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USS Bronstein (FF 1037)

USS BRONSTEIN was the lead ship of the Navy's third class of escort vessels built after World War II. Additionally, the two BRONSTEIN - class ships were the Navy's first escort vessels equipped with the SQS-26 Sonar and with the ASROC missile launchers.

Decommissioned on December 13, 1990, and stricken from the Navy list on October 4, 1991, the BRONSTEIN was sold to Mexico where she was recommissioned as HERMENEGILDO GALEANA.

USS BRONSTEIN's awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, the Navy E Ribbon, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Ribbon, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and the Coast Guard Special Operations Ribbon.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS BRONSTEIN. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The BRONSTEIN plaque is in the form of a coat of arms which is indicative of its lineage. To understand the plaque, one must know a little of the ship's history. FF 1037 is the second ship to bear the name of BRONSTEIN. The first BRONSTEIN, named after Ben Richard BRONSTEIN, established a striking record in ASW by engaging and sinking 3 German submarines and severely damaging a fourth, thereby gaining a Presidential Unit Citation.

The present plaque reflects these past achievements. The eagle atop the shield marks her as a war ship of the U.S. Navy. The crescent with the horns pointing upward alludes to the heritage of a preceding BRONSTEIN. On the right hand field of the shield is the naval crown. This crown consists of a circlet on which is mounted the stems and sails of ships alternately. The naval crown was characteristically bestowed on men who distinguished themselves in a career of naval service - such as Lord Nelson. In this instance, the naval crown refers to the outstanding record of the first BRONSTEIN in WWII. The tridents on the diagonal band across the shield are symbolic of sea power and a ship of war.

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About the Ship's Name:

Ben Richard Bronstein - born on 14 April 1915 in Manchester, N.H. - graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1936 and from Tufts College Medical School at Boston in 1940. Dr. Bronstein was appointed Assistant Surgeon with the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) on 4 October 1941. He reported to the Portsmouth (N.H.) Navy Yard on 6 November; then moved on to Casco Bay, Maine, to await transportation to Argentia, Newfoundland, to meet JACOB JONES (DD 130). He reported on board that destroyer late in December.

While serving as a roving antisubmarine patrol ship off the Delaware Capes on 27 February 1942, JACOB JONES spotted the burning wreckage of the torpedoed tanker R. P. RESOR. The destroyer searched the area around the wreckage for survivors and then headed south on patrol. At dawn on 28 February, the undetected German submarine U-578 sank JACOB JONES with at least two torpedoes. Lt.(jg.) Bronstein was lost with the ship.

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USS BRONSTEIN History:

USS BRONSTEIN was the lead ship of the two-ship BRONSTEIN-class of ocean escorts developed for the United States Navy primarily for antisubmarine warfare. The contract for the new escort was awarded to Avondale Shipyards on June 13, 1960. BRONSTEIN's keel was laid at Westwego, Louisiana, on May 16, 1961, and she was launched on March 31, 1962. Her sponsor was Mrs. Gertrude M. Pirie, wife of Vice Admiral Robert B. Pirie. BRONSTEIN was commissioned at Charleston Naval Shipyard, South Carolina, on June 16, 1963, with Lieutenant Commander Stanley T. Counts in command.

After fitting out at Charleston, BRONSTEIN departed the East Coast on August 30, 1963, for her permanent Pacific Fleet assignment. She transited the Panama Canal, visited Acapulco, Mexico, and reached San Diego on September 17. She was assigned administratively to Escort Division 32. Final acceptance trials were carried out on December 3 and 4, after which she entered a post-shakedown availability that continued through the Christmas period.

BRONSTEIN spent much of 1964 evaluating and developing the antisubmarine capabilities for which she had been designed. Refresher training in the San Diego operating area ran from April 13 through May 8. She then proceeded north for sonar calibration work in Dabob Bay, Washington, from May 20 through June 16. A restricted availability at Long Beach Naval Shipyard followed from July 27 through August 6. From September 9 through September 20, she participated in Pacific Fleet Exercise Hard Shot, and between October 23 and November 10, she operated in Hawaiian waters during an operational-readiness exercise with Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3. Further sonar testing was conducted in the central Pacific from November 26 through November 29. These first full years in service therefore combined routine fleet qualification with extensive evaluation of the SQS-26 sonar and the tactics needed to exploit its greater detection range.

