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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's patches courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Kirk (DE 1087)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - B - M - R
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 Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 2 stars - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2) - Navy Expeditionary Medal
Third Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 star
Fourth Row: Humanitarian Service Medal - Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 1 star - 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
Kirk (DE 1087) Building and Operational Data:
  • 25 August 1966: Building contract awarded to Avondale Shipyards, Inc.
  • 04 December 1970: Keel laid by the Avondale Shipyard, Inc., Westwego, La.
  • 25 September 1971: Launched, christened by Mrs. Alan G. Kirk, widow of the ship's namesake
  • 09 September 1972: Commissioned at Long Beach, Cal., Cmdr. James P. Kvederis in command; assigned to Destroyer Squadron 23 at San Diego, Cal.
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1087)
  • 17 July 1976: Departed San Diego, reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 15 at Yokosuka, Japan
  • .. July 1988: Departed Yokosuka, Japan, reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 9 at Long Beach, Cal.
  • 06 August 1993: Decommissioned at Naval Station Long Beach after 20 years and 11 months of service; leased to Taiwan, renamed ROCS Fong Yang (FF-934)
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 29 September 1999: Sold to Taiwan, remains in service
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Kirk
    0602108701

    Kirk

    62k Alan Goodrich Kirk (born 30 October 1888 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died October 1963 at Washington, D.C.) was an admiral in the United States Navy and an American diplomat. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1909 and served in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. During his wartime naval service, Alan Kirk became the U.S. naval attache in London (1939 to 1941). He was Director of the Office of Naval Intelligence from March 1941 but, obstructed and opposed by Rear Admiral Richmond Turner, he was unable to develop the office into an effective centre along the lines of the British Royal Naval Operational Intelligence Centre (which he had seen whilst in London). Eventually, he requested a transfer to an Atlantic destroyer squadron. Kirk served as an amphibious commander in the Mediterranean in 1942 and 1943 (the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy). In addition, he was the senior U.S. Naval commander during the Normandy landings of June 6, 1944 embarked on the heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA 31), and as Commander U.S. Naval Forces, France during 1944 and 1945. He retired from the Navy as a full admiral in 1946. Kirk subsequently served as U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, 1946-49; Soviet Union, 1949-51; China (Taiwan), 1962-63 and as U.S. Minister to Luxembourg, 1946-49. Admiral Alan G. Kirk took his post as the second president of Amcomlib, in February 1952. As a former U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union, he oversaw the recruitment of emigres in New York and Munich, a group that would later form the core of Radio Liberty's staff. Less than a year after taking office, Kirk was forced to resign due to poor health. Also in 1952, he served briefly as Director of the Psychological Strategy Board, which planned for and coordinated government psychological operations. Kirk served as United States Ambassador to the Republic of China (Taiwan) from June 1962 to January 1963 during the Kennedy administration. Admiral Kirk died in Washington, D.C. on 15 October 1963. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

    USS Kirk (DE 1087) was the first ship to be named in his honor.

    (US Navy photo #80-G-701764 from the U.S. Naval Historical Center)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.
    Kirk
    0602108728
    221k 25 September 1971: Westwego, La. - The future USS Kirk (DE 1087) is christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Alan G. Kirk, widow of Adm. Kirk and then immediately is side-launched into the Mississippi River about seven miles west of New Orleans. S. Dale Hargrave
    Newport News, Va.
    Kirk
    0602108730
    347k
    Kirk
    0602108702
    50k undated Daniel N. Dunham
    Kirk
    0602108703
    99k undated (Photo ©Steven Schenk) Steven Schenk
    (1976-1978)
    Kirk
    0602108729
    181k undated: USS Kirk at sea in the Pacific Ocean. Navsource
    Kirk
    0602108723
    219k May 1975: The South China Sea - The remnants of the South Vietnamese fleet follow the USS Kirk to Subic Bay in the Philippines. Kirk's final mission at the end of the Vietnam War was to bring the remainder of the South's navy to safety in the Philippines.

