USS Stein (FF-1065)

The third USS Stein (DE-1065) was a Knox-class destroyer escort, later redesignated as a frigate (FF-1065) in the United States Navy.

The USS Stein was named after Tony Stein, the first Marine (of 22) to receive the Medal of Honor for action in the Battle of Iwo Jima

Stein was laid down on 1 June 1970 at Seattle, Washington, by Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co.; launched on 19 December 1973; sponsored by Mrs. Rose S. Parks; and commissioned on 8 January 1975, Comdr. Nepier V. Smith in command.

Stein was decommissioned on 19 March 1992 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 11 January 1995. She was subsequently transferred to the Mexican Navy and renamed the Armada República Mexicana Ignacio Allende, abbreviated ARM Allende. 

History
The ocean escort spent another eight weeks at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and completed fitting-out. She conducted sea trials, then got underway in early March and arrived at her home port, San Diego, on 17 March. Two weeks later, she headed south along the coast of Mexico and South America on her shakedown cruise. Stein returned to San Diego in May and, late the following month, commenced post-shakedown repairs and modifications at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. On 8 December, she completed yard work and began intensive preparations for her first deployment to the western Pacific.

She departed San Diego Bay in mid-April 1977 and stopped at Midway and Guam, before entering Subic Bay in the Philippines on 19 May. She operated with the 7th Fleet until the end of August, when she cleared the area for a visit to Australia and New Zealand before returning to the west coast. Stein called at Manus Island; Townsville, Australia; and Auckland, New Zealand, in September and returned to Australia, at Sydney, in October. On her way back to the United States, the escort ship stopped off at Suva, Pago Pago, and Pearl Harbor before reaching San Diego on 1 November.

She remained in port there until June 1977, when she got underway for a series of special operations. Stein then operated out of San Diego until mid-August. After a short period in port, she departed again on another special operation. This one, however, ended at Cubi Point on Subic Bay in the Philippines and began her second tour of duty with the 7th Fleet. She worked out of Subic Bay until late October when she sailed on a voyage that carried her to Singapore, and thence into the Indian Ocean. In November, she visited Karachi and returned to Singapore, where she was in December 1978.

She is noteworthy as a U.S. Navy vessel that has apparently been attacked by an unknown species of giant squid. In 1976, the "NOFOUL" rubber coating of her AN/SQS-26 SONAR dome was damaged by multiple cuts over 8 percent of the dome surface. Nearly all of the cuts contained remnants of sharp, curved claws found on the rims of suction cups of some squid tentacles. The claws were much larger than those of any squid that had been discovered at that time.

From 1978 to earlier 1988, she made 5 more deployments to the Far East operating with the 7th Fleet. A month after returning from her 7th deployment in early March 1988, she entered South West Marine Ship Repair Facility in San Diego for eight months of a Selective Repair Availability. Upon completion of the Selective Repair Availability, she prepared for a series of qualifications in preparation for a mini-deployment to the Mexican waters for a series of another small operations. Port visits were Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, Mexico. Return to San Diego after 45 days of operations in the Mexican waters.

In June of the same year, joined she the US Navy's PHOTOEX in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska with "Battle Group Battle Bravo" and two other carrier Battle Groups. Port visited Seattle, Washington before returning to San Diego for another short repair availabity. In October 1989, she again left San Diego with Battle Group Bravo, USS NEW JERSEY BB 62 as the Flag Ship for another six-month deployment. Performed operations and port visits in Pearl Harbor Hawaii; Kong Kong; Chinhae Korea; Phuket and Phataya Thailand, Subic Bay, Philippines; Karachi, India. Also operated in the South African; Indian and Muscat, Oman waters. Port visited Subic and Oahu, Hawaii for one more time before returned to San Diego in April 1990.

Again entered the South West Marine Repair facility for another Selective Repair Availability in June 1990 to 17 January 1991. In less than two weeks after passing sea trials, she was ordered to deploy unexpectedly due the Gulf War, in support of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield as a part of Battle Group Bravo. Rear Admiral P. M. Quast, Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group Three, led Battle Group Bravo on deployment to the Middle East. The group consisted of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), USS Texas (CGN-39), USS Rentz (FFG-46), USS Stein (FF-1065), USS Harold E. Holt (FF-1074), USS Camden (AOE-2), and USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), along with Commander, Destroyer Squadron 21 and Carrier Air Wing Nine embarked in Nimitz.[11]

Upon leaving San Diego, she went straight to Subic Bay and arrived there after 17 days of underway. While in Subic Bay, she received one last stores on load before entering the Persian Gulf region. She stayed in the Persian Gulf until earlier June 1991 before started returning to San Diego. Port visited Subic Bay, Philippines; Indonesia; Jabel Ali; Duhai; Bahrain; Port Jabail, KSA; Abu Dahbi; Muscat, Oman; Singapore; Phuket, Thailand; Hong Kong and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii arriving San diego late July 1991.

In Late August 1991, she was ordered to prepare to be decommissioned. She got underway to Indian Island, Washington for ammunitions unloading and a port visit at Victoria, Canada. Upon returning to San Diego, she started preparation for preservation, was decommissioned in 19 March 1992. She was towed to Bremerton, Washington, added to the United States Navy Reserve Fleet and stayed there until mid-1999. She was eventually transferred to the Mexican Navy renamed as the Armanda Republica Mexicana "Ignacio Allande F-211".

Cruises

 * 1987 World Cruise