USS McCloy (FF-1038)

USS "McCloy" (FF-1038) was the second and final Sclass|Bronstein|frigate. Commissioned as a destroyer escort, the "McCloy" was redesignated as frigate on June 30, 1975. Decommissioned on December 14, 1990, and stricken from the Navy list on October 4, 1991, the McCLOY was sold to Mexico on November 12, 1993, where she was recommissioned as "Nicolas Bravo". Named for Lt. Comdr. John C. McCloy, recipient of two Medals of Honor.

Early Days

"McCloy" was laid down by the Avondale Shipyard, Inc., Westwego, Louisiana, 15 September 1961; launched 9 June 1962; sponsored by Mrs. Arthur Winstead; and commissioned 21 October 1963 at Charleston, South Carolina, Comdr. Thomas Sherman in command.

Following outfitting and shakedown "McCloy", assigned to Escort Squadron 10, reported to her home port, Newport, Rhode Island, in January 1964. In October, after further specialized training, she commenced training sonar technicians. Employed primarily as a schoolship throughout 1965, she also tested new anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapons systems for the Operational Test and Evaluation Force. During this period she enhanced her training and testing capabilities as well as her operational abilities by participating in joint United States-Canadian exercises in the spring and fall and in ASW exercises at the end of the year.

In 1966 cruises saw her in the Bermuda area for NATO exercises (April); off the New England and Virginia coasts for convoy escort and ASW exercises (June, July, and August); and in the Caribbean for fleet tactical exercises (November-December). From 16 January until 24 May 1967 she participated in Match Maker 11. This operation, which took "McCloy" from the Caribbean to northern Europe, was conducted jointly by American, Dutch, British, and Canadian ships. In what was called "Cross Pollinization," "McCloy" men transferred to the Dutch destroyer HNLMS "Limburg" (D814) and the British frigate HMS|Berwick|F115 while men of those ships came on board the American escort vessel.

"McCloy" spent the last half of 1967 and the first months of 1968 at Boston, Massachusetts, undergoing overhaul. She got underway again in March and sailed south, the next month, for refresher training at Guantanamo Bay. Returning to Newport in June, she departed again 8 July for another extended cruise. On the 11th she arrived at San Juan, Puerto Rico where she joined naval units of the United States, Brazil, and Colombia for UNITAS IX. On the 15th, they commenced a clockwise circumnavigation of South America which first involved ships and planes of eight nations in exercises in the Atlantic, then around the Horn to the Pacific for more of the same, and finally through the Panama Canal back into the Caribbean before the end of the year. She continues her operations in the Atlantic into 1969. [DANFS. [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m7/mccloy.htm USS McCloy] .]

She was reclassified as a Frigate (FF-1038) on June 30, 1975.

The 80s

On October 31, 1983, "McCloy" snagged K-324, [Norman Polmar, Kenneth J. Moore. Cold War Submarines: The Design and Construction of U.S. and Soviet. 2003. ISBN 1574885944.] a Soviet Victor III class nuclear-powered attack submarine with her towed array, causing damage to the submarine's propeller. The submarine was towed to Cienfuegos, Cuba for repairs by a Soviet salvage ship beginning on November 5. [ [http://navysite.de/ff/ff1038.htm Navysite.de - FF-1038] .]

27 April 1988 "McCloy" assisted USS|Petrel|ASR-14 and the salvage ship USS|Hoist|ARS-40|2 in conducting rescue operations following the fire on USS|Bonefish|SS-582. [ [http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/06021038.htm NavSource.org - McCloy] .]

In the late 80s, "McCloy" was involved in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea with a United States Coast Guard Detachment onboard. She was involved in several large drug busts including a 50-ton Marijuana seizure from "Sea Wanderer" in November 1986. [Coast Guard makes top pot haul of year. Valley Independent, The. Monessen, Pennsylvania. Monday, November 24, 1986. Page 2.]

"McCloy" was decommissioned on December 14, 1990, stricken December 17, 1990 and sold to Mexico on October 1, 1993 along with sister ship "Bronstein". Ex-"McCloy" was renamed "Nicholas Bravo" (E-40) for Nicolás Bravo a Mexican politician and soldier. As of March 2003, "McCloy" still serves in the Mexican Navy as ARM "Nicholas Bravo" (F201).

ources

*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m7/mccloy.htm

External links

* [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FF1038.htm Naval Vessel Register FF1038]
* [http://www.gyrodynehelicopters.com/bronstein_class.htm gyrodynehelicopters.com Bronstein class]
* [http://navysite.de/ff/ff1038.htm Navysite.de - FF-1038]