On January 1, 1965, BRONSTEIN relieved USS HOOPER (DE 1026) as flagship of Escort Squadron 3. A restricted availability at Long Beach followed from January 14 through January 29. From March 8 through March 26, she participated in the Chief of Naval Operations antisubmarine project designated F/O 185 Cruise 1. A sonar casualty interrupted the work and required BRONSTEIN to enter Hunters Point Naval Shipyard from March 10 through March 15. She then underwent tender maintenance at San Diego from March 27 through April 9. Further cruises associated with the project took place from May 13 through May 24 and from June 25 through July 2 off Baja California.

Installation and testing of the QH-50 DASH system occupied much of July and August 1965. Installation work was carried out in port from July 3 through July 25, followed by sea trials from July 28 through August 13. BRONSTEIN then underwent another restricted availability at Long Beach from August 14 through September 2. During September, she participated in Composite Training Exercise 17-65 from September 13 through September 16 and Hunter-Killer Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 8-65 from September 20 through September 24. Exercise Ragweed followed from October 1 through October 7, while Baseline training and Hunter-Killer Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 9-65 occupied October 23 through October 30. Further shipyard work at Long Beach ran from November 23 through December 13.

BRONSTEIN began her first western Pacific deployment on January 7, 1966. She deployed with Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3 and initially served as flagship of Escort Squadron 3. After the group reached Hawaiian waters, training continued from January 23 into early February. BRONSTEIN subsequently crossed the Pacific and visited Yokosuka, Japan, from February 17 through February 20 before entering Seventh Fleet operations.

Her first western Pacific deployment took place during the continuing escalation of the Vietnam War. BRONSTEIN operated in support of Seventh Fleet forces, including periods connected with carrier operations at Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin. During April and early May, her schedule included Taiwan Strait patrol duties, calls at Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and voyage repairs at Manila in the Philippines. While BRONSTEIN was at Manila, the approach of Typhoon Irma forced ships in the area to sortie. She was at sea because of the storm from May 17 through May 21. Beginning on May 22, she participated in the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercise Sea Imp. The multinational exercise brought together naval forces from several SEATO nations for antisubmarine, air-defense and surface-warfare training. U.S. ships participating in the operation included the antisubmarine carrier USS YORKTOWN (CVS 10) and the guided-missile destroyer USS GOLDSBOROUGH (DDG 20). Sea Imp continued through June 5.

BRONSTEIN visited Bang Saen, Thailand, from June 6 through June 9 and then resumed antisubmarine operations while moving toward the South China Sea. The group devoted part of June 9 through June 17 to searching for and monitoring submarines associated with the Soviet bloc presence in Asian waters. BRONSTEIN reached Hong Kong on June 18 and remained there through June 23. She returned to the Gulf of Tonkin for another period associated with Yankee Station from June 25 through July 2. After a final western Pacific stop at Yokosuka from July 8 through July 14, she crossed the Pacific and completed her first deployment on July 26.

Following post-deployment leave and upkeep, BRONSTEIN underwent tender maintenance alongside USS JASON (AR 8) at San Diego from September 3 through September 17. Holdown Exercise 6-66 followed from September 18 through September 23. She participated in Baseline II during Exercise 9-66 from October 13 through October 21 and Holdown 7-66 from October 22 through October 25. Maintenance alongside USS DIXIE (AD 14) at San Diego occupied October 26 through November 11, followed by Holdown 8-66 from November 12 through November 18 and additional work at Long Beach from November 19 through December 19.

On March 27, 1967, BRONSTEIN departed for another western Pacific deployment with Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3, commanded by Rear Admiral Harry L. Harty Jr. The force was centered on the antisubmarine carrier USS HORNET (CVS 12), and BRONSTEIN served as flagship for Commander Escort Squadron 3. After training and upkeep at Pearl Harbor from April 9 through April 17, the force continued west. Ships operating with BRONSTEIN included USS TAYLOR (DD 468), USS WALKER (DD 517), USS JENKINS (DDE 447), and USS DAVIDSON (DE 1045). BRONSTEIN reached Yokosuka on April 29 and remained there through May 4.

From May 4 through May 17, the force conducted coordinated antisubmarine training in the Sea of Japan with American, Japanese and South Korean forces. The operations occurred during a period of close surveillance and sometimes hazardous maneuvering between U.S. and Soviet warships. WALKER was involved in collisions with Soviet destroyers on May 10 and May 11; BRONSTEIN was operating with the group but was not involved in those collisions. After the exercise she called at Sasebo from May 18 through May 19.

