View source for USS Whipple (FF-1062)

{{Short description|Knox-class frigate}}
{{For|other ships of this name|USS Whipple}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USS Whipple (DE-1062) underway c1975.jpg
| Ship caption = USS Whipple in 1975
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1992}}
| Ship name = ''Whipple''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship ordered = 22 July 1964
| Ship awarded = 
| Ship builder = [[Todd Pacific Shipyards]], [[Seattle, Washington]]
| Ship original cost = 
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| Ship laid down = 24 April 1967
| Ship launched = 12 April 1968
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| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 13 August 1970
| Ship commissioned = 22 August 1970
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 14 February 1992
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| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship reclassified = 
| Ship refit = 
| Ship struck = 11 January 1995
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = 
| Ship identification = FF-1062
| Ship motto = ''Resources Beyond Calculation''
| Ship nickname = 
| Ship honors = 
| Ship fate = Transferred to Mexico 10 April 2002
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = title
| Ship country = Mexico
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Mexico|naval}}
| Ship name = ''Mina''
| Ship namesake = 
| Ship acquired = 10 April 2002
| Ship commissioned = 
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 
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| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
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| Ship identification = F-214
| Ship motto = 
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| Ship fate = 
| Ship status = In active service
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}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Knox|frigate}}
| Ship displacement = 3,159 tons (4,122 full load)
| Ship length = {{convert|438|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|46|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draft = {{convert|24|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = *2 × CE 1200psi boilers
*1 Westinghouse geared turbine
*1 shaft, {{convert|35000|shp|abbr=on}}
| Ship speed = over {{convert|27|kn|km/h|0}}
| Ship range = {{convert|4500|nmi|km|-1}} at {{convert|20|kn|km/h|0}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship complement = 18 officers, 267 enlisted
| Ship sensors = *AN/SPS-40 Air Search Radar
*AN/SPS-67 Surface Search Radar
*AN/SQS-26 [[Sonar]]
*AN/SQR-18 [[Towed array sonar]] system
*[[AN/SPG-53|Mk68]] Gun Fire Control System
| Ship EW = [[SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite|AN/SLQ-32 Electronics Warfare System]]
| Ship armament = *one Mk-16 8 cell missile launcher for [[ASROC]] and [[Harpoon missile]]s
*one Mk-42 [[5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun|5-inch/54]] caliber gun
*[[Mark 46 torpedo]]es from four single tube launchers)
*one Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for [[Sea Sparrow]] missiles, later replaced by one [[Phalanx CIWS]]
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = one [[SH-2 Seasprite]] (LAMPS I) helicopter
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USS ''Whipple'' (DE-1062/FF-1062)''' was a {{sclass|Knox|frigate}} commissioned in the [[United States Navy]] from 1970 to 1995. In 2002, ''Whipple'' was donated to the [[Mexican Navy]] and renamed '''ARM ''Mina'' (F-214)'''.

==Construction==
''Whipple'' was the third ship of the [[United States Navy]] named in honor of [[Captain (naval)|Captain]] [[Abraham Whipple]] (1733&ndash;1819), who served in the [[Continental Navy]]. She was laid down on 24 April 1967 at [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], by the [[Todd Pacific Shipyards|Todd Shipyards Corporation]]; launched on 12 April 1968; sponsored by Mrs. Kirkland B. Alexander; and commissioned on 22 August 1970.

''Whipple'' conducted sea trials from 24 to 26 September before returning to the [[Puget Sound Navy Yard]], [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]], Washington, for fitting-out availability from 27 to 30 September. On 1 October, the escort ship proceeded to [[Nanoose Bay]], [[British Columbia]], for a visit prior to further trials at [[Carr Inlet]], Washington.

==Operational history==

===1970–1972===
On 9 October, the ship got underway for [[San Diego]] and made port four days later. ''Whipple'' departed the west coast on 16 October, bound for her new home port, [[Pearl Harbor]], and duty with the Cruiser-Destroyer Force, [[U.S. Pacific Fleet|Pacific Fleet]]. Soon after her arrival on 22 October, she commenced local operations in the [[Hawaii]]an area which lasted until 20 November when she tied up alongside tender {{USS|Bryce Canyon|AD-36|2}} for availability which ran until 4 December.