    (Photo from NPR Web Site Article based on an essay by NPR Senior Foreign Editor Loren Jenkins)
    Michael Guerin
    Kirk
    0602108704
    365k 14 September 1981: Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I. - An aerial view of the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) approaching Naval Facility Subic. In the floating dry dock in the foreground is the Spruance class destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971). Moored side-by-side at the pier are the Knox class frigates Kirk and USS Francis Hammond (FF 1067).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00330 by PHCS Steven Harris from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Kirk
    0602108705
    207k 14 September 1981: Naval Station Subic Bay - An aerial view of the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) approaching Naval Facility Subic. In the floating dry dock in the foreground is the Spruance class destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971). Moored side-by-side at the pier are the Knox class frigates Kirk and USS Francis Hammond (FF 1067).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-84-00331 by PHCS Steven Harris from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108706
    252k 24 January 1983: At sea - An aerial port beam view of Kirk underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-85-05762 by PH1 Loveall from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108707
    148k 23 May 1984: At sea - Port view of Kirk entering port at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-09427 by PHAN Cheryl R. George from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108708
    182k 23 May 1984: At sea - Port bow view of Kirk entering port at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-09426 by PHAN Cheryl R. George from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108727
    358k Summer 1984: the Sea of Japan - Photo of Kirk taken from the fantail of USS Lockwood (FF 1064).

    (Photo by Steven Hadley)
    Steven Hadley
    Kirk
    0602108709
    89k mid '80's (exact date unknown): in Hong Kong Harbor

    (Photo ©Karsten Petersen)
    Karsten Petersen
    Middelfart, Denmark
    Kirk
    0602108722
    181k undated

    (Official USN photo)
    Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr.
    Kirk
    0602108710
    174k 28 September 1985: At sea - Aerial starboard view of Kirk underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-00931 from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Kirk
    0602108711
    172k 28 September 1985: At sea - Aerial starboard beam view of Kirk underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-86-00699 from the DVIC)
    **Knox / Kirk**
    0602105211
    122k 01 October 1987: At sea - Five ships of the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) battle group steam alongside one another. The ships are, from left to right: the frigates USS Kirk (FF 1087), USS Francis Hammond (FF 1067), USS Lockwood (FF 1064) and USS Knox (FF 1052), and the guided missile destroyer USS Towers (DDG 9).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-92-04059 from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108726
    201k circa 1987: the Indian Ocean - USS Midway (CVA 41) escorted by Kirk (DE 1087) and HMS Brazen (F-91) to starboard and Francis Hammond (DE 1067) with an unidentified Royal Navy ship to port during Naval exercises in the Indian Ocean.

    (U.S. Navy photo from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Museum / Naval Aviation Museum, Photo #1996.488.116.103)
    Mike Green
    Port Angeles, Wash.
    Kirk
    0602108724
    536k 11 June 1989: off Vancouver, B.C. - Kirk inbound for a port visit to Vancouver, British Columbia.

    (Both photos by Rick Garcia, from the collection of  Chris Howell)
    Chris Howell
    Southland Ship Stores Ltd
    Port of Bluff, New Zealand
    Kirk
    0602108725
    564k
    Kirk
    0602108712
    78k 24 September 1992: At sea - A Light Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 33 (HSL-33) SH-2F Sea Sprite helicopter lands on the flight deck of the frigate USS Fanning (FF 1076) during Exercise Eager Sentry 92-4. The destroyer USS Kincaid (DD 965) and Kirk are in the background.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-93-00420by JO1 Sharie Derrickson from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Kirk
    0602108713
    159k January 1992 (exact date unknown): At sea - A UH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter prepares to deliver an external load of cargo to the deck of Kirk.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-93-01262 from the DVIC)
    Kirk
    0602108714
    117k January 1992 (exact date unknown): At sea - An overhead view of Kirk underway.
    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-93-01288 from the DVIC) (Note: As pointed out by Steve Cunningham, this photo is NOT Kirk since it has a Sea Sparrow launcher and not CIWS. Since we have no idea which ship this is, the photo was left here.)
    Kirk
    0602108731
    347k January 1993 (exact date unknown): the Pacific Ocean - A UH-46 Sea Knight Helicopter lowers an external load of cargo to the deck of the frigate USS Kirk (FF 1087).