BRONSTEIN then moved south to waters associated with the Vietnam conflict. From May 26 through June 25, she carried out antisubmarine coordination work in the Gulf of Tonkin. She underwent upkeep at Subic Bay from June 28 through July 4 and visited Manila from July 7 through July 9. On July 16 and 17, she operated in Lingayen Gulf before joining the SEATO exercise Sea Dog, which ran from July 17 through July 25 and included convoy-escort operations toward the Gulf of Thailand. BRONSTEIN visited Bang Saen on July 26 and 27 and Bangkok from July 27 through July 29. She then returned to waters off Vietnam from August 3 through August 13. Tropical Storm Iris affected the schedule of her subsequent Hong Kong visit, which took place from August 16 through August 19. BRONSTEIN continued Seventh Fleet operations during the following weeks and completed the deployment when she returned to the United States on October 28.

A major overhaul began at Long Beach Naval Shipyard on February 5, 1968. The work kept BRONSTEIN in the yard until October 11 and included maintenance and improvements required after several years of intensive antisubmarine operations and two western Pacific deployments. After returning to sea she rebuilt readiness during the final months of the year, including Hunter-Killer Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 12-68 off Baja California from December 2 through December 8.

Training continued in early 1969. BRONSTEIN participated in Exercise Bell Curve from January 8 through January 16, Uptide 1A from February 3 through February 9, and Uptide 1B from February 25 through March 5. She began another western Pacific deployment on March 29 as part of Antisubmarine Warfare Group 1 under Rear Admiral Jerome H. King Jr. The group centered on USS KEARSARGE (CVS 33), while BRONSTEIN operated as a unit of Destroyer Squadron 23.

After readiness work in Hawaiian waters from April 7 through April 14, BRONSTEIN reached Yokosuka and remained there from April 26 through April 30. She subsequently operated in the Gulf of Tonkin from May 4 through May 14. Voyage repairs were carried out at Subic Bay from May 17 through May 20, after which the ship moved to Manila for preparations associated with the multinational SEATO exercise Sea Spirit. She was there from May 22 through May 26. Rear Admiral King temporarily shifted his flag to BRONSTEIN when the force sortied on May 26.

Sea Spirit brought U.S., British, Australian, New Zealand and other allied ships together for extensive antisubmarine and surface exercises. During the early hours of June 3, 1969, the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE (R 21) collided with the American destroyer USS FRANK E. EVANS (DD 754), cutting the destroyer in two. Seventy-four American sailors were killed. BRONSTEIN was operating in Antisubmarine Warfare Group B with KEARSARGE, USS SCHOFIELD (DEG 3), USS WALKE (DD 723) and allied ships when word of the accident was received. The group turned toward the scene while helicopters from KEARSARGE joined the rescue effort. BRONSTEIN subsequently operated with the allied ships accompanying MELBOURNE toward Singapore. She returned to Subic Bay for upkeep on June 7 and 8.

BRONSTEIN visited Kaohsiung from June 11 through June 16. On June 17, while proceeding toward another period in the Gulf of Tonkin, she encountered the Taiwanese fishing vessel LUNG-CHIANG, which had been adrift for five days. BRONSTEIN took the disabled fishing vessel in tow and returned it to Kaohsiung. She then resumed her assigned operations and was back on station in the Gulf of Tonkin from June 19 through July 3. A casualty to BRONSTEIN's sonar dome required emergency work at Sasebo. She was dry-docked there from July 9 through July 18. After leaving the dock she participated in Exercise Beach King from July 19 through July 21 and briefly returned to Sasebo on July 22 and 23.

The next phase of the deployment consisted of an extended Taiwan Patrol assignment from July 26 through September 7. BRONSTEIN visited Keelung from July 26 through July 29, August 3 through August 5, and August 18 through August 20. Calls at Kaohsiung took place from August 10 through August 13, August 25 through August 27, and September 3 through September 6. She then visited Hong Kong from September 8 through September 12. From September 18 through September 29, BRONSTEIN participated with SCHOFIELD and USS JAMES E. KYES (DD 787) in Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 2-70 off Japan. On September 30, she was diverted to observe and gather information on a Soviet naval formation operating in the Philippine Sea. After refueling at Yokosuka, she continued operations in the western Pacific and Marianas area during October. She refueled at Sasebo on October 17, reached Kaohsiung on October 21, carried out another Taiwan Patrol period through October 24 and refueled again at Kaohsiung on October 25. From October 28 through November 5, she underwent additional dry-dock work at Yokosuka. BRONSTEIN then began the trans-Pacific return voyage and reached home on November 21.

