Knox-class Frigates

The Knox-class frigates hold a distinguished place in U.S. Naval History as the pinnacle of the Navy's second-generation anti-submarine warfare (ASW) escorts. Comprising 46 formidable vessels, they were the most expansive, final, and numerous iterations of their kind. Initially conceived as ocean escorts (previously termed "destroyer escorts"), a sweeping reclassification in 1975 rebranded them as frigates, transitioning their hull designation from 'DE' to 'FF'. Notably, the Knox class bears the distinction of being the Navy's last destroyer-inspired design powered by a steam turbine.

Their unique characteristics, particularly their larger stature coupled with a reduced speed, a solitary screw, and a single 5-inch gun, led them to be colloquially dubbed as "McNamara's Folly" by seasoned naval personnel of that era.

As the Cold War drew to a close, the Knox-class frigates were phased out from the U.S. Navy. This decision stemmed from a combination of factors: their elevated operational costs, shrinking defense budgets, and a pivot towards ships equipped with cutting-edge anti-submarine capabilities.