of the insignia. The family coat of arms consists of three muzzled bears, a symbol of ferocity.

The scalloped line separating the upper and lower portions of the insignia represent the waves of the ocean and thus signify travel, adventure, and spirit.

The body of the insignia sybolizes, therefore, the marriage of the Beary family name with the sea, and the Deep Ocean Escort named in honor of Vice Admiral Beary. The double ended key and trident symbolize the marriage of knowledge and sea power, which characterized the career of Vice Admiral Beary, as well as its application to today's Navy. The line of the sea which characterizes travel, adventure, and spirit is representative of the life of Vice Admiral Beary, and the promise to all those who sail aboard FF 1085.

The Latin words PRUDENTIA-ANIMUS-FORTITUDO translate to KNOWLEDGE-SPIRIT-VALOR. It is felt these three words characterize the life and achievements of Vice Admiral Beary and represent a goal for all those who ever served aboard FF 1085.


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About the Ship's Namesake:

Donald Bradford Beary was born 4 December, 1888, in Helena, Montana. After graduation from the Naval Academy in 1910, he completed a Master of Sciences degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University. During World War I, he earned the Navy Cross for distinguished service in command of a patrol yacht and destroyer engaged in convoy duty and anti-submarine warfare.

During World War II, Vice Admiral Beary (then Captain) was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement in military operations against the enemy in the Pacific and Indian Oceans areas while in command of the troop transport MOUNT VERNON (AP 22) and head of Transport Division Nineteen. He was especially cited for his conspicuous professional ability, leadership, and organization in landing desperately needed reinforcements at Singapore and the evacuation of refugees from that city despite repeated air raids in the area.

In 1942, Vice Admiral Beary (then Rear Admiral) became Commandant of Naval Operations Base Iceland. At his command, warships were organized and expeditiously developed into a high state of battle proficiency. For this meritorious service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

In 1944, Rear Admiral Beary took command of Service Squadron Six, a revolutionary new mobile underway replenishment support force. Service Squadron Six, under Beary's leadership, overcame the problems of tremendous distances involved in the Pacific War. With his replenishment forces at sea, the Fleet could choose its rendevous points, retire a few hundred miles for rearming, refueling, and reprovisioning, and strike again without delay.

The achievement of underway replenishment was a decisive factor in shortening the war. His genius for maintaining logistic support to Admiral Spruance's Fifth Fleet and Admiral Halsey's Third Fleet was recognized by two awards of the Legion of Merit for exceptional and meritorious conduct as Commander, Service Squadron Six.

After World War II, Rear Admiral Beary served as Administrator of the U.S. Naval Shipping Control Authority, Commandant of the Twelfth Naval District, Commander, Naval Base San Francisco, Commander, Western Sea frontier, and Commander, Pacific Reserve Fleet. In 1948, having attained the rank of Vice Admiral, he became the President of the Naval War college at Newport, RI, until his retirement in 1948.


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USS DONALD B. BEARY's Commanding Officers:


PeriodName
July 22, 1972 - December 14, 1973Commander John J. Gelke
December 14, 1973 - December 19, 1975Commander Niles W. Berry
December 19, 1975 - April 28, 1978Commander Robert V. Cottom
April 28, 1978 - April 11, 1980Commander Anthony R. Colucci
April 11, 1980 - April 16, 1982Commander Paul D. Frazer
April 16, 1982 - May 4, 1984Commander Peter R. O'Connor
May 4, 1984 - July 2, 1986Commander Ralph H. Lipfert
July 2, 1986 - September 15, 1988Captain Elmer J. Halley, Jr.
September 15, 1988 - August 30, 1990Commander Thomas P. Cruser
August 30, 1990 - February 28, 1991Commander Dewey R. Collier
February 28, 1991 - January 23, 1993Commander Timothy H. Meyer
January 23, 1993 - December 4, 1993Commander William J. Clark
December 4, 1993 - May 20, 1994Commander Derwood C. Curtis


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Ship's History:

USS DONALD B. BEARY was built by Avondale Shipyards, Inc., at Westwego, Louisiana. Her keel was laid on 24 July 1970, and she was launched on 22 May 1971. Mrs. Mary L. Beary, widow of Admiral Beary was the ship's sponsor. On 25 June 1972 the DONALD B. BEARY was delivered to the Boston Naval Shipyard for fitting out with weapons systems and commissioning. DONALD B. BEARY (DE 1085) was commissioned on 22 July 1972.

BEARY got underway in January 1974 for her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Operations with the Sixth Fleet included: Dark Image, Dawn Patrol, and Poop Deck. BEARY crossed the Arctic Circle on July 3, 1974 enroute from Scotland to Norway.

In 1975 the ship departed Norfolk for her second Mediterranean deployment. Sixth Fleet exercises included: Dawn Patrol and ASW Ops in the Western Mediterranean. On this deployment DONALD B. BEARY was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award for 1975.