On January 1, 1970, BRONSTEIN was transferred administratively to Destroyer Division 232. Much of the year consisted of training, upkeep and antisubmarine readiness work off Southern California. From September 23 through October 1, she took part in Readiness and Operational Evaluation Exercise 4-70, a large First Fleet exercise involving nearly forty ships and submarines. The scenario exposed the participating forces to multiple threats and required BRONSTEIN to use sonar, electronic-support measures and deception techniques while screening larger naval units.

BRONSTEIN subsequently operated with USS TICONDEROGA (CVS 14), Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3 and Destroyer Squadron 23 during Hunter-Killer Antisubmarine Warfare Exercises 3-70 and 4-70, held from October 12 through October 16 and October 21 through October 29. Although BRONSTEIN had been designed for DASH operations and had used the unmanned helicopter during the preceding years, the Navy had decided to discontinue the DASH program. The ship therefore entered the 1970s without the organic manned helicopter capability subsequently introduced aboard larger escorts.

Early in 1971, BRONSTEIN prepared for another western Pacific deployment. She sailed for Hawaiian waters on January 7 with SCHOFIELD and JAMES E. KYES and trained there through February 6 in preparation for operations with TICONDEROGA. Hunter-Killer Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 1-71 began on January 15, followed by Uptide training on January 17. During these exercises, BRONSTEIN towed an acoustic device intended to imitate a carrier's noise signature and confuse the submarines USS HADDOCK (SSN 621) and USS PLUNGER (SSN 595). She returned to Pearl Harbor on January 25 and resumed exercises on January 28 and 29 before heading back to California.

A sonar-dome problem required approximately ten days in Dry Dock No. 3 at Long Beach beginning on February 9. Exercise Admixture followed from February 23 through March 4 in waters roughly 250 miles west of San Diego.

BRONSTEIN began her next western Pacific deployment on March 11, 1971, again associated with TICONDEROGA and Antisubmarine Warfare Group 3. She stopped at Pearl Harbor from March 17 through March 19 and reached the Gulf of Tonkin later in the month. On March 25 and 26, she operated there while civilian and military photographers embarked to document the Navy's activities.

After upkeep at Subic Bay from April 7 through April 11, BRONSTEIN continued southwestward. She crossed the Equator on April 15 and refueled at Sembawang, Singapore, on April 16. From April 19 through April 23 she trained in the Andaman Sea with the submarine USS CAIMAN (SS 323). On April 24, she passed through the Sunda Strait, where her crew placed a wreath in the water in remembrance of USS HOUSTON (CA 30) and HMAS PERTH (D 29), which had been lost there during the Battle of Sunda Strait in 1942. BRONSTEIN anchored in Singapore Roads from April 26 through April 30 with USS MEYERKORD (DE 1058). She then proceeded to Hong Kong, where she remained from May 5 through May 11. On May 13 and 14, she participated in an antisubmarine barrier exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin against USS GRAYBACK (SS 574), followed by air-defense and gunnery training while moving north. She visited Yokosuka from May 18 through May 25.

From May 26 through June 4, BRONSTEIN participated in Antisubmarine Warfare Exercise 3-71 in the Sea of Japan with American and Japanese forces. She passed through the Tsugaru Strait on May 28. An availability alongside DIXIE at Sasebo followed from June 5 through June 16, while sonar components also required attention at Yokosuka.

On June 17, the group was redesignated Task Group 70.4 and began a largely silent movement toward northern waters. Soviet ships and aircraft monitored the American force as it proceeded into the North Pacific. BRONSTEIN reached the Bering Sea area during June 27 and 28 before the group turned south and east. She completed the deployment at Long Beach on July 5.

During September 1971, BRONSTEIN and several related ships shifted their administrative base from Long Beach to San Diego. She took part in additional operational-evaluation exercises early in the month and underwent maintenance alongside USS PIEDMONT (AD 17) from September 17 through October 12. On October 12, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a major overhaul that continued until May 17, 1972. The work included replacement of the forward twin 3-inch/50-caliber gun mount, conversion of the engineering plant to burn Navy Distillate Fuel, overhaul of the sonar system and communications improvements. Sonar difficulties contributed to extending the yard period beyond the originally expected completion date.

Sea trials after the overhaul were conducted from May 22 through June 2, 1972. BRONSTEIN was opened to visitors at Broadway Pier in San Diego from June 16 through June 18, during which more than 3,000 people toured the ship. Refresher training occupied June 19 through August 10. During this period, she also participated in a sinking exercise in which ASROC, a torpedo and 3-inch gunfire were used against a target hulk. Composite Training Exercise 16A-72 from August 7 through August 10 completed preparations for another deployment.

