USS Meyerkord (FF-1058)

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Career (US)
USS Meyerkord (FF-1058)
Class and type:	Knox-class frigate
Ordered:	July 22, 1964
Builder:	Todd Pacific Shipyards - Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California
Laid down:	1 September 1966
Launched:	15 July 1967
Commissioned:	November 28, 1969
Decommissioned:	December 14, 1991
Struck:	January 11, 1995
Status:	Disposed of by scrapping, dismantling December 15, 2001
General Characteristics
Displacement:	3,160 tons (4,137 full load)
Length:	438 ft (133.5 m)
Beam:	46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Draught:	24 ft 9 in (7.6 m)
Propulsion:	2 × CE 1200psi boilers 1 Westinghouse geared turbine 1 shaft, 35,000 SHP (26 MW)
Speed:	over 27 knots
Range:	4,500 nautical miles @ 20 knots
Complement:	18 officers, 267 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-40 Air Search Radar AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar AN/SQS-26 Sonar AN/SQR-18 Towed array sonar system Mk68 Gun Fire Control System
Electronic warfare and decoys:	AN/SLQ-32 Electronics Warfare System
Armament:	one Mk-16 8 cell missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles one Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber gun Mark 46 torpedoes from four single tube launchers) one Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for Sea Sparrow missiles later replaced by one Phalanx CIWS
Aircraft carried:	one SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS I) helicopter

The USS Meyerkord (FF-1058) was a Knox class frigate of the US Navy. Named for Harold Dale Meyerkord (1937-1965) a Senior Naval Adviser to South Vietnam who was killed in action. Meyerkord was constructed by Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California. She was laid down 1 September 1966; launched 15 July 1967; sponsored by Mrs. Harold Dale Meyerkord and Mrs. Harold E. Meyerkord, widow and mother of Lieutenant Meyerkord. Meyerkord was commissioned November 28, 1969, decommissioned December 14, 1991 and struck January 11, 1995. Meyerkord was disposed of by scrapping, dismantling December 15, 2001.

[edit] Namesake

Lt. Harold Dale Meyerkord, born 9 October 1937 at St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from Navy Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. 14 June 1960 and was assigned to heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles (CA-135). He reported to the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam 13 July 1964.

He was Senior Naval Adviser to the South Vietnamese 23d River Assault Group, responsible for suppressing Vietcong terror in South Vietnam’s “rice bowl”; the group probed the Delta waterways, engaging Vietcong guerrillas in operations in which Lieutenant Meyerkord distinguished himself for coolness, resourcefulness, and concern for his men.

While leading his assault group into Vietcong‑held territory 16 March 1965, Lieutenant Meyerkord’s patrol was ambushed. Though wounded, he steadfastly returned the enemy’s fire until hit again, this time mortally. Lieutenant Meyerkord’s heroism was recognized by posthumous award of the Navy Cross. He was also awarded the Air Medal for completing 20 low-level aerial reconnaissance missions under enemy fire.