The Ship

The USS Thomas C. Hart (DE-1092) is named in honor of the late Admiral Thomas C. Hart, USN, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet from 1939-1942, and is the first ship ever to bear his name. She was one of 27 frigates built by Avondale Shipyards, Inc., Westwego, Louisiana. The keel was laid on October 8, 1971 and the ship was launced on August 12, 1972. Hart was commissioned in Boston, Massachusetts on July 28, 1973 under sponsorship of Mrs. Reginald Bragonier, eldest granddaughter of Admiral Hart.

Click Here For TCH launching Video

Design Characteristics:
source - wikpedia
Displacement: 3,201 tons (4,182 tons full load)
Length: 438 ft (133.5 m)
Beam: 46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)
Draught: 24 ft 9 in (7.6 m)
Propulsion: 2 × CE 1200psi boilers
1 Westinghouse geared turbine
1 shaft, 35,000 SHP (26 MW)
Speed: over 27 knots
Complement: 18 officers, 267 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems: AN/SPS-67 Air Search Radar
AN/SPS-10 Surface Search Radar
AN/SQS-26 Sonar
AN/SQR-18 Towed array sonar system
Mk68 Gun Fire Control System
Electronic warfare and decoys: AN/SLQ-32 Electronics Warfare System
Armament: one Mk-16 8 cell missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles
one Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber gun
Mark 46 torpedoes from four single tube launchers)
Aircraft carried: one SH-2 Seasprite (LAMPS I) helicopter

     The shield of the USS Thomas C. Hart (DE/FF-1092) symbolizes the mission of the first ship to bear Admiral Hart's name and recreates the substance of the Hart family crest. It was designed after consultation with the members of the ship's company.
     The horned stag, a "hart", is found on the family shield. The fleur-de-lis is also found on the coat of arms, and the three presented here represent faith, wisdom, and valor, as well as the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, the locale in which HART's keel was laid and the majority of her construction completed.
     The four stars represent the rank of Admiral attained by Thomas C. Hart.
     The compass rose surrounding the distinctive silhouette of the FF-1078 class ocean escort represents the Navy's world control of the seas and HART's capability to respond in the nation's service whenever and wherever she is needed.
     The Latin words Securitas, Pax, Victoria, are translated "Security, Peace, Victory". Their use was inspired by a passage from a speech delivered by President John F. Kennedy in June 1963: "Control of the seas means security, Control of the seas means peace, Control of the seas means victory."

Click to view more about Knox class frigates.

May 1974 Cruiser-Destroyerman Article on TC Hart