In 1976 BEARY left Norfolk for a Middle East deployment as DesRon Twenty-Two's flagship. The ship transitted the Suez Canal in June and observed July 4th celebrations in Jidda, Saudi Arabia where BEARY's Commanding Officer and the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia made a presentation to King Khalid. The ship crossed the equator for the first time while enroute to Mombassa, Kenya. The ship was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award for 1976.

In 1977, BEARY changed homeports from Norfolk to Bath, ME, for a Base Line Overhaul at Bath Iron Works. The overhaul lasted one year and included the installation of a sonar dome rubber window, air search radar, an IFF system, air conditioning plants, CHT sewage system, Harpoon weapons system, and CHAFF launchers. The ship completed overhaul in June 1978.

The beginning of 1979 saw BEARY leaving Norfolk for a deployment to the Mediterranean. The ship joined the Sixth Fleet, but was sent to the Middle East as part of an augmentation force after trouble began in Iran. The ship operated with Seventh Fleet and spent March exercising with USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) in the Persian Gulf. In June, BEARY participated in "Kieler Woche" in Kiel, Germany with nine other allied navies.

In March 1980 BEARY departed again for the Mediterranean, where she participated in Dawn Patrol 80 and was picked to be the USN representative for the annual Admiral Farragut Day Celebration in Menorca, Spain. In June the ship transitted the Dardanelles to the Black Sea, where a Soviet KRIVAK-class destroyer shadowed BEARY's movements during exercises.

August 1981 saw the ship depart again for the Mediterranean. BEARY joined NAVOCFORMED for exercises Peace Abroad, Display Determination 81, CRISEX 81, an amphibious assault exercise with the Spanish navy, and the French exercise Iles D'or.

In 1983, BEARY left Norfolk for her sixth deployment to the Sixth Fleet. The ship transitted the Suez Canal for operations with the Seventh Fleet in April and crossed the equator repeatedly in April, May, and June. Returning to Norfolk BEARY diverted to the Caribbean for drug interdiction efforts with the Coast Guard. After completing Drug Ops, BEARY was underway to New York for an overhaul at Coastal Drydock.

In 1985 DONALD B. BEARY received the Close In Weapons System (CIWS) prior to departing for a Med deployment and participating in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari 85. After arriving in the Mediterranean BEARY was involved in Operation Display Determination 85, RAWHIDE, and DOGFISH-1/86. BEARY returned from deployment in April.

In 1987 BEARY departed on her eighth deployment to the Mediterranean. A high visibility shipyard availability was conducted successfully in Alexandria, Egypt in early 1988, and BEARY returned home in the spring. Scheduled as the U.S. Navy's representative to Jamaican Maritime Week Festivities, DONALD B. BEARY's mission became one of disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane GILBERT. BEARY was the first ship to provide assistance to the devastated island.

The next Med deployment involved many port visits, including one to Haifa, Israel, where American reporters came aboard BEARY for the filming of a 1989 Christmas special.

USS DONALD B. BEARY began 1991 involved in Counter Narcotic Operations and transitting the Panama Canal for the first time in the spring. BEARY returned to Norfolk but soon departed for a second CNOPS in July. On the second CNOPS, BEARY intercepted the 60 foot sailing vessel BLUE WHALE with nearly 5000 pounds of cocaine hidden on board. BEARY towed the sailboat to Guantanamo Bay for turnover to Drug Enforcement Agency. On October 1st, USS DONALD B. iEARY was shifted to the Naval Reserve and redesignated as a FFT.

Female sailors arrived for duty in mid-February 1992 and BEARY shifted homeports to Naval Station New York at Staten Island in March. In New York for the city's Fleet Week 92 festivities, BEARY acted as OCE for the city's "Parade of Ships". In the fall, BEARY commenced a shipyard availability with New York Shipyard in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

BEARY left in the summer of 1993 for CNOPS and on the return trip diverted to Newport, RI, for a visit by participants at a Foreign CNO Conference. The ship ended the year participating in FLEETEX -94.

BEARY departed its New York homeport for the last time in February 1994 to support a base closure of Naval Station New York and the Foreign Military Transfer of the ship to the Turkish Navy. The Turkish crew arrived aboard in March and the USN crew spent three months training their Turkish ounterparts to operate the ship.

The lifetime of the DONALD B. BEARY has been a full one. She boasts ten full deployments to the Mediterranean and Middle East and five Coast Guard Drug Interdiction Deployments. She earned four Battle Efficiency Awards, five Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbons, two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, and one Humanitarian Service Award. She sailed in most of the seven seas: the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Indian Oceans, the Mediterranean, Baltic, Black, and Red Seas. She passed trough both the Suez and Panama Canals. She crossed the Equator and the Arctic Circle.


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