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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons





Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row: Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Third Row: Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal w/ 2 stars
Fourth Row: Vietnam Service Medal w/ 1 star - Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 star - Humanitarian Service Ribbon w/ 1 star
Fifth Row: Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)


Specifications:
Class: Knox
Type: SCB No. 199C / 1964
Number in Class: 46
Displacement: 3020 tons (std), 4065 tons (full)
Length: 415' (wl), 438' (oa)
Beam: 46' 9" (extreme)
Draft: 24' 9" (draft limit)
Propulsion: 2 Combustion Engineering 1200psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft
Speed: 27 kts
Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots
Complement: 16 / 211
Missiles: 1 8-tube Mk25 Sea Sparrow BPDMS in DE 1052-1069, 1071-1083, 1 8-tube Mk29 NATO Sea Sparrow IPDMS in DE 1070, Harpoon missiles from modified ASROC launcher
Guns: 1 x 5"/54 cal. DP Mk 42 (600 rds)
ASW Weapons: 1 Mk16 ASROC launcher (16 missiles), 4-12.75" (324mm) Mk 32 (4x1 fixed) tubes / Mk 46 torpedos (6)
Radars: AN/SPS-10 (surface), AN/SPS-40 (air), AN/SPS-58 threat warning in some ships
Sonars: AN/SQS-26CX, AN/SQS-35 IVDS in FF-1052, 1056, 1063-1071, 1073-1076, 1078-1097
Fire Control Systems: Mk68 Mod. 11/13/14 Gun FCS, Mk114 Mod 14/16 ASW FCS
Helicopter: 1 - SH-2 LAMPS Helicopter
Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to Todd Shipyard Corp.
  • 11 May 1968: Keel laid by the Todd shipyard Corp., Los Angeles Div., San Pedro, Cal.
  • 03 May 1969: Launched, sponsored by Dame Zara Bate, D.B.E., widow of Prime Minister Holt
  • 26 March 1971: Commissioned at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Cmdr. John P. Leahy in command, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 19 at Long Beach
  • 15 May 1975: Took part in the SS Mayaguez rescue operation
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1074)
  • 02 July 1992: Decommissioned at Naval Station Pearl Harbor after 21 years and 3 months of service
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 10 July 2002: Sunk as a target by various ordnance during Exercise RimPac 2002 at Location: 023° 02' N, 160° 04' W, Depth: 2560 fathoms, Tonnage: 3011
    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo Accession #92-035-M from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    H.E. Holt
    0602107401
    6k Harold Edward Holt (05 August 1908 - presumed dead 17 December 1967) was an Australian politician who became the 17th Prime Minister of Australia in 1966. His term as Prime Minister dramatically ended in December of the following year when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea and was presumed drowned. Holt spent 32 years in Parliament, including many years as a senior Cabinet Minister, but was Prime Minister for only 22 months. This necessarily limited his personal and political impact, especially when compared to his immediate predecessor Robert Menzies, who was PM for a total of 18 years.

    Today, Holt is mainly remembered for the sensational circumstances of his death, for his controversial role in expanding Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War and for his famous (or infamous) "All the way with LBJ" quote. In the opinion of his biographer Tom Frame, this has tended to obscure the many achievements of Holt's long and distinguished political career.

    USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) (1971-1992) was the first ship named in his honor, she was also the first American warship to bear the name of a foreign head of state.

    (Photo and complete biography at Wikipedia)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    H.E. Holt
    0602107419
    90k 03 May 1969: San Pedro, Cal. - An AP news photo titled "DESTROYER ESCORT HAROLD E. HOLT LAUNCHED... Dame Zara Bate of Melbourne, Australia watches as the new U.S. Navy escort ship, Harold E. Holt, slides into the waters during launching ceremonies today in San Pedro, Calif. The ship was named for Holt, the late Australian Prime Minister, and first husband of Dame Bate." Tommy Trampp
    H.E. Holt
    0602107420
    90k undated image, location unknown
    H.E. Holt
    0602107423
    422k February 1971: The California Coast - Two views of USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) underway off the coast of Long Beach, California.

    (U.S. Navy photo #1147524 and# 1147522 from the United States National Archives)
    Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107424
    649k
    H.E. Holt
    0602107422
    494k 1971: An at-sea view of USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) being overflown by a US-2C "Tracker" aircraft from Fleet Composite Squadron ONE (VC-1) stationed at NAS Barber's Point, Oahu, HI. I was attached to VC-1 from 1971 through 1973. Our US-2C aircraft were used to tow target sleeves for surface-to-air gunnery practice for ships operating out of Pearl Harbor. Our squadron operated the Fleet photo Lab at Barbers Point from which this photo was acquired. Bill Stevens
    H.E. Holt
    0602107425
    411k 17 April 1975: the Pacific Ocean - USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) underway.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 107468 by PH3 D.J. Tyree of Composite Squadron One (VC-1), from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Robert Hurst
    H.E. Holt
    0602107418
    418k 17 April 1975: An at-sea view of USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074). Ed Zajkowski
    Narvon, Pa.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107416
    80k 15 May 1975: An aerial surveillance photo of USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) pulls alongside the SS Mayaguez to allow the boarding party to board.