    (U.S. Navy photo #330-CFD-DN-SC-93-01263, National Archives ID #6483123 from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Kirk
    0602108716
    174k 20 January 1994: Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton WA - View of several ships in storage at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility. The ships include the battleship Missouri (BB 63) and the frigates Lockwood (FF 1064), Kirk, and Knox (FF 1052).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-93-04477 by Lt. Corrine Kelley from the DVIC)

    Per crewmember Patrick Anderson (Jun. '89 - Aug. '93): "The date is incorrect on this photo. Kirk and the other 2 ships from the Fleet Introduction Team were already in Taiwan at the time, and painted with their new side numbers. This was at the end of 1993. The date of the photo would have to be before mid-1992 as Missouri was decommissioned and moved by then. The photo might be Naval Station Long Beach and appears to be the pier that Desron 9's building was at, along with the newer barracks in the background behind USS Knox.
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource

    Kirk  336k       Kirk  404k       Kirk  237k       Kirk  222k       Kirk 322k

    2006: Keelung, Taiwan - ROCS Feng Yang (FF-934) at Keelung Harbor.

    0602108717   -   0602108718   -   0602108719   -   0602108720   -   0602108721

    Perry Huang

    Kirk Memorabilia
    Navy Times Ship
    in the Spotlight
    © Mario DeMarco
    Kirk
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski

    Kirk History
    View the USS Kirk (DE 1087) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    View the USS Kirk (DE 1087) history located on Wikipedia.

    Kirk's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)   09 Sep. 1972 - 17 Aug. 1973Cmdr. James Paul Kvederis (prior enl. '50 / OCS)
    2.)   17 Aug. 1973 - 29 Aug. 1974Cmdr. Harold Ernest Burgess Jr. (prior enl. '59 / OCS '55) (Maplewood, Mo.)
    3.)   29 Aug. 1974 - 10 Jul. 1976Cmdr. Paul H. Jacobs (Me. MA '58) (Steuben, Me.)
    4.)   10 Jul. 1976 - 12 Aug. 1977Cmdr. James H. Langen
    5.)   12 Aug. 1977 - 07 Sep. 1979Cmdr. Fletcher J. Barnes III
    6.)   07 Sep. 1979 - 10 Dec. 1982Cmdr. Richard Clinton Davis (OCS '62) (San Francisco, Cal.)
    7.)   10 Dec. 1982 - 04 Jan. 1984Cmdr. Edmund L. Pratt Jr.
    8.)   04 Jan. 1984 - 23 Jun. 1985Cmdr. James Francis Giblin Jr. (USNA '66) (Cedar Grove, N.J.)
    9.)   23 Jun. 1985 - 03 Aug. 1985Cmdr. Stanton V. Mahoney Jr.
    10.) 03 Aug. 1985 - 05 Aug. 1987Cmdr. Emil Richard Diamond Jr.
    11.) 05 Aug. 1987 - 30 Sep. 1989Cmdr. Larry Wayne Darling (Smithville, Tex.)
    12.) 30 Sep. 1989 - 01 Nov. 1991Cmdr. Thomas Morken Keithly (USNA '72) (Tarzana, Cal.)
    13.) 01 Nov. 1991 - 06 Aug. 1993Capt. John Bradley (Brad) Bell

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    Next Reunion:
    23-27 September 2020
    The Hotel Elegante, Colorado Springs, Colo.
    USS Kirk Association 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, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
    Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.


    Additional Resources

    USS Kirk Association 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
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    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 08 June 2022