BRONSTEIN departed on August 19, 1972, with a surface unit that included USS JOUETT (DLG 29) and USS RAMSEY (DEG 2). She reached Subic Bay on September 11 and departed again on September 16. On September 18, she joined the task group centered on USS ORISKANY (CVA 34). When an ORISKANY sailor, Peter Chan, was reported missing on September 25, BRONSTEIN participated in an approximately twelve-hour search, but the missing man was not found.

On September 28, BRONSTEIN shifted to the group operating with USS AMERICA (CVA 66). Typhoon Lorna subsequently caused the ships to move south for three days. BRONSTEIN entered Subic Bay for upkeep alongside PIEDMONT from October 9 through October 22. She then joined USS MIDWAY (CVA 41) and remained with its task group for approximately thirty-three days.

BRONSTEIN visited Hong Kong from November 25 through December 5. On December 6, she was ordered back to the Gulf of Tonkin and on December 7 became command ship for Task Group 75.9, which coordinated naval gunfire support. Captain Creighton D. Lilly embarked to direct the group. BRONSTEIN fired her 3-inch guns against assigned shore targets on December 7 and 8 until her readily available ammunition was exhausted. Difficulties in obtaining additional 3-inch ammunition temporarily interrupted the firing. After replenishment, she resumed naval gunfire on December 14 and also supported helicopter in-flight refueling operations that day. She fired again on December 17. During that mission, six rounds of enemy counterbattery fire landed near the ship but caused no damage. Captain Lilly left BRONSTEIN on December 19.

A casualty in the No. 1A boiler then required repairs. BRONSTEIN entered Kaohsiung and received assistance alongside USS BRYCE CANYON (AD 36) from December 22, 1972, through January 1, 1973. She returned to operations on January 2 and supported ORISKANY's task group through February 1. The Paris Peace Accords took effect on January 27, ending direct U.S. combat operations against North Vietnam, although American naval forces remained in the region during the transition.

During this period, BRONSTEIN took part in a large Seventh Fleet formation with several aircraft carriers, including ORISKANY, AMERICA, USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65), and USS RANGER (CV 61). BRONSTEIN escorted ORISKANY to Subic Bay on February 1, 1973. She then proceeded independently toward Japan, reaching Sasebo for upkeep from February 6 through February 14. After a stop at Yokosuka she departed on February 17 with USS COCHRANE (DDG 21), USS PREBLE (DLG 15), and USS RATHBURNE (DE 1057). The ships shifted from Seventh Fleet to Third Fleet control on February 19. BRONSTEIN stopped at Midway on February 22 and Pearl Harbor on February 25 and completed the deployment when she returned to San Diego on March 3.

The ship subsequently underwent extensive alterations. The aft 3-inch gun installation and captain's gig were removed, and BRONSTEIN received the AN/SQR-15 Towed Array Surveillance System. The long passive towed array, commonly referred to as TASS, became an increasingly important part of her mission during the remainder of the 1970s and early 1980s. By trailing acoustic sensors well behind the ship and away from much of her own machinery noise, BRONSTEIN could listen passively for distant submarine signatures without transmitting active sonar pulses.

From July 27 through August 20, 1973, BRONSTEIN participated in activities associated with the Seattle Seafair together with USS SOMERS (DDG 34) and USS ROGERS (DD 876). A casualty to a forced-draft blower delayed her planned departure from the area. On September 4, she began operations with USS LOCKWOOD (DE 1064), moving from the San Clemente operating area toward Hawaii. She participated in RimPac 73 from September 11 through September 20 alongside ships and aircraft from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. After a stop at Pearl Harbor on September 21, BRONSTEIN returned to San Diego with USS HORNE (DLG 30) on September 28. Composite Training Exercise 12-73 from October 29 through November 4 completed her preparations for another extended deployment.

BRONSTEIN departed on November 23, 1973, for a western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment. She initially operated in a group centered on USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63). After exercises near Hawaii, BRONSTEIN departed Pearl Harbor on December 4 with several escorts, refueled at Midway on December 8, entered Seventh Fleet control on December 11 and called at Apra Harbor, Guam, from December 14 through December 17. TASS operations formed an important part of her activity during the transit. She reached Subic Bay shortly before Christmas.

During January 1974, BRONSTEIN conducted antisubmarine work in company with KITTY HAWK and other surface units, using the towed array in coordination with maritime patrol aircraft, carrier aircraft and the submarine USS BLUEBACK (SS 581). She visited Keelung during January before returning to fleet operations. BRONSTEIN called at Manila from February 5 through February 8 and then departed with KITTY HAWK, SOMERS and KIRK (DE 1087) for an Indian Ocean deployment. The movement reflected the increasing U.S. naval interest in maintaining a substantial presence in the Indian Ocean during the Cold War.

