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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Ouellet (DE 1077)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - D - N - R
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons




Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Combat Action Ribbon w/ star
Second Row: Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (5) - Navy Expeditionary Medal w 1 star
Third Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 stars
Fourth Row: Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - CG Special Operations Service Ribbon - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal


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
Ouellet (DE 1077) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to the Avondale Shipyards Inc.
  • 15 January 1969: Keel laid by the Avondale Shipyards Inc., Westwego, La.
  • 17 January 1970: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Chester J. Ouellet
  • 12 December 1970: Commissioned by Radm. H.J. Kossler at the Charleston NSY, S.C., Comdr. A.L. Henry in command, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 25 (DesDiv 251) at Pearl Harbor, Hi.
  • 01 April 1971: Reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 33 at Pearl Harbor, Hi.
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1077)
  • 06 August 1993: Decommissioned after 22 years and 8 months of service
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 27 November 1996: Sold to Thailand, renamed HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (F 462)
  • .. November 1998: Arrived in Thailand after a $14 million refit at Cascade General Shipyard, Portland, Ore., still in service
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Ouellet
    0602107701

    Ouellet
    10k David George Ouellet was born on 13 June 1944 in Newton, Mass. and attended Wellesley Junior High School. He was then employed by the Alfred Fisher Trucking Company in Wellesley. On 28 July 1964 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Boston, Mass. and had recruit training at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.. Completing his training in October 1964, he joined Assault Craft Division 12, and while attached to that division served for five months in 1965 in the Vietnam era. Between June and August 1966 he had river patrol boat training at the Naval Schools Command, Vallejo, Cal., after which he had training at the Naval Amphibious Base, Coronado, Cal.. On 21 September 1966 he reported for duty with River Squadron 5 and was attached to River Section 532, My Tho.

    On 06 March 1967 while serving as the forward machine gunner on River Patrol Boat 124 on patrol on the Mekong River, Seaman Ouellet observed suspicious activity near the river bank, alerted his Boat Captain, and recommended movement of the boat to the area to investigate. While the PBR was making a high-speed run along the river bank, Seaman Ouellet spotted an incoming enemy grenade falling toward the boat. He immediately left the protected position of his gun mount, ran aft for the length of the boat, warning his fellow crew members to take cover. Observing the Boat Captain standing unprotected on the boat, Seaman Ouellet bounded onto the engine compartment cover, and pushed the Boat Captain down to safety. In the split second that followed the grenade's landing, Seaman Ouellet placed himself between the grenade and his shipmates, absorbing most of the blast fragments with his own body in order to protect his shipmates from injury and death. His extraordinary heroism on behalf of his comrades at the expense of his own life were in the finest tradition of the United States Naval Service. For his heroic sacrifice, he posthumously received the Medal of Honor.

    USS Ouellet (DE 1077) (1970-1993) was the first ship named in his honor.
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Ouellet
    0602107721
    322k 17 January 1970: Westwego, La. - Two shots of the future USS Ouellet being side launched after being christened. S. Dale Hargrave
    Newport News, Va.
    Ouellet
    0602107722
    423k
    Ouellet
    0602107723
    98k 17 January 1970: Westwego, La. - The future USS Ouellet immediately after being launched, afloat for the first time.
    Ouellet
    0602107724
    678k 29 September 1970: the Gulf of Mexico - Two views of the future USS Ouellet (DE 1077) shown underway off New Orleans while on sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 74021 and #NH 74020 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Ouellet
    0602107725
    309k
    Ouellet
    0602107717
    189k 11 December 1970: from The Charleston Shipyard News - USS Ouellet's Commissioning Announcement Robert Hall
    Ouellet
    0602107726
    440k July 1972: the Gulf of Tonkin - USS Ouellet (DE 1077) shown underway off the coast of Viet Nam while on her first WestPac deployment.

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photo #KN-21684 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Ouellet
    0602107727
    237k 22 November 1972: the Pacific Ocean - USS Ouellet (DE 1077) shown underway off the coast of Hawaii. Note Destroyer Squadron 33 emblem on the side of the superstructure and Base Point Defense Missile System director atop the hanger.

