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Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive



Ship's Patches Courtesy of Mike Smolinski

USS Trippe (DE 1075)


Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row: Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 2 oak leaf clusters - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon
Second Row: National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star - Vietnam Service Medal - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon


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
Trippe (DE 1075) Building and Operational Data:
  • 22 July 1964: Building contract awarded to Avondale Shipyard Corp.
  • 29 July 1968: Keel laid by the Avondale Shipyards, Inc., Westwego, La.
  • 01 November 1969: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. John S. Foster
  • 19 September 1970: Commissioned at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Cmdr. Allen B. Higgenbotham in command, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 10 (DesDiv 101) at Newport, R.I.
  • 01 March 1975: Homeport assignment changed to Charleston, S.C. as a unit of Destroyer Squadron 4
  • 30 June 1975: Reclassified Frigate (FF 1075)
  • 15 December 1988: Homeport assignment changed to Newport, R.I.
  • 30 July 1992: Decommissioned at Norfolk, Va. after 21 years and 10½ months of service, leased to Greece, renamed HHMS Thraki (F-457)
  • 11 January 1995: Struck from the NVR
  • 09 February 2001: Transferred to Greece as Grant Aid, Decommissioned 06 March 2001, Sunk as target
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Trippe
    (0602107501)
    88k John Trippe (1785 - 1810) was born in Dorchester County, Maryland. He became a Midshipman in the U.S. Navy in April 1799 and had service afloat in the frigate Constitution and schooner Experiment during the Quasi-War with France. In 1801 and 1802 Midshipman Trippe served in the frigate President in the Mediterranean Sea. Promoted to Master in May 1803, he returned to the Mediterranean in the schooner Vixen and performed distinguished service during the war with Tripoli, commanding Gunboat Number 6 during battles off the enemy port in August and September 1804. In 1808, following promotion to Lieutenant, he was stationed at Charleston, South Carolina, and during the next year he commanded the schooner Enterprise on a voyage to the Netherlands. Lieutenant Trippe next commanded Vixen during a Caribbean cruise, beginning in May 1810. On 24 June he courageously handled a challenge by a British warship. A few weeks later, while sailing from Havana, Cuba, to New Orleans, Lieutenant John Trippe died on board Vixen.

    USS Trippe (DE 1075) (1970-1992) is the fourth ship named in his honor, she was preceded by the U.S. Sloop Trippe, which served on the Great Lakes in 1812-1813; DD 33 of 1911-1934; and DD 403 of 1939-1948. (U.S. Navy Historical Center photo #NH613030)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107538)
    437k 01 November 1969: Westwego, La. - Two views of Trippe being side-launched at Avondale Shipyards. S. Dale Hargrave
    Newport News, Va.
    Trippe
    (0602107539)
    291k
    Trippe
    (0602107502)
    66k date / location unknown -
    Trippe
    (0602107503)
    87k 09 September 1970: Underway off New Orleans, La.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #NH74025 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Fred Weiss
    Trippe
    (0602107504)
    121k 09 September 1970: Underway off New Orleans, La.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #USN1146287 / #NH74025 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Trippe
    (0602107505)
    113k 09 September 1970: Underway off New Orleans, La.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #NH74024 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Trippe
    (0602107506)
    130k 19 September 1970: U.S. Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C. - The crew prepares to board the ship during her commissioning ceremony, held at Pier "Alfa" of the shipyard.

    (Photographed by Commander Sixth Naval District Photo Lab.; U.S. Navy Photo #NH99651 from the Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Trippe
    (0602107540)
    445k date/location unknown: USS Trippe (DE 1075) underway in the Atlantic Ocean. Michael Goughan
    Trippe
    (0602107530)
    128k 04 February 1972: Underway in the Atlantic Ocean.

    (U.S. Navy photo #K93346)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Trippe
    (0602107507)
    33k August 1972: off the coast of northern South Vietnam - Photographer was Marc Lecroix, an Army helicopter pilot, flying by in a Huey at the time. Pete Harlem
    Trippe
    (0602107531)
    177k late 1974: the Atlantic Ocean - The escort ship USS Trippe (DE 1075) underway, after she had been fitted with an enlarged helicopter hangar. This image was received from Trippe's Commanding Officer on 06 December 1974.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH 99654 from the collections of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Trippe
    (0602107508)
    178k February 1975: Underway after being fitted with an enlarged helicopter hangar and flight deck.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #USN1160984 from the U.S. Naval Photographic Center)
    Fred Weiss
    Trippe
    (0602107529)
    164k 1977: Trippe enroute to Greece. The ship had torn a hole in her sonar dome when she hit a submerged metal rod pulling into a pier in Mombassa, Kenya. We had to travel 5 knots all the way to Greece to put the ship in dry dock in order to repair it.