BRONSTEIN performed carrier-screening duties and continued TASS operations as the group moved westward. The fleet oiler USS MISPILLION (AO 105) supported the force during part of the passage. BRONSTEIN reached Mombasa, Kenya, and remained in the Kilindini harbor area from March 20 through March 26. USS SACRAMENTO (AOE 1) later relieved MISPILLION as the principal replenishment ship. The force began its eastward passage on April 12 and subsequently rendezvoused with USS WHITE PLAINS (AFS 4). BRONSTEIN returned to Subic Bay on April 27.

She departed Subic Bay on May 4 with USS BADGER (DE 1071) and LOCKWOOD, refueled at Apra Harbor on May 9, stopped at Midway during the eastward crossing and made a brief call at Pearl Harbor on May 18. BRONSTEIN completed the deployment at San Diego on May 25.

From July 1 through July 10, she visited Eureka, California, for Independence Day activities and subsequently called at San Francisco. Fleet training resumed during August, including operations with USS CORAL SEA (CVA 43) from August 6 through August 9 and with ENTERPRISE from August 14 through August 26. Further carrier training with CORAL SEA took place from October 27 through October 31. In December, BRONSTEIN trained with KIRK and LOCKWOOD from December 2 through December 6.

Antisubmarine and TASS exercises dominated the beginning of 1975. BRONSTEIN operated with USS ALBERT DAVID (DE 1050) and USS DARTER (SS 576) from January 5 through January 11 and carried out another TASS exercise from January 27 through January 31.

She departed for another western Pacific deployment on February 25, 1975. The outward passage included RimPac 75 in Hawaiian waters. On March 7, BRONSTEIN detached with USS O'CALLAHAN (DE 1051) and USS PONCHATOULA (AO 148) and entered Pearl Harbor. The main exercise ran from March 11 through March 21 and included dual-towed-array operations with ALBERT DAVID. BRONSTEIN resumed the westward crossing on March 23, stopped at Midway on March 26, and reached Guam early in April.

After training around the Marianas, she refueled at Guam on April 10 and reached Subic Bay on April 14, remaining there through April 19. She then moved north toward Okinawa and the East China Sea. A planned visit to Pusan was abandoned after an engineering casualty involving an oil-pump gear, and BRONSTEIN entered Sasebo on April 28. Replacement components were fabricated there, and she remained until May 4.

The collapse of South Vietnam was taking place simultaneously. Saigon fell on April 30 after the U.S. evacuation known as Operation Frequent Wind. BRONSTEIN did not participate directly in the evacuation because she was undergoing repairs, but she subsequently operated in the Marianas during the large refugee-support effort that followed. At Guam in May, approximately thirty members of her crew volunteered to assist with the movement of refugees from ships to the camps established under Operation New Life.

BRONSTEIN continued TASS and antisubmarine work in the Marianas during May and early June. She visited Hong Kong from June 12 through June 18, where she was alongside USS OKINAWA (LPH 3), and returned to Subic Bay on June 20. Subsequent operations included work with a force containing USS GRIDLEY (DLG 21), HORNE, USS LANG (DE 1060), MEYERKORD and USS KAWISHIWI (AO 146). On June 30, 1975, the Navy's fleet-wide ship-classification changes redesignated BRONSTEIN from ocean escort DE 1037 to frigate FF 1037.

During July, BRONSTEIN operated in carrier-support duties with USS HANCOCK (CV 19) and USS BREWTON (FF 1086), including operations near Taiwan. She underwent upkeep at Subic Bay from July 9 through July 24. In August, she operated with KITTY HAWK and used TASS during further antisubmarine training. A shaft problem required BRONSTEIN to enter the floating dry dock AFDM 6 at Subic Bay from August 14 through August 22. Following repairs and sea trials, she participated in another major Seventh Fleet exercise from August 25 into early September.

During the final weeks of the deployment, BRONSTEIN conducted additional antisubmarine operations in the Marianas, including searches for Soviet submarines in waters near Rota. She began the homeward journey late in September, stopped at Midway on September 28 and Pearl Harbor on October 1, and returned to San Diego on October 7.

