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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive

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USS Robert E. Peary (DE 1073)


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



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (2) - Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star
Second Row: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 star - Humanitarian Service Ribbon
third Row: Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) - 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
Robert E. Peary (DE 1073) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to the Lockheed Corp.
  • 20 December 1970: Keel laid by the Lockheed Ship Building and Drydock Company at Seattle, Washington
  • 23 June 1971: Launched and christened, sponsored by Miss Josephine Peary
  • 23 September 1972: Commissioned, Cmdr. Charles Beasley in command, assigned to CruDesPac at Long Beach, Cal.
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1073)
  • 07 August 1992: Decommissioned at Naval Station Pearl Harbor after 19 years and 10 months of service; Leased to Taiwan, renamed ROCS Chih Yang (FF-932)
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 01 May 2014: Decommissioned by the Taiwanese Navy, to be scrapped
  • 15 July 2020: Sunk off the south-east Taiwan coast at 22° 21′ 43.0″ - 121° 13′ 09.0″ as a torpedo target during the Taiwanese Navy's Exercise Han Kuang-36
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Robert E. Peary
    0602107301    		 73k Robert Edwin Peary (06 May 1856 - 20 February 1920) was born in Cresson, Pennnsylvania near Pittsburgh, grew up in Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin College as a civil engineer in 1877. Peary made several expeditions to the Arctic, exploring Greenland by dog sled in 1886 and 1891 and returning to the island three times in the 1890s. Unlike many previous explorers, Peary studied Inuit survival techniques, built igloos, and dressed in practical furs in the native fashion. Peary also relied on the Inuit as hunters and dog-drivers on his expeditions, and pioneered the use of the system (which he called the "Peary system") of using support teams and supply caches for Arctic travel. His wife, Josephine, accompanied him on several of his expeditions. He also had 8 toes amputated but kept walking.

    Peary made several attempts to reach the North Pole between 1898 and 1905. For his final assault on the pole, he and 23 men set off from New York City aboard the Roosevelt under the command of Captain Robert Bartlett on 6 July 1908. They wintered near Cape Sheridan on Ellesmere Island and from there departed for the pole on 1 March 1909. The last support party turned back on 01 April 1909 in latitude 87°47' north. On the final stage of the journey to the North Pole only five of his men, Matthew Henson, Ootah, Egigingwah, Seegloo and Ooqueah, remained. On 06 April, he established Camp Jesup near the pole. In his diary for 07 April (but actually written up much later when preparing his journals for publication), Peary wrote "The Pole at last! The prize of 3 centuries, my dream and ambition for 23 years. Mine at last..." He died in Washington DC on 20 February 1920 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His gravesite is topped by a huge globe on which Peary's personal credo, "I shall find a way or make one," is inscribed.

    USS Robert E. Peary (DE 1073) (1972 - 1992) was the third ship named in his honor, having been preceded by DD 226 (1920 - 1942) and DE 132 (1943 - 1947).

    (photo and paraphrased biography from Wikipedia)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    R.E. Peary
    0602107327    		 214k 01 August 1970: Seattle, Wash. - The future USS Robert E. Peary being christened by sponsor, Miss Josephine Peary, and sliding down the building way at Lockheed Shipyard. S. Dale Hargrave
    Newport News, Va.
    R.E. Peary
    0602107328    		 460k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107321    		 267k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107302    		 79 late 1970's: Sydney Harbor, Australia

    (Photo © Barry A. Seward)    		 Barry A. Seward
    Melbourne, Australia
    R.E. Peary
    0602107329    		 628k 01 October 1981: San Francisco Bay, Cal. - USS Robert E. Peary (FF 1073) prepares to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge as she heads for Fleet Week San Francisco.

    (Heilenday photo #II 0155A from the Heilenday Collection)    		 Mark Heilenday
    Virginia Beach, Va.

    Captain, USN (ret.)
    June 1974 - July 2004
    R.E. Peary
    0602107303>    		 446k 01 October 1981: San Francisco, Cal. - A starboard beam view of Robert E. Peary underway during Fleet Week activities. Visible in the background are the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco skyline.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-01914 by PH3 Curt Fargo from the Defense Visual Information Center)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    R.E. Peary
    0602107331    		 363k March 1980: O'ahu, Hawaii - Two views of USS Robert E. Peary (FF 1073) underway in the channel at the Naval Station Pearl Harbor.

    (Heilenday photo #1 0022A and 1 0024A from the Heilenday Collection)    		 Mark Heilenday
    Virginia Beach, Va.

    Captain, USN (ret.)
    June 1974 - July 2004
    R.E. Peary
    0602107332    		 426k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107330    		 292k February 1984: O'ahu, Hawaii - USS Robert E. Peary (FF 1073) at the Naval Station, Pearl Harbor.

