USS Koelsch (FF-1049)

USS "Koelsch" (FF-1049) was a "Garcia"-class destroyer escort, later reclassified as a frigate, in the United States Navy. She was named for Navy helicopter pilot Lt(jg) John Kelvin Koelsch, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean War. On 3 July 1951, Koelsch and his crewman attempted to rescue a downed Marine aviator from enemy territory. Under heavy fire, Koelsch's helicopter was shot down; Koelsch, his crewman, and the Marine aviator survived the crash and evaded the enemy for nine days before being captured. Lt(jg) John Koelsch died of malnutrition and dysentery in a prisoner-of-war camp three months later.

History

"Koelsch" was laid down on 19 February 1964 at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, Michigan. She was launched on 8 June 1965, sponsored by Miss Virginia L. Koelsch; and commissioned on 10 June 1967, with Commander John A. Buck in command.

She has provided valuable support to ships of the Atlantic Fleet from her homeport, Newport, Rhode Island, because she has the capabilities both to screen attack and support ships and to operate effectively against submarines. Operating either alone or with a hunter-killer group, she can seek out and destroy enemy submarines with the most advanced ASW (anti-submarine weapons) system. Moreover, as is so important in a time of unrest and potential conflict, her ability to carry out blockade, surveillance, and emergency evacuation missions at a moment's notice adds readily to the Navy’s mighty deterrent force and to the continuing task of “keeping the peace.”

Reclassified a frigate on 30 June 1975, "Koelsch" became FF-1049.

Fate

Decommissioned on 31 May 1989, she was leased to Pakistan and became frigate "Siqqat" (F-267). Because of the political situation where Pakistan would not stop their nuclear weapons program, the lease was cancelled in 1994. Returned to U.S. custody at Singapore on 19 August 1994, former "Koelsch" was stricken from the Navy Register the same day. Transferred to the Maritime Administration the following 9 September, on the same date she was sold to Trusha Investments Pte. Ltd, c/o Jacques Pierot, Jr. & Sons, Inc., of New York City for $625,824. She was then towed to Hong Kong and scrapped.

References

* K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of the U. S. Navy, 1775-1990,”
* “Conway’s All The World’s Fighting Ships, 1947-1995”
* Naval Institute “Proceedings,” May 1995, p.219-221.
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/k5/koelsch.htm
*NVR|http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FF1049.htm