TASS remained central to her work in early 1976. BRONSTEIN hunted USS BARB (SSN 596) during an exercise from January 21 through January 23 and carried out a further evaluation of the towed-array system from February 4 through February 6. She participated in the multinational Exercise Valiant Heritage from March 1 through March 12. On April 1, Secretary of the Navy J. William Middendorf II visited the ship and presented the Destroyer Squadron Battle Efficiency "E".

BRONSTEIN's home port shifted from San Diego to Long Beach on May 3, 1976. On May 10 and 11, the fleet tug USS MATACO (ATF 86) towed her to Long Beach and then to the Bethlehem Steel yard at San Pedro on Terminal Island. A major overhaul formally began there on May 17. The approximately $5 million yard period included extensive maintenance as well as alterations to fuel-oil overflow piping, installation of a sewage-holding system and changes to crew facilities. BRONSTEIN remained in overhaul for the rest of 1976. Sea trials began early in 1977. On January 17, her home port was shifted back to San Diego, and she completed the physical move at the end of the month and beginning of February. Refresher training ran from April 4 through May 6. BRONSTEIN later deployed to Hawaiian waters for antisubmarine training from August 4 through August 27 and took part in Fleet Exercise 2-77 from September 16 through September 25.

In October, she participated in Baja 23 with USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 32). The exercise period, from October 11 through October 26, included a visit to Acapulco. She tracked American submarines during Cast Op on November 7 and 8 and carried out a tactical exercise from November 14 through November 17. ReadiEx 1-78, held from December 6 through December 15, completed a year devoted primarily to rebuilding operational readiness after the prolonged overhaul.

BRONSTEIN began 1978 with Composite Training Exercise from January 16 through January 21 and ReadiEx 2-78 from January 24 through February 2, operating with ENTERPRISE and Task Unit 176.1.5. Sharem 24, an antisubmarine readiness and effectiveness measurement exercise, followed from February 13 through February 18.

She departed for the western Pacific on April 4, 1978. During the outward passage, she participated in RimPac 78 in Hawaiian waters through April 22 and visited Pearl Harbor on April 23 and 24. After reaching Subic Bay, BRONSTEIN received orders on May 25 to shorten her stay and depart the following morning for special operations. She then conducted surveillance and tracking of an East Bloc naval contact while proceeding into northern waters.

BRONSTEIN visited Pusan from June 25 through June 29 and Yokosuka from July 2 through July 18, where boiler repairs were carried out using shore steam. Her deployment continued with further western Pacific antisubmarine and fleet operations. She called at Kaohsiung on September 7 and 8 and underwent boiler maintenance at Subic Bay from September 10 through September 20. From September 21 through October 1, she participated in ReadiEx 1-79 with two carrier groups, followed by special Seventh Fleet operations from October 2 through October 10.

After a short maintenance stop at Guam, BRONSTEIN began the return voyage in company with JOHN PAUL JONES, USS HULL (DD 945), ALBERT DAVID, USS MARS (AFS 1), and USS ROANOKE (AOR 7). The logistics ships detached on October 26 while the combatants continued toward California. BRONSTEIN completed the deployment at San Diego on October 29.

Towed-array exercises resumed early in 1979. BRONSTEIN conducted TASS operations from January 9 through January 16 and TASS Exercise 1-79 from April 16 through April 21. She traveled north for the Portland Rose Festival in June and was photographed on the Columbia River on June 8. Visitors toured the ship during her stay. Training for the next deployment included TASS Operation 1-79 from July 8 through July 27 and Sharem 32 from August 6 through August 11. BRONSTEIN then entered dry dock at Long Beach for rudder-post repairs from August 17 through September 9.

From September 24 through October 6, she participated with American and Canadian ships in the North Pacific multithreat Exercise Kernel Potlach II. One of the Canadian participants was HMCS GATINEAU (DDE 236). BRONSTEIN visited New Westminster, British Columbia, from October 7 through October 9. During a foggy approach she came dangerously close to a merchant ship after the navigation team temporarily lost reliable visual and radar references, but the vessels did not collide.

BRONSTEIN departed San Diego for another western Pacific deployment on November 13, 1979. The deployment began only days after Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran on November 4 and took American personnel hostage, an event that rapidly altered American naval priorities. BRONSTEIN's planned training schedule was changed as ships already in or approaching the western Pacific were repositioned so that other forces could reinforce the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. BRONSTEIN entered Pearl Harbor on November 21 for a brief refueling and rearming stop and then resumed the westward passage. During a TransitEx approaching the Marianas, the formation operated under emission-control procedures intended to reduce the likelihood of detection, but opposing U.S. Air Force F-4 aircraft located the ships on November 30. BRONSTEIN refueled at Apra Harbor on December 1 and continued to the Philippines. She carried out upkeep at Subic Bay from December 9 through December 10 and again from December 13 through December 31, with local operations between maintenance periods.

The Iranian hostage crisis continued to shape operations during early 1980. BRONSTEIN remained in the western Pacific while other ships were sent toward the Indian Ocean. She repeatedly operated from Subic Bay during January and at one point tracked a Soviet submarine until worsening weather forced the contact to be broken.

In February, BRONSTEIN operated with USS LONG BEACH (CGN 9), USS WORDEN (CG 18), and ALBERT DAVID while moving toward Southeast Asia. An engineering casualty aboard ALBERT DAVID interrupted the formation's movements and the damaged frigate eventually received towing assistance, including from USS UTE (ATF 76). BRONSTEIN continued to Singapore and visited Sembawang from February 11 through February 15. She crossed the Equator on February 16 and returned to Subic Bay on February 21, remaining there through March 2.

Sharem 35 occupied several periods during March as BRONSTEIN continued antisubmarine readiness work. She visited Pusan from March 24 through March 26 and Chinhae on March 27 and 28. From March 29 through April 2, she participated with South Korean forces in Exercise Proud Spirit 80. Soviet naval units and long-range aircraft monitored aspects of the allied operations in northern waters. BRONSTEIN subsequently entered Sasebo for repairs from April 3 through April 8. The return voyage took her across the central Pacific with calls for fuel and logistics support, including a stop at Pearl Harbor on April 25 and 26. BRONSTEIN returned to San Diego on May 1, ending a deployment of nearly six months. During 1980, she received her fifth consecutive Battle Efficiency "E".

On September 30, 1980, BRONSTEIN entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for another extensive overhaul. The yard period continued for more than a year and involved major maintenance of the aging engineering plant, hull, sensors and supporting systems. She returned to sea for trials on October 6, 1981, but additional work at Long Beach was required from November 2 through November 20. Training and upkeep off Southern California continued during the winter and into the spring of 1982.

BRONSTEIN began another western Pacific deployment on May 26, 1982. She visited Pearl Harbor from June 8 through June 11 and reached Subic Bay on June 28. Periods of upkeep there from June 28 through July 8, July 11 and 12, and July 15 through July 22 alternated with antisubmarine exercises from July 8 through July 11 and ReconEx 82-3 on July 13 and 14. She then moved north and underwent voyage repairs at Sasebo from July 26 through August 4. From August 4 through August 8, BRONSTEIN operated in Japanese waters with MIDWAY. Later in August, she helped escort USS PELELIU (LHA 5) during operations in the Sea of Okhotsk from August 19 through August 31, an area close to important Soviet Far Eastern naval bases.

Following another stop at Sasebo, BRONSTEIN proceeded to South Korea. She was at Chinhae from September 5 through September 8 and then participated with South Korean forces in Exercise Tae Kwon Do 35 from September 8 through September 12. She temporarily detached for a two-day search-and-rescue mission. An extended maintenance period at Sasebo followed from September 15 through October 1. BRONSTEIN visited Fukuoka from October 2 through October 5 and then conducted submarine-search operations from October 5 through October 10. She called at Kure from October 11 through October 16 and continued to South Korea, visiting Pusan from October 18 through October 23 and Chinhae from October 23 through October 25. A further combined exercise with South Korean forces took place from October 25 through October 27.

While proceeding toward Hong Kong, BRONSTEIN shifted administratively from Destroyer Squadron 23 to Destroyer Squadron 13 on November 1. She visited Hong Kong from November 1 through November 6 and returned to Subic Bay for upkeep from November 8 through November 11. She began the voyage home later that month, stopping at Guam from November 18 through November 21, Kwajalein on November 27 and Pearl Harbor on December 2. BRONSTEIN returned to San Diego on December 10.

The first two-thirds of 1983 were spent largely in Southern California waters conducting readiness exercises, including ReadiEx 83-5 and ReadiEx 83-6, together with routine maintenance and preparation for another deployment. She departed for the western Pacific on October 4, 1983. BRONSTEIN refueled at Pearl Harbor on October 12, trained off Kauai on October 13 and 14, and returned to Pearl Harbor for fuel and provisions from October 15 through October 17. She reached Guam on November 1 and remained there through November 2, then proceeded to Subic Bay for voyage repairs from November 8 through November 20. BRONSTEIN subsequently participated in two exercises with Thai naval forces in the Gulf of Thailand before returning to Subic Bay for maintenance from November 25 through December