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USS HAROLD E. HOLT was the 23rd KNOX - class frigate. The ship is named in honor of the late Prime Minister of Australia: Harold Edward Holt was elected Prime Minister of Australia on 20 January 1966 and held office until his tragic drowning on 17 December 1967. Prime Minister Holt was a staunch anticommunist and an avid supporter of the United States.
USS HAROLD E. HOLT's history includes the reclamation of the containership SS MAYAGUEZ in May 1975. MAYAGUEZ was seized by the Cambodians and the crew was held captive. HOLT went alongside and boarded the MAYAGUEZ. Together with other Navy and Marine units, HOLT repatriated the MAYAGUEZ crew. Decommissioned on July 2, 1992, and stricken from the Navy list on January 11, 1995, the HAROLD E. HOLT was disposed of as a target on July 10, 2002, during RIMPAC 2002. The ship was sunk by the USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD 964) at 023° 02' North, 160° 04' West.
General Characteristics: | Awarded: July 22, 1964 |
Keel laid: May 11, 1968 | |
Launched: May 3, 1969 | |
Commissioned: March 26, 1971 | |
Decommissioned: July 2, 1992 | |
Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards, San Pedro, Calif. | |
Propulsion system: 2 - 1200 psi boilers; 1 geared turbine, 1 shaft; 35,000 shaft horsepower | |
Length: 438 feet (133.5 meters) | |
Beam: 47 feet (14.4 meters) | |
Draft: 25 feet (7.6 meters) | |
Displacement: approx. 4,200 tons full load | |
Speed: 27 knots | |
Armament: one Mk-16 missile launcher for ASROC and | |
Aircraft: one | |
Crew: 18 officers, 267 enlisted |
Crew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS HAROLD E. HOLT. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
USS HAROLD E. HOLT Cruise Books:
Accidents aboard USS HAROLD E. HOLT:
Date | Where | Events |
---|---|---|
April 2, 1984 | South China Sea | The Soviet aircraft carrier MINSK fires eight signal flares at the HAROLD E. HOLT when the latter passes the MINSK's starboard side at a distance of 300 meters after disregarding a request from the MINSK to stand clear. Three flares strike the HAROLD E. HOLT but no one is injured. A US Navy official acknowedges equal US blame for the incident. |
About the Ship's Coat of Arms:
The principal theme of HAROLD E. HOLT's insignia is to denote the unity existing between the nations of Australia and the United States. This was accomplished by using, with their kind permission, the coat of arms of the Australian State of Victoria emblazoned on the breast of an American eagle.
The coat of arms of Victoria was chosen because it depicts the southern cross constellation, which is also symbolized on the Australian national ensign, and Victoria is the state where the late Prime Minister Holt lived throughout most of his life and represented in the National Parliament.
The two crossed tridents in the grasp of the eagle symbolize sea power. The anchor is an ancient nautical symbol.
USS HAROLD E. HOLT SINKEX Gallery:
The HAROLD E. HOLT was disposed of as a target on July 10, 2002, during RIMPAC 2002. The ship was sunk by the USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD 964) at 023° 02' North, 160° 04' West.
USS HAROLD E. HOLT Patch Gallery:
USS HAROLD E. HOLT Image Gallery: