USS Roark (FF-1053)

November 22, 1969 - December 14, 1991

4100 ts

133.5 meters

14.25 meters

7.6 meters

17 officers, 228 sailors

1 propeller, 1 gear turbine, two boilers; 35,000 shaft horsepower

27 nodes

4,500 nautical miles at 20 knots

The USS Roark ( DE/FF-1053 ) was a frigate of the Knox class. She stood from 1969 to 1991 in service with the United States Navy. It was named after William Marshall Roark ( born October 23, 1943 Sioux City, Iowa; † 7 April 1965 on North Vietnam ), a U.S. Navy pilot who was shot down in 1965 during a mission over North Vietnam, named.

History

The Roark was laid on February 2, 1966 at Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington on Kiel. The launch took place on 24 April 1967 after it was christened by the widow of the patron saint. Commissioned into the Navy took place on 22 November 1969.

The ship was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, the home port was San Diego. Early seventies the ship was operating off Vietnam, for use there Roark received three battle stars.

On 14 December 1991, the frigate was decommissioned, it still remained until January 11, 1995 in the register of ships of the Navy. In 2004 she was to Brownsville, Texas, towed, where it was scrapped by the International Shipbreaking Corporation.