    (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of  PH3 Michael E. Grider)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Trippe
    (0602107533)
    122k February 1978: Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico - The escort ship USS Trippe's SH-2F helicopter on its side on the ship's flight deck after a crash.

    (U.S. Navy photo #1172866)
    **Trippe / Jesse L. Brown**
    (0602108907)
    167k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, P.R. - The frigates USS Jesse L. Brown (FF 1089) and Trippe are at their pier while loading operations take place in preparation for exercise UNITAS XX. Jesse L. Brown is tied up behind the Forrestal.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09472 by PH2 J. Vinson from the Defense Visual Information Center)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602108927)
    97k 01 June 1979: An SH-2 Seasprite light airborne multi-purpose system (LAMPS) helicopter is taking off from the frigate Trippe.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09564 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    Bill Gonyo
    Downey, Cal.

    Assoc. Researcher
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107509)
    86k 1979 (exact date unknown): Roosevelt Roads, P.R. - A port quarter view of Trippe as the ship gets underway for exercise UNITAS XX.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-09475 by PH2 J. Vinson from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107510)
    182k 1979 (exact date unknown): A port quarter view of Trippe during Phase 0 of exercise UNITAS XX.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-09484 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107511)
    164k 1979 (exact date unknown): A starboard quarter view of Trippe during Phase 0 of exercise UNITAS XX.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-09485 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107512)
    131k 1979 (exact date unknown): A starboard quarter view of Trippe during exercise UNITAS XX.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-82-09489 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    **Trippe / Jesse L. Brown**
    (0602108910)
    156k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): A port quarter view of the frigates Trippe on the left and Jesse L. Brown on the right. Note the Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco De Mayo (V-2) in the background.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09726 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    **Trippe / Jesse L. Brown**
    (0602108911)
    168k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): A starboard bow view of the docked frigates Trippe, left, and Jesse L. Brown, right.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09754 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107513)
    166k 1979 (exact date unknown): A port beam view of Trippe underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09537 by PH2 J. Vinson from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107514)
    130k circa June-October 1979: Underway off Porto de Heirro, Venezuela, while participating in exercise UNITAS XX.

    (U.S. Navy photo from the Naval Historical Center #NH99655 by PH2 K. Brewer)
    Fred Weiss
    Trippe
    (0602107515)
    154k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): A distant view of Trippe as a crewman looks out from the deck of the guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG 45).

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09516 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    **Trippe / Jesse L. Brown**
    (0602108913)
    143k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): A bow view of the ships involved in exercise Unitas XX. From left to right, Dewey, the frigates Jesse L. Brown and Trippe.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09584 by PH2 K. Brewer from the DVIC)
    **Trippe / Jesse L. Brown**
    (0602108914)
    168k 1979 (exact date unknown, taken during UNITAS XX): A starboard quarter view of the Unitas XX ships after their arrival in port during the exercise. From left to right, the frigates Trippe, Jesse L. Brown and the guided missile destroyer Dewey.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-82-09712 by PH2 J. Vinson from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107528)
    207k undated (Official USN photo) Wendell R. McLaughlin, Jr.
    Trippe
    (0602107516)
    91k 1983 (exact date unknown): An aerial port beam view of Trippe underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-00630 from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107517)
    127k 1983: An aerial starboard bow view of Trippe underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-84-00631 by PH1 Jeff Hilton from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107518)
    188k 01 August 1984: Trippe comes alongside the battleship USS Iowa (BB 61) to refuel.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-86-03487 by PH1 Jeff Hilton from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107519)
    192k 01 August 1984: Crewmen from Iowa, foreground, and Trippe fall into ranks prior to manning replenishment stations.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-85-05410 by PH1 Jeff Hilton-, from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107532)
    100k circa 1985: the Atlantic Ocean - The frigate USS Trippe (FF 1075) underway, after being fitted with a bow bulwark and the 20mm Close-In Weapons System.