Five days later, while engaged in local operations, the destroyer escort investigated an unidentified submarine contact off the [[Pacific Missile Range Facility|Barking Sands Missile Test Range]], [[Kauai]]. Following that hunt, ''Whipple'' resumed local cruising through 20 December. Returning to her home port the following day, the escort ship commenced a holiday upkeep period which lasted through 13 January 1971. She then conducted weapons trials off Hawaii before undergoing preshake-down tests.

On 8 February, ''Whipple'' commenced shakedown which included underway training exercises and the ship's first battle problem. Termination of the shakedown period on 19 March was soon followed by availability at the [[Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard]]. On 1 April—while undergoing yard work which lasted into July—the escort ship was assigned to newly formed Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 33.

After sea trials in late August, the ship commenced weapons trials. From 4 to 10 October, the ship performed plane-guard duties for the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Constellation|CV-64|2}}, while additionally conducting antiaircraft and surface gunnery exercises. A dependents' cruise to [[Lahaina]], a [[Navy Day]] "open house," and host-ship duties to Australian [[destroyer]] {{HMAS|Hobart|D 39|6}} occupied ''Whipple'' through 25 October, after which time she conducted further trials and gunnery shoots.

''Whipple'' underwent upkeep for the first four days of November before she got underway on 5 November for the filming of the at-sea phase of a ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'' television episode. From 8 to 18 November, ''Whipple'' participated in [[SEATO]] exercise RIMPAC-4, conducting antisubmarine warfare exercises in company with Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Japanese, and American units.

Following her return to Hawaiian waters, ''Whipple'' conducted further trials and began preparations for a Western Pacific (WestPac) deployment. On 27 January 1972, ''Whipple'' departed Pearl Harbor in company with the rest of DesRon 33 and proceeded via [[Midway Atoll|Midway]] and [[Guam]] to the Philippines. The ship's subsequent [[Manila]] stopover, where she made port on 13 February, coincided with the initial work-up phase for SEATO exercise "Seahawk." Naval forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand, as well as the United States, participated in these exercises. Accordingly, ''Whipple'', in company with Australian carrier {{HMAS|Melbourne|R21|6}}, took part in the simulated convoy escort operation.

Upon detachment from "Seahawk," ''Whipple'' stopped at [[U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay|Subic Bay]] for maintenance prior to proceeding to the [[Gulf of Tonkin]] to relieve the destroyer {{USS|Higbee|DD-806|2}} as Positive Identification and Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) ship. After taking up station on 28 February, ''Whipple'' performed escort duties besides conducting her regular patrols. Her PIRAZ work during this time was light, as reduced air activity over North Vietnam was accomplished by low visibility and a cancellation of many scheduled flights. While ''Whipple'' operated in company with the destroyer {{USS|Parsons|DDG-33|2}} on PIRAZ duties, the escort ship's electronic "eyes" maintained the air "picture" for the northern half of the Gulf of Tonkin. The destroyer escort next took up plane-guard duties for the carrier {{USS|Hancock|CV-19|2}} before providing gunfire support in Military Region 1 for the [[South Vietnam]]ese Army's 3d Division. ''Whipple'' conducted 52 missions and expended 2,361 rounds of 5-inch ammunition.

Night harassment and interdiction fire against unobserved area targets comprised the majority of the missions. On some occasions, ''Whipple'' operated in conjunction with aerial spotters who directed the destroyer escort's fire on enemy troop movements, coastal defense guns, artillery sites, and tanks. During ''Whipple''{{'}}s first gunfire support assignment on 11 April, the ship twice dueled enemy shore guns, with enemy shells impacting within 150 and {{convert|200|yd|m|-2}} of the ship. For this action, ''Whipple'' received the [[Combat Action Ribbon]].

