KEEL LAID | 2 October 1970 | |
CHRISTENED AND LAUNCHED | 24 July 1971 | |
COMMISSIONED | 8 July 1972 |
OVERALL LENGTH: 438 feet | SPEED: In excess of 27 kts | |
BEAM (WIDTH): 46 feet 9 in | DISPLACEMENT: 4,100 tons |
ARMAMENT: | 5-inch, 54 caliber rapid fire mount, anti-submarine rockets, homing torpedoes, manned helicopter. |
USS BREWTON is the 35th ship of the new ocean escorts, the so-called Knox (FF-1052) class. Designed primarily for optimum anti-submarine performance, the ship has inherent versatility, and has proven to be capable of performing the numerous tasks assigned to destroyers in time of peace as well as in time of war. USS BREWTON is equipped with highly sophisticated electronics, weapons, and engineering equipments, with a complement of some 20 officers and 240 enlisted.
BREWTON is one of the first destroyers in the U.S. fleet to be configured for the LAMPS (Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System) manned helicopter. In addition to the most modern, high powered sonar developed for the U.S. Navy, the AN/SQS-26, BREWTON also carries an independent variable depth sonar, the AN/SQS-35, designed so that this sonar's transducer can be placed at the optimum depth (based on environmental conditions) for submarine detection. The ship's weapons include the ASROC (Anti-Submarine Rocket) system, homing torpedoes, the helicopter weapons system, and the rapid fire 5 inch 54 caliber multi-purpose gun.
The ship is named after Lieutenant John C. Brewton, USNR, who gave his life while serving in Vietnam as a Seal Team Leader. Among other awards, LT. Brewton was awarded the silver star medal for his "valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit in the face of grave enemy opposition and serious personal injuries."
Appropriate to the memory of LT. Brewton, the ship's motto is "Dedicated, Determined, Prepared".
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