    (U.S. Air Force Photo)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    H.E. Holt
    0602107426
    134k 15 May 1975: USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) alongside the recaptured SS Mayaguez. Note the relative size of the Harold E. Holt to the Mayaguez.

    (U.S. Navy Photo, scanned from "The Last Boarding Party" by Clayton K.S. Chun. Osprey Publishing Ltd.)
    H.E. Holt
    0602107414
    47k May 1975: Overhead pic of the USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) towing away the American cargo ship Mayaguez, after its capture from the Khmer Rouge by a boarding party of Marines, following the attack on Koh Tang Island.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107417
    39k 15 May 1975: Harold E. Holt tows the SS Mayaguez away from Koh Tang Island, Cambodia.

    (Photo from the Marine Corps Historical Collection)
    H.E. Holt
    0602107434
    251k 1975: In May 1975, about a month after the fall of Phnom Penh in Cambodia to Communists, the Khmer Rouge seized the American freighter SS Mayaguez in disputed waters off Cambodia. Unites States forces sent to the rescue included USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074), USS Coral Sea (CV 43) and USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7). In the midst of actions which have been debated, 41 Americans died while the Khmer Rouge was concurrently releasing the crew and the ship.

    (Painting, Gouache on Illustration Board; by Lee W. Swenson; C. 1975).

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center Accession #92-035-M from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    H.E. Holt
    0602107435
    2k undated, pre-1975: San Diego Cal. - USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) conducting dockside trials of the light airborne multi-purpose system "Lamps", with a Kaman SH-2D "Sea sprite" helicopter of Helicopter Anti-submarine (light) Squadron 31 (HSL-31), at San Diego.

    (U.S. Navy photo #USN 1151252 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    H.E. Holt 1.) 393k   H.E. Holt 2.) 227k   H.E. Holt 3.) 351k
    H.E. Holt 4.) 368k   H.E. Holt 5.) 352k   H.E. Holt 6.) 292k   H.E. Holt 7.) 328k

    undated: The Pacific Ocean -

    A seven view series of USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) off San Diego conducting "LAMPS" trials with
    a Kaman SH-2D "Seasprite" helicopter of Helicopter Anti-submarine (light) Squadron 31 (HSL-31).

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photos:  #1.) K-93451, #2.) K-93452, #3.) K-93456, #4.) K-93457, #5.) K-934508, #6.) K-93459, and #7.) K-93460 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)

    1.) 0602107436         2.) 0602107437         3.) 0602107438         4.) 0602107439         5.) 0602107440         6.) 0602107441         7.) 0602107442


    H.E. Holt
    0602107428
    281k mid-January 1977: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - USS Harold E. Holt (FF 1074) in the Naval Shipyard at Pearl Harbor at dawn. On the far pier is USS Hassayampa (AO 145). Taken from USS Badger (FF 1071) during a pre-dawn underway. Derrell W. Poole
    Hamilton, Mont.

    STG3, FF 1071
    (Oct. '76 - Feb. '79)
    H.E. Holt
    0602107429
    347k early June 1977: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - USS Harold E. Holt (FF 1074), several months later about to come out of the yards, moored behind an unidentified oiler. This is a pre-sunrise shot taken from the deck of Badger as she was departing for training exercises with other ships.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107430
    575k 15 December 1978: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Returning from WesPac (June to December 1978), the sun was already setting over Naval Station Pearl Harbor as large harbor tug Waxahachie (YTB 814) quietly approaches Holt.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107431
    475k 15 December 1978: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - USS Whipple (FF 1062) has already tied up at Bravo Pier ahead of USS Badger (outboard of another frigate) while Holt turns in from the middle of the harbor.
    H.E. Holt
    0602107432
    414k 15 December 1978: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - USS Harold E. Holt (FF 1074) makes her way to moor ahead of USS Whipple (FF 1062).
    H.E. Holt
    06021074332
    389k 15 December 1978: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Holt was gently pushed into place as the traditional gayla of a Hawaiian welcome home continued. Note the dent in the bow, I used to know how that happened.
    H.E.Holt
    0602107427
    398k
    19 October 1981: Subic Bay, The Philippines - An aerial view of ships moored at the U.S. Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippines. Identifiable ships are (front to back):
         the frigate USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074);
         the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD 975);
         the combat stores ship USS San Jose (AFS 7), left foreground
         the guided missile cruiser USS Halsey (CG 23), right background
         the guided missile frigate USS Brooke (FFG 1) bow to bow with the Filipino corvette BRP Rizal (PS-69), ex-USS Murrelet (AM-372);
         the Philippine Navy tank landing ship BRP Tarlac (LT-500), ex-USS LST-47, left;
         the fleet oiler USNS Mispillion (T-AO 105);
         USNS Navasota (T-AO 106);
         USS Ingersoll (DD-990);
         USS Sterett (CG 31);
         the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63).