From 20 to 24 April, ''Whipple'' received repairs to her {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun from the repair ship {{USS|Hector|AR-7|2}} and Mobile Technical Unit 13. Moored alongside the repair ship in Danang harbor in the daytime, the ship would patrol off the harbor mouth in the evening. Upon completion of gun repairs, the escort ship joined {{USS|Tripoli|LPH-10|2}} for "[[Freedom Porch]]" strikes.

After a brief period planeguarding on "Dixie" and "Yankee" stations for ''Hancock'', ''Whipple'' received a needed upkeep at [[Danang]] from 3 to 10 May while the [[destroyer tender]] {{USS|Piedmont|AD-17|2}} replaced the escort's {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun. She then returned to "Yankee" Station where she once more operated with ''Hancock'', conducting escort and plane-guarding operations through June.
[[File:USS Whipple - FFG 1062 SM.png|alt=Ships Crest|thumb|Ships Crest]]
Following availability at Subic Bay and a visit to [[Hong Kong]], ''Whipple'' returned to the line and provided gunfire support in the vicinity of Point "Claudia" for the [[Republic of Vietnam]]'s 1st and 3d Divisions. From 17 to 25 June, she fired harassment and interdiction missions at night and made runs during daylight hours in which she was aided by [[OV-1 Mohawk]]s which pinpointed enemy bunker complexes, rocket sites, and supply routes. On 26 June, ''Whipple'' moved north to the vicinity of Point "Allison" to provide gunfire support for Operation LAM SON 72. Coastal defense sites in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and point targets in the [[Cua Viet River]] region felt the sting of salvos she fired in preparation for a South Vietnamese Marine Corps counter-offensive. Continuing to provide gunfire support for LAM SON 72, ''Whipple'' received a call for help at dusk on 5 July. Vietnamese marines—under heavy attack by tank-supported North Vietnamese Army infantry—radioed for immediate assistance. The escort ship—the first ship in the vicinity to do so—soon answered the call. Newport News (CA-148) subsequently opened fire with her {{convert|8|in|mm|0|adj=on}} guns to parry the North Vietnamese thrust.

''Whipple'' returned to planeguarding duties from 9 to 17 July—this time for {{USS|Saratoga|CV-60|2}}—and continued combat operations in the Gulf of Tonkin. Following this duty, the escort ship returned to Subic Bay on the 18th for upkeep which lasted until 27 July, when the ship departed Philippine waters, bound for Vietnam. En route, heavy seas damaged the fiberglass {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on}} gun shield, forcing a change of plans and a return to Subic Bay.

Following in-port repairs, ''Whipple'' joined Task Group (TG) 77.6—based around the carrier {{USS|America|CV-66|2}}—bound for Yankee Station. Upon relief by the destroyer {{USS|James E. Kyes|DD-787|2}} as screen commander, ''Whipple'' put about for the Philippines and joined her squadron mates for the homeward-bound voyage to Pearl Harbor. After stops en route at Guam and Midway for fuel, the destroyer escort made port at Pearl Harbor on 25 August. Underway training, convoy and antisubmarine warfare exercises, and testing of the ship's [[ASROC]] occupied ''Whipple'' during October. November and December saw the ship undergo restricted availability at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

===1973–1977===
''Whipple'' conducted post-availability shakedown in January 1973 and commenced a period of routine training and exercises which continued until 14 May when the destroyer escort departed Pearl Harbor for her second WestPac deployment. She proceeded to Japan and arrived at [[United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka|Yokosuka]] on 24 May. Two days later, ''Whipple'' sailed for [[Taiwan]] and arrived there on 30 May. Availability alongside tender {{USS|Prairie|AD-15|2}} preceded the escort ship's deployment in Vietnamese waters, and she departed Taiwan on 5 June, bound for "Yankee Station."

Deployed as picket-escort from 8 to 30 June in the Gulf of Tonkin, ''Whipple'' returned to Subic Bay for repairs to her rudder. The destroyer escort conducted sea trials before once more returning to "Yankee Station" as an escort for the carrier {{USS|Coral Sea|CV-43|2}}.