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photo #USN 1150762 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Ouellet
    0602107702
    228k date / location unknown: A photo of Ouellet underway. This picture was produced by the Photo Shop aboard USS Bryce Canyon (AD 36) and may have been taken while both ships were at Pearl Harbor. James Bass
    Latonia, Ken.
    Ouellet
    0602107728
    560k 29 January 1976: the Pacific Ocean - USS Ouellet (FF 1077) shown underway off the coast of Hawaii.

    (U.S. Navy National Archives photo #KN-26232 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    ***Badger / Ouellet***
    0602107144
    153k November 1977: the Pacific Ocean - USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS Ouellet (FF 1077) are in the process of conducting a vertical replenishment from USS Sacramento (AOE 1). Badger trailed Oullette waiting her turn alongside. The rest of the Squadron (USS Preble (DDG 46), USS Goldsborough (DDG 20) and USS Sample (FF1048) were not seen in the view.

    Derrell W. Poole
    Hamilton, Mont.

    STG3, FF 1071
    (Oct. '76 - Feb. '79)
    Ouellet
    0602107703
    108k date unknown: San Diego Harbor - USS Ouellet (FF 1077) is shown leaving port. Robert M. Cieri
    Ouellet
    0602107704
    149k 02 June 1983: Naval Station, Apra Harbor, Guam - A port beam view of Ouellet moored in the harbor.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-07732 by PH3 M. Anderson from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Ouellet
    0602107705
    169k 02 June 1983: Naval Station Guam - A port bow view of Ouellet moored in the harbor.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-07731 by PH3 M. Anderson from the DVIC)
    ***Whipple / Ouellet***
    0602106229
    858k 01 October 1984: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - The U. S. Navy frigates USS Whipple (FF 1062) and USS Ouellet (FF 1077) docked at Bravo Piers, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

    (U.S. Navy photo #DN-ST-88-04250 from the U. S. Defense Imagery)
    Ouellet
    0602107729
    391k 16 December 1988: the Pacific Ocean - USS Ouellet (FF 1077) shown underway at sea near Kauai, Hawaii.

    (U.S. Naval Historical Center photo #NH 107456-KN by PH2 Dave Simpson, from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Whipple
    0602107712
    194k ***01 January 1993: Naval Station, Subic Bay P.I. - A view of the repair ship USS Ajax (AR 6) moored at the Boton pier. The three frigates nested with the Ajax are the USS Brewton (FF 1086), Ouellet and USS Whipple (FF 1062).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-93-01096 by Don S. Montgomery from the DVIC) (This, and the next photo are dated 01 January 1993. However, as pointed out by Carl Musselman, Ajax was decommissioned in 1986. In addition, Brewton hadn't received her hull upgrade in these shots. The date has to be incorrect, and the real date has to be prior to 1984.)
    Whipple
    0602107713
    228k ***01 January 1993: Naval Station, Subic Bay P.I. - A view of the repair ship Ajax moored at the Boton pier. The three frigates nested with the Ajax are the USS Brewton (FF 1086), USS Whipple (FF 1062), and Ouellet.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-93-01095 by Don S. Montgomery from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107719
    375k 01 August 1984: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - A starboard view of Ouellet and a port bow view of the frigate USS Whipple (FF 1062) docked at Bravo Piers.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-04250 from DefenseImagery.mil)
    Ouellet
    0602107706
    107k 07 December 1984: Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hi. - Bow views of various U.S. Navy ships moored at Bravo Piers. The ships are, from left to right, the fleet oiler USS Willamette (AO 180), the frigate Ouellet, the guided missile destroyer USS Benjamin Stoddert (DDG 22) and the guided missile destroyer USS Hoel (DDG 13).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-87-09115 from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107720
    325k 15 May 1986: off Oahu, Hi. - A port view of frigate Ouellet underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-08821 by PH2 Powell from DefenseImagery.mil)
    Ouellet
    0602107707
    154k 01 August 1987: A starboard beam view of Ouellet underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-08869 by Barrett from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107708
    149k 01 August 1987: A port bow view of Ouellet underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-08873 by Barrett from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107709
    137k 01 August 1987: A starboard bow view of Ouellet underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-08883 by Barrett from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107710
    147k 16 December 1988: A port bow view of Ouellet underway near Kauai, Hawaii.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-01176 by PH3 Dave Simpson from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107711
    135k 01 November 1989: A starboard bow view of Ouellet underway near Kauai, Hawaii.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-04481 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107712
    104k 01 January 1989: A port bow view of Ouellet underway off the coast of Barking Sands.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-08697 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    Ouellet
    0602107713
    71k May 1993: Hobart, Australia - Ouellet coming into port for a visit

