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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive


Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Donald B. Beary (DE-1085)



Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - Q - U - B

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Second Row: Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - Navy Expeditionary Medal w/ 1 star
Third Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Humanitarian Service Ribbon - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon


Class: Knox (As Built)      FY / SCB No.: 64/199C
Displacement: 3020 tons (std), 4065 tons (full)    Dimensions: 438'(oa), 415" (wl) x 46' 9" x 24' 9"
Armament: 1 x 5"/54 Mk 42, 1 ASROC Mk16 (16 missiles), 4-324mm Mk 32 (4x1 fixed) tubes / Mk 46 torpedos
Machinery: 2 CE 1200psi boilers; 1 Westinghouse geared turbine; 35,000 shp; 1 shaft
Speed: 27 knots    Range: 4,500 nm @ 20 knots    Crew: 13 / 211
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

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Avondale Marine, Avondale LA on 24 July 1970
Launched 22 May 1971, Commissioned 22 July 1972
Reclassified Frigate (FF-1085) on 30 June 1975
Assigned to Naval Reserve Force, Atlantic, at Norfolk VA 30 September 1991
Reclassified Training Frigate (FFT-1085) on 15 December 1991
Reassigned to Naval Station, New York in March 1992
Decommissioned at Norfolk VA 20 May 1994, Stricken 11 January 1995

Fate: To Turkey (leased) 20 May 1994, renamed TCG Karadeniz (F-255)
Lease renewed 20 September 1998, Decommissioned 2006

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Donald B. Beary 41k Vice Admiral Donald B. Beary (4 December 1888 - 1966) Robert M. Cieri
Donald B. Beary 69k undated Victor Rupert (1979-1982)
Donald B. Beary 256k undated: Westwego LA - Avondale Shipyard showing the assembly-line process for building DE's. 1083, 1085, and 1081 are shown. Craig Vance, Capt. USN
Donald B. Beary 94k 1 June 1980: At sea - A flight deck crewman directs the pilot of an SH-2 Seasprite helicopter as the helicopter lands aboard the frigate USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085). The helicopter is from Light Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 32 (HSL-32). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-02163 by PH3 Pat Gibbons from the Defense Visual Information Center) Navsource
Donald B. Beary 145k 1983: off the coast of Nicaragua - I served aboard the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) from 83-85. In 1983 we went on a world cruise with a permanent change of home station from Alameda CA to Norfolk VA. I worked in the ship's weapons elevators division (G4, Weapons Department) which gave me access to the carrier's island topside as we had an ammo hoist up there for the CIWS 20mm gun. I'm not sure if Donald B. Beary was part of our carrier battle group or not, but I snapped these pictures of her during a show of force/airshow from atop the Coral Sea's island structure. (Photo © Randy Tata) Randy Tata
Donald B. Beary 146k 1983: off the coast of Nicaragua - Beary gives Coral Sea a loud demonstration. (Photo © Randy Tata)
Donald B. Beary 127k 1983: off the coast of Nicaragua - Passing by Coral Sea after firing main gun. (Photo © Randy Tata)
Donald B. Beary 106k 1983: off the coast of Nicaragua - Beary crossing Coral Sea's bow. (Photo © Randy Tata)
Donald B. Beary 46k August 1985: Norfolk VA - Moored portside to Pier 2. (Photo © Randy Tata) Rick Rowan
Donald B. Beary 152k 20 August 1985: USS Donald B. Beary underway off the coast of Virginia. (Photo courtesy of Atlantic Fleet Sales, © AFS / Nobe Smith) Bill Gonyo
Donald B. Beary 262k 17 October 1987: At sea - A port view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-11739 by PH3 Michael Skeens from the Defense Visual Information Center) Navsource
Donald B. Beary 162k 7 October 1988: Fort Lauderdale FL - Crew members man the rails of Donald B. Beary as tugs maneuver the ship into the harbor. The Beary is among eight U.S. Navy warships here participating in Navy Appreciation Week sponsored by the Navy League. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-89-02326 by PH2 Elliot from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 120k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A bow view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08280 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 102k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A starboard bow view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08279 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 104k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A starboard amidships view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08276 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 138k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A view of the mack structure and surrounding area. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08283 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 149k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A partial starboard quarter view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08282 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 126k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A stern view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08277 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 132k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A partial port quarter view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08278 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 126k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A view of the port superstructure on Donald B. Beary, from the mack structure to the Mark 29 ASROC box launcher. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08281 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 154k 1 April 1989: Hampton Roads VA - A partial port bow view of Donald B. Beary underway. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-90-08284 from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 181k 22 September 1989: At sea - A port bow view of Donald B. Beary underway off the Virginia coast. (US Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-89-11536 by PH3 Vise from the DVIC)
Donald B. Beary 180k 21 May 1994: NavSta Norfolk VA - A starboard quarter view of the recently commissioned Turkish frigate Karadeniz (F-254) tied up at pier eleven at the Norfolk Naval Station. The Karadeniz is the former Knox class frigate USS Donald B. Beary (FF-1085). (US Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-95-00971 by Don Montgomery from the DVIC)

Donald B. Beary
Memorabilia

Commissioning Book

Donald B. Beary

Courtesy of
Robert M. Cieri

The USS Donald B. Beary (DE-1085), DANFS history entry located
on the US Naval Historical Center web site is not presently available.

USS Donald B. Beary (DE-1085) ship's history located on Wikipedia.
Donald B. Beary's Commanding Officers
Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
22 Jul 1972 - 14 Dec 1973      Cmdr. John J. Gelke
14 Dec 1973 - 19 Dec 1975   Cmdr. Niles W. Berry
19 Dec 1975 - 28 Apr 1978   Cmdr. Robert B. Cottom
28 Apr 1978 - 11 Apr 1980   Cmdr. Anthony Robert Colucci
11 Apr 1980 - 16 Apr 1982   Cmdr. Paul David Frazer
16 Apr 1982 - 04 May 1984   Cmdr. Peter Edward O'Connor
04 May 1984 - 02 Jul 1986   Cmdr. Ralph Hall Lipfert
02 Jul 1986 - 15 Sep 1988   Cmdr. Elmer John Halley Jr.
15 Sep 1988 - 18 Sep 1990   Cmdr. Thomas Paul Cruser
18 Sep 1990 - 15 Mar 1991   Cmdr. Dewey V. Collier
15 Mar 1991 - 24 Jan 1993   Cmdr. Timothy Hugh Meyer
24 Jan 1993 - 29 Nov 1993   Cmdr. William John Clark Jr.
29 Nov 1993 - 20 May 1994   Cmdr. Derwood Claiborne Curtis (later Vadm.)

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 or rosters available. Please see the Frequently Asked
Questions section on Navsource's Main Page for that information.


Additional Resources

Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
USS Donald B. Beary Page on Destroyers Online
USS Donald B. Beary Page on Military.Com
USS Donald B. Beary Page on Navysite

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Page Last Updated 28 December 2008