USS Bowen (FF-1079)

USS Bowen (FF-1079) was a United States Navy ''Knox''-class destroyer escort (redesignated as a frigate in 1975). Named for Vice Admiral Harold G. Bowen, Sr., a pioneering naval engineer, the ship served primarily in Atlantic Fleet and Mediterranean deployments during the Cold War. It was notable for its advanced anti-submarine warfare capabilities, centered on the AN/SQS-26 sonar and ASROC weapons system. The vessel was decommissioned in 1994 and later sunk as a target ship.

Construction and commissioning

The vessel's keel was laid down on July 13, 1970 at the Avondale Shipyard in Westwego, Louisiana. It was launched on May 2, 1971, sponsored by Mrs. Harold G. Bowen, Jr., the daughter-in-law of its namesake. The ship was commissioned into active service on July 22, 1972, at the Charleston Naval Shipyard in South Carolina, under the command of Commander John D. Pearson.

Service history

Following shakedown and post-commissioning exercises, Bowen was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 14 and operated out of its home port at Naval Station Charleston. Its primary mission throughout the Cold War was anti-submarine warfare patrol and screening for aircraft carrier battle groups, particularly in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The ship completed multiple deployments with the Sixth Fleet, conducting exercises with NATO allies such as the Royal Navy and Italian Navy, and making port visits to cities including Naples, Barcelona, and Istanbul.

In addition to its Atlantic Fleet duties, Bowen participated in numerous fleet exercises, including Ocean Venture and United Exercise, often serving as an ASW screening vessel for carriers like the USS ''John F. Kennedy''. The ship also conducted Coast Guard-assisted drug interdiction patrols in the Caribbean Sea during the War on Drugs in the 1980s. A significant modernization occurred in 1985 with the installation of the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

Decommissioning and fate

With the end of the Cold War and the drawdown of the U.S. Navy fleet, Bowen was decommissioned on June 30, 1994, at Naval Station Mayport in Florida. Its name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on January 11, 1995. The decommissioned hull was initially transferred to the Maritime Administration for the National Defense Reserve Fleet at the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia. On July 14, 2004, the ex-Bowen was used as a target ship in a SINKEX (sinking exercise) during the Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) operation "Unified Spirit" and was sunk by naval gunfire and missiles from other U.S. warships in the Atlantic Ocean.

Awards and recognition

Throughout its 22 years of service, USS Bowen and its crew earned several unit awards. These included the Navy Expeditionary Medal (for specific classified operations), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal. The ship also received multiple Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbons (Battle "E") for superior operational performance within its Destroyer Squadron, as well as the Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service during a major NATO exercise.