''Whipple'' visited Hong Kong from 1 to 8 August and screened ''Coral Sea'' back to Subic Bay before returning to Tonkin Gulf for picket-escort and PIRAZ duties. This line deployment concluded on 6 September when the vessel departed for upkeep at Singapore.

Following her return to the Philippines, the ship took part in Amphibious Exercise PEGASA II, off [[Mindoro]]. At its conclusion on 2 October, ''Whipple'' headed toward "Yankee Station" for another deployment as picket. During that assignment, typhoons [[Typhoon Nora (1973)|Nora]] and [[1973 Pacific typhoon season#Typhoon Opal|Opal]] swirled through the Tonkin Gulf giving ''Whipple'' plenty of experience in storm evasion.

[[File:USS Whipple (DE-1062) at Hong Kong in 1974.jpg|thumb|''Whipple'' in Hong Kong, December 1974.]]

Following a return to Subic Bay for upkeep, ''Whipple'' made a 21-day, round-trip voyage to [[Colombo]], Sri Lanka, to "show the flag." On the passage to Colombo, she carried several tons of bulk foodstuffs and miscellaneous supplies for the small American community in Sri Lanka. Once the escort ship arrived at Colombo, she served as central mailing point for Christmas packages from the Americans there to friends and relatives in the United States and elsewhere. After departing Sri Lanka on 31 October, ''Whipple'' proceeded to the Philippines and arrived at Subic Bay on 8 November to prepare for a voyage home. She got underway on 20 November; made brief stops at Guam and Midway for refueling; and, in company with her squadron mates, steamed single-file into Pearl Harbor on 7 December. The destroyer escort spent the remainder of the year 1973 in a leave and upkeep stand-down period. ''Whipple'' resumed local operations out of Pearl Harbor and engaged in routine exercises, inspections, and maneuvers through August. Early in September 1974, the ship commenced preparations for her third WestPac deployment and, on 1 October, got underway for Subic Bay.

Arriving on 16 October, the destroyer escort conducted type training exercises in the Philippines from 23 to 26 October before receiving orders to make for [[Ambon Island|Ambon]], Indonesia, for a "showing-the-flag" and goodwill mission (U.S. Navy Project Handclasp). On 27 October, the ship departed Subic and headed south in the teeth of a typhoon. Upon making port at Ambon on the morning of 1 November, ''Whipple'' began carrying out the diplomacy of a goodwill visit. Her crew distributed "Project-Handclasp" material, painted a school, and topped off her visit with an unusual and time-consuming refuelling operation—a three-day, round-the-clock affair—utilizing tanker trucks. Underway again on 4 November, ''Whipple'' made for Subic Bay once more. After arriving at the Philippine base on 8 November, the destroyer escort commenced restricted availability which lasted until 16 November when the ship sailed for [[Kaohsiung]], Taiwan.

''Whipple'' undertook ASW operations out of Kaohsiung before proceeding via Subic Bay to Hong Kong. The escort ship arrived at the British Crown Colony on 2 December before once more heading for Philippine waters where she remained for the remainder of the year 1974. After celebrating New Year's 1975 at Subic Bay, ''Whipple'' proceeded to [[Buckner Bay]], [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]], for local operations which lasted through 10 January. Upon reaching Philippine waters three days later, ''Whipple'' joined Task Group 77.5, consisting of ''Coral Sea'', {{USS|Knox|DE-1052|2}}, and {{USS|Gridley|DLG-21|2}}, in local Philippine operating areas.

Detached from TG 77.5 on 27 January, ''Whipple'' conducted ASW exercises with {{USS|Reasoner|DE-1063|2}} before rejoining ''Coral Sea'' and planeguarding and steaming in company with the carrier through 2 February. After one week in port, ''Whipple'' steamed out of Subic Bay on 9 February, bound for Pearl Harbor. Resuming local operations in the Hawaiian area after her return on 22 February, ''Whipple'' conducted routine exercises and maneuvers through the summer of the year. On 1 July 1975, ''Whipple's'' designation was changed to '''FF-1062''' during a Navy-wide reclassification. On August, ''Whipple'' entered Drydock No. 4 at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul which was to include reconfiguring her superstructure to accommodate a [[Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System|LAMPS]] system.