    (Heilenday photo #II 0195A from the Heilenday Collection)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107304    		 124k 01 January 1989: location unknown - The Brunei missile fast attack craft KDB Seteria (P-04) is moored at the pier at the missile fast attack craft KDB Pejuang (P-03) approaches. The American flag flies from the stern of Robert E. Peary in the foreground.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-06181 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    R.E. Peary
    0602107305    		 130k 04 June 1990: At sea - The Royal Australian Navy large patrol craft HMAS Townsville (205) and Robert E. Peary come into port for the joint naval exercise KANGAROO '89.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08224 by JO1 Lee Bosco from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107306    		 166k 04 June 1990: location unknown - Crew members from the destroyer USS Oldendorf (DD 972) and Robert E. Peary march in a parade along with their Royal Australian counterparts prior to the start of the joint exercise Kangaroo '89.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-08222 by JO1 Lee Bosco from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107307    		 144k 29 October 1990: location unknown - An SH-3 Sea King helicopter flies near Robert E. Peary as the ship pulls into port prior to the joint military exercise KANGAROO '89.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-91-00784 by JO1 Lee Bosco from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107308    		 179k 01 June 1991: NavSta Pearl Harbor, Hi. - A port view of Robert E. Peary departing Pearl Harbor through the channel.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-03680 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107309    		 197k 01 June 1991: NavSta Pearl Harbor, Hi. - A port view of Robert E. Peary departing Pearl Harbor through the channel as it heads out to sea after a visit to the naval station.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-02724 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    **Peary / Wadsworth**
    070917    		 229k 01 June 1991: Pearl Harbor, Hi. - The frigate Robert E. Peary, right, and the guided missile frigate USS Wadsworth (FFG 9) pass one another at the entrance to the channel as the Wadsworth arrives for a visit to Naval Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-02726 by OS2 John Bouvia from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107318    		 217k I took the attached photo in the Persian gulf during 1991 while on deployment on USS Truxtun (CGN 35). Chris Quill
    R.E. Peary
    0602107310    		 101k 27 November 1991: Naval Station Subic Bay, P.I. - A large harbor tug escorts Robert E. Peary toward port.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-01734 by PH2 Andrew Heuer from the DVIC)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    R.E. Peary
    0602107311    		 151k 01 December 1991: Naval Station Subic Bay - A port bow view of the destroyer tender USS Yosemite (AD 19), Robert E. Peary and the miscellaneous flagship USS LaSalle (AGF 3) docked in port. The vessel is in the region in support of maritime interdiction operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-06012 by PH2 Charles Stover from the DVIC)
    R.E. Peary
    0602107317    		 157k 13 December 1991: location unknown - Hull Technician 3rd Class Nicholas Oswald, seated on bow, and SN Bryan Rocke replace the beading on a 26-foot motor whaleboat from Robert E. Peary. Oswald is a crew member aboard the destroyer tender USS Yosemite (AD 19) while Rocke is stationed aboard Robert E. Peary. Both vessels are deployed to the gulf during maritime interdiction operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-06009 by PH2 Charles Stover from the DVIC)    		 Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.
    R.E. Peary
    0602107312    		 106k 2006: Keelung, Taiwan - ROCS Chih Yang (FF-932) at Keelung Harbor Perry Huang
    R.E. Peary
    0602107313    		 74k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107314    		 75k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107315    		 114k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107316    		 98k
    R.E. Peary
    0602107319    		 498k 26 May 2012: location unknown - The guided missile frigate ROCS Chih Yang (FF-932) (ex-USS Robert E. Peary, FF 1073) tied-up pierside.

    (Photographer: unknown)    		 Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    R. E. Peary
    0602107320    		 72k 19 October 2013: location unknown - The guided missile frigate ROCS Chih Yang (FF-932) (ex-USS Robert E. Peary, FF 1073) pierside.

    (Photographer: Jack Chang)    		 Jack Chang
    R. E. Peary  1.) 240k   R. E. Peary  2.) 231k   R. E. Peary  3.) 265k   R. E. Peary 4.) 407k

    27 June 2020: Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan - Four views of the decommissioned Taiwanese Navy frigates Chih
    Yang     (FF-932) (ex-USS Robert E. Peary, FF 1073) and Hae Yang (FF-936) (ex-USS Cook, FF 1083).

    (Photos taken by and used with the permission of Ching Chun Tseng)    		 Chin Yu Chu
    Brunei Darussalam
    South East Asia
    R.E. Peary 29k 15 July 2020: the South China Sea - The last photo of Chih Yang (FF-932) (ex-USS Robert E. Peary, FF 1073) ever taken. Her sink-ex was part of the operations during Exercise Han Kuang-36. Sunk off the south-eastern coast of Taiwan, it was the first use of a live submarine torpedo in thirteen years.
    Robert E. Peary History
    View the USS Robert E. Peary (DE 1073) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Robert E. Peary's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)  23 Sep. 1972 - 13 Jun. 1974Cmdr. Charles Jahns Beasley (USNA '57) (Navy Jr./Hillsborough, Cal.)
    2.)  13 Jun. 1974 - 29 Jun. 1976Cmdr. Michael J. Schneider
    3.)  29 Jun. 1976 - 20 May 1978Cmdr. Robert Marlin Hydinger (USNA '59) (Norfolk, Va.)
    4.)  20 May 1978 - 06 Jun. 1980Cmdr. William Walter Mathis (OCS '62) (Bowie, Md.) (ret. as Radm.)
    5.)  06 Jun. 1980 - 22 Jun. 1982Cmdr. Walter Garland Strong Jr. (OCS '66) (Sulphur, La.)
    6.)  21 Jun. 1982 - 12 Sep.1984Cmdr. Paul Nicholas Bontrop Jr. (Walla Walla, Wash.)
    7.)  12 Sep.1984 - 13 Jan. 1987Capt. John William Waddell (Corpus Christi, Tex.)
    8.)  13 Jan. 1987 - 08 Jun. 1989Cmdr. Richard E. Payne
    9.)  08 Jun. 1989 - 22 May 1991Cmdr. David Kearney Brown (USNA '72) (Dallas, Tex.)
    10.) 22 May 1991 - 07 Aug. 1992Cmdr. Freddie F. Carino
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    17 - 20 June 2016 at St. Louis, Mo.
    Complete Info: Peary Reunion Facebook Page
    Reunion Contact: Don Winfield
    Phone: (520) 271-8684
    E-mail: TucsonVirusSlayer at gmail.com
    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 Robert E. Peary Facebook Page
    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: 23 September 2024