    (U.S. Navy photo NAID#6352616 by PHC Lawrence Foster from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    **Roark / Holt**
    0602105307
    233k 15 June 1982: Naval Station, Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I. - An aerial view of the U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility. Berthed at the shipyard are the Knox-class frigates USS Roark (FF 1053) and Harold E. Holt. Moored alongside them is the guided missile frigate USS Brooke (FFG 1).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-84-06232 by PH1 David McLean from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    H.E.Holt
    0602107415
    559k 02 July 1986: Honolulu, Hi. - A port bow view of Harold E. Holt moored next to the Aloha Tower.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-08679 by PH2 Lancaster from the DVIC)
    H.E. Holt
    0602107402
    94k circa 1991 / location unknown

    (All Three Photos © David W. Threlkeld)
    David W. Threlkeld
    H.E. Holt
    0602107403
    89k
    H.E. Holt
    0602107404
    92k
    H.E.Holt
    0602107421
    492k 25 November 1991: The Pacific Ocean - A starboard aerial view of Harold E. Holt underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04030 from the DVIC)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    ***Duncan/Holt***
    071017
    179k 31 May 1996: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Port quarter view of the decommissioned guided missile frigate Duncan moored with other reserve ships at the Ships Intermediate Maintenance Facility (SIMF) in the middle loch at Pearl Harbor. To the right are the Knox class frigates Harold Holt (FF 1074), Whipple (FF 1062) and one unidentified unit.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-97-01130 by Don S. Mongomery, USN (ret.), from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    H.E. Holt  29k       H.E. Holt  35k       H.E. Holt  33k       H.E. Holt  39k
    H.E. Holt  34k       H.E. Holt  29k       H.E. Holt  103k       H.E. Holt  85k       H.E. Holt  89k

    10 July 2002: RimPac 2002 Sinkex, A nine photo series of Harold E. Holt's final farewell

    0602107405   -   0602107406   -   0602107407 -   0602107408  
    0602107409   -   0602107410   -   0602107411   -   0602107412   -   0602107413  

    Peter Skoutas
    H.E. Holt
    0602107434
    250k Painting, Gouache on Illustration Board; by Lee W. Swenson; C. 1975. (In May 1975, about a month after the fall of Phnom Penh in Cambodia to Communists, the Khmer Rouge seized the American freighter SS Mayaguez in disputed waters off Cambodia. Unites States forces sent to the rescue included USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074), USS Coral Sea (CV 43) and USS Henry B. Wilson (DDG 7). In the midst of actions which have been debated, 41 Americans died while the Khmer Rouge were concurrently releasing the crew and the ship.) Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive

    Holt Memorabilia
    Ship's Plaque
    H. E. Holt
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Ship's Lighter
    H. E. Holt
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Cruise Patch
    H. E. Holt
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski
    Cruise Patch
    H. E. Holt
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski

    Harold E. Holt History
    The USS Harold E. Holt (DE 1074) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site is not presently available.

    Harold E. Holt's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  26 Mar. 1971 - 18 Feb. 1972Cmdr. John Patrick Leahy (Comm. CO) (USNA '51) (Elizabeth, N.J.)
    2.)  18 Feb. 1972 -17 Sep. 1973Cmdr. Charles William Cullen (OCS '57) (Saint Cloud, Minn.)
    3.)  17 Sep. 1973 - 17 Sep. 1975Cmdr. Robert A. Peterson
    4.)  17 Sep. 1975 - 09 Jul. 1977Cmdr. Thomas Francis Howley (OCS '59) (Wheeling, W.V.)
    5.)  09 Jul. 1977 - 30 Oct. 1979Cmdr. Norman Alfred Mayo (USNA '59) (South Berwick, Me.)
    6.)  0 Oct. 1979 - 21 Oct. 1981Cmdr. Donn Valentine Parent
    7.)  21 Oct. 1981 - 08 Jul. 1983Capt. Marvin Joseph Weniger (prior enl./NESEP '63) (Wahpeton, N.D.)
    8.)  08 Jul. 1983 - 16 Jun 1985Capt. Jerry Robert Bailey (USNA '64) (Sparta, Ill.)
    9.)  16 Jun. 1985 - 01 Oct. 1987Cmdr. William C. Keller
    10.) 01 Oct .1987 - 25 Aug. 1989Cmdr. Arthur Gregory Teves (USNA '69) (Honolulu, Hi.)
    11.) 25 Aug. 1989 - 28 Jul. 1991Cmdr. Robert Kevin (Doc) Blanchard (USNA '72) (Corpus Christi, Tex.)
    12.) 28 Jul. 1991 - 02 Jul. 1992Cmdr. Leo Joseph Quilici II (El Paso, Tex.)

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information

    None
    Note About Contacts

    Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has been
    made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list only
    a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 13 September 2023