    (U.S. Navy photo #NH 99656 from the collections of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command)
    Bob Hurst
    Worksop, Nottinghamshire,
    England, United Kingdom
    Trippe
    (0602107534)
    128k 03 March 1985: the Atlantic Ocean - Trippe passing close aboard USS Underwood (FFG 36) while transiting the Atlantic for a deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. Carl T. Orbann
    Executive Officer
    USS Underwood (FFG 36)
    Trippe
    (0602107535)
    136k 03 March 1985: the Atlantic Ocean - Trippe opens the distance after passing Underwood.
    Trippe
    (0602107536)
    110k 04 April 1985: the Mediterranean Sea - Trippe and Underwood operating together during a towing exercise.
    Trippe
    (0602107537)
    104k
    Trippe
    (0602107520)
    118k 1985: A port view of Trippe underway.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-88-00271 by PH1 Musi from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107521)
    168k 05 February 1987: A starboard quarter view of Trippe underway off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-87-04833 by PH1 Ron Beno from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107522)
    32k April 1987: Med Cruise Ron Baldwin SN
    ***Glover / Trippe***
    (0602109811)
    126k 14 July 1990: Naval Station Norfolk, Va. - The frigates USS Bowen (FF 1079), left, USS Trippe (FF 1075), center, and USS Glover (FF 1098) lie tied up at Pier 7.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-11101 by Don S. Montgomery, USN (ret.) from the DVIC)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Trippe
    (0602107523)
    111k 14 July 1990: Naval Station Norfolk - The frigates USS Bowen (FF 1079), left, USS Trippe (FF 1075), center, and USS Glover (FF 1098) lie tied up at Pier 7.

    (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-90-11102 by Don S. Montgomery from the DVIC)
    Trippe
    (0602107524)
    142k undated - ex-USS Trippe, in Greek Navy service as HS Thraki (F457), she took her new name from the Greek region of Thrace.

    (from the Hellenic Navy's website)
    Panagiotis Moschovitis
    Trippe
    (0602107525)
    121k undated - Thraki prepares to tie up.

    (from the Hellenic Navy's website)
    Trippe
    (0602107526)
    121k A series of photos taken from a movie showing Thraki's final moments.

    (from the Hellenic Navy's website)
    Trippe Memorabilia
    Charleston NavalShipyard
    News Article (9/18/1970)
    Trippe
    Courtesy of
    Robert Hall
    Navy Times Ship in the Spotlight
    © Mario DeMarco
    Trippe
    Courtesy of
    Mike Smolinski

    Trippe History
    View the USS Trippe (DE 1075) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Trippe's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.)   19 Sep 1970 - 06 Jan 1972Cmdr. Allen Bane Higginbotham (Comm. CO) (Portsmouth, Oh.)
    2.)   06 Jan 1972 - 11 Aug 1973Cmdr. Lawrence E. Lorden
    3.)   11 Aug 1973 - 03 Sep 1975Cmdr. James E. Tedder
    4.)   03 Sep 1975 - 19 Aug 1977Cmdr. Leon E. Hoffer Jr. (Akron, Oh.)
    5.)   19 Aug 1977 - 23 Aug 1979Cmdr. James C. Rodgers Jr.
    6.)   23 Aug 1979 - 14 Aug 1981Cmdr. Donald G. Taylor
    7.)   14 Aug 1981 - 25 Feb 1983Capt. Charles M. Barker
    8.)   25 Feb 1983 - 26 May 1985Capt. Thomas Smith Weaver (OCS '64) (Columbus, Oh.)
    9.)   26 May 1985 - 22 Jul 1987Cmdr. Robert George Allee (USMMA '68)
    10.) 22 Jul 1987 - 28 Apr 1989Cmdr. Lewis Keith Athow*
    11.) 28 Apr. 1989 - 09 May 1989Cmdr. John Charles Dranchak (USNA ‘68) (Endicott, N.Y.)
    12.) 09 May 1989 - 12 Dec 1991Cmdr. William Joseph Woerman II
    13.) 12 Dec 1991 - 31 Jul 1992Cmdr. David K. Meier (Decomm. CO) (OCS '72) (Baltimore, Md.)

    * Relieved for cause: collision with USS Platte (AO 186) off the coast of Florida on 19 April 1989.
    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

    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    Destroyer Escort Sailors Association
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    USS Trippe Page on Military.Com
    Tin Can Sailors Shipmate Registry - USS Trippe
    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: 13 November 2022