    (taken by Glenn)
    Glenn Towler,
    Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
    Ouellet
    0602107714
    20k undated: Portland, Ore. - shown here after being stricken from the U.S. Navy, but before being overhauled for transfer to Thailand in 1996. -
    Ouellet
    0602107715
    93k 21 June 2005: A Royal Thai Navy bugler on board the frigate His Thai Majesty's Ship HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (F 462) sounds a call marking evening colors onboard his ship. The colors detail stationed on board the US Navy Whidbey Island Class Amphibious Assault Ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) (right) prepares to lower the Ensign. The two ships are participating in Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005. CARAT 2005 is the second part of an annual series of bilateral military training exercises with several Southeast Asian nations designed to enhance the interoperability of the respective sea services. The Phutthaloetla Naphalai was formerly the Knox Class Frigate USS Ouellet (FF 1077), decommissioned in 1993 and sold to Thailand in 1996. David Ouellet was killed on board a PBR (Patrol Boat River) in the Mekong delta of South Vietnam in early 1967.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SD-06-10060 by JOC Melinda Larsen from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Ouellet
    0602107716
    71k date / location unknown, as HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (F 462) Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    ***Truett / Ouellet***
    0602109520
    228k April 2008: Chuk Samet, Southern Thailand - HTMS Phutthayotfa Chulalok (F-461)(ex-Truett) and HTMS Phutthaloetla Naphalai (F-462) (ex-Ouellet) are photographed while moored in port. Raymond Davis
    Commander, USNR
    XO, MSC EPU 112
    Ouellet
    0602107718
    154k 15 June 2008: Gulf of Thailand - The Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Phutta Loetla Naphalai (462) (ex-USS Ouellett FF 1077) steams in formation with U.S. Navy and other Royal Thai Navy ships participating in tactical maneuvering exercises during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. and Southeast Asia nations.

    (U.S. Navy photo #080615-N-8138M-569 by MC1 Daniel Meaney from the Navy Newstand)
    Robert M. Cieri

    Ouellet History
    View the USS Ouellet (DE 1077) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Ouellet's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  12 Dec. 1970 -08 Jul. 1972Cmdr. Albert Luther Henry Jr. (College Park, Ga.)
    2.)  07 Aug. 1972 - 16 Oct. 1973Cmdr. John Frederick Baumgardner (Coffey, Mo.)
    3.)  16 Oct. 1973 - 15 Jun. 1975Cmdr. Daniel Charles Richardson (USNA '59) (Littleton, Col.) ( ret. as Radm.)
    4.)  15 Jun. 1975 - 21 Jul. 1977Cmdr. John Simonson Ekstrom (USNA '59) (Ironwood, Mich.)
    5.)  21 Jul. 1977 - 02 Dec. 1978Cmdr. Dennis Spencer Read (USNA '59) (Kaneohe, Hi.)
    6.)  02 Dec. 1978 - 24 Sep. 1980Cmdr. Nicholas C. (Nick) Paleologos (OCS '60) (Frederick, Md.)
    7.)  24 Sep. 1980 - 23 Sep. 1982Cmdr. John Godfrey Bloomer
    8.)  23 Sep. 1982 - 04 Jan. 1985Capt. Isidore (Bud) Larguier Jr. (OCS) (Baton Rouge, La.)
    9.)  04 Jan. 1985 - 11 Apr. 1987Cmdr. Larry Glenn Eggleston (Westfield, N.Y.)
    10.) 11 Apr. 1987 - 01 Jul. 1989Cmdr. Joseph Robert Almony (Kailua, Hi.)
    11.) 01 Jul. 1989 - 09 Sep. 1991Capt. George Boardman Allison (Flushing, N.Y.)
    12.) 09 Sep. 1991 - 16 Aug. 1993Capt. Alexander Y. Watt Jr.

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information

    2023 (8th) Reunion
    12 - 15 October 2023
    at San Antonio, Tex.
    (details at Ouellet Website)

    Reunion Contact: Mike Dodds
    Phone: (734) 476-5519
    E-mail: M. Dodds or Admin at USS Ouellet Website
    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 or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
    Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    USS Ouellet Website
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page
    Back To The Main Photo Index

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    This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 21 August 2023