''Whipple'' completed overhaul on 24 March 1976. The ensuing months were spent in refresher training in the Hawaiian area where the ship obtained certification over the full range of her weapons and propulsion systems. The period October to December was spent in preparation for a forthcoming deployment to the western Pacific. On 3 January 1977, ''Whipple'' departed on her fourth deployment since commissioning. From that date until her return to Pearl Harbor, the frigate operated as a part of the [[United States Seventh Fleet|7th Fleet]] in various advanced exercises. Following post-deployment standdown, ''Whipple'' resumed training operations in the Hawaiian area until December when she entered the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for a restricted availability.

===1978–1995===
Completing her repair work on 3 February 1978, ''Whipple'' resumed the pattern of operations out of her home port which she had assumed following the previous deployment. On 3 April, the ship departed Hawaii for a four-nation naval exercise, [[Exercise RIMPAC|"RIMPAC '78"]], which took place in the Central Pacific. She returned on 22 April. Further exercises followed as the ship prepared for another extended deployment to the western Pacific. ''Whipple'' departed Pearl Harbor on 24 June ([[HSM-37|HSL-37]] Detachment 1 embarked). During the period 5 to 10 July, ''Whipple'' made the first visit to [[Guadalcanal]], [[Solomon Islands]], by a United States Navy ship since 1957. For most of the remainder of the year, the ship operated with the 7th Fleet throughout the reaches of the western Pacific. On 22 August 1978, the crew of ''Whipple'' rescued 410 Vietnamese refugees from a rickety {{convert|60|ft|m}} boat in a storm-tossed South China Sea. The rescue was performed without any injuries more serious than bruises. Of these 410, half were under the age of 16. As ''Whipple'' turned and dipped into the seas for Hong Kong, one of the English-speaking refugees sloshed through the radar room with an escort to the bridge for an interview with the captain. "After 3 days of hiding in the woods near Vung-Tao, four stormy days at sea, and growing cracks in the hull, they were waiting to die. In addition, not one of these individuals was a mariner. No one knew how to properly sail a vessel."

Two days later, ''Whipple'' entered Junk Bay, Hong Kong, and transferred the refugees to the U.N. High Commission for refugees. The incident attracted international attention. ''Whipple'' returned to Pearl Harbor on 15 December having met all operational commitments during her deployment. ''Whipple'' received two battle stars for service in Vietnam.

=== 1998 Movie cameo ===
In the summer of 1998, while undergoing the decommissioning process, ''Whipple'' remained anchored at Pearl Harbor awaiting her outbound transfer to the inactive fleet. During this time, she briefly took part in the filming of the hit motion picture "[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]" by [[Michael Bay]], in which she can be seen in various shots throughout the harbor air bombing scenes.

===Transfer to Mexico===
[[File:ARM Mina Frigate 214.JPG|thumb|ARM ''Mina'' in 2009.]]
''Whipple'' was decommissioned on 14 February 1992 and struck from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 11 January 1995. She was subsequently donated to the [[Mexican Navy]] and renamed ARM ''Mina'' (F-214).

==In popular culture==

''Whipple'' appeared in Season 4, Episode 23, of ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)]]'', titled, "Follow the White Brick Road," as the fictional USS John Haskell.

==References==
:{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/whipple-iii.html}}

==External links==
*{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=FF1062|title=Navy Vessel Register FF1062}}
*[http://www.destroyersonline.com/usndd/ff1062/cap_alfredo_zamora_c.htm Letter explaining arrival of USS ''Whipple'' in Mexico]
*[http://uss.whipple.org/ USS ''Whipple'' Association Web site, for all three ships]
*[http://navysite.de/ff/ff1062.htm Navysite.de]
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/06/06021062.htm Navsource images]

{{Knox class frigate}}
{{Active ships of Mexico}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whipple}}
[[Category:Ships built in Seattle]]
[[Category:Knox-class frigates]]
[[Category:Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Mexican Navy]]
[[Category:1968 ships]]
[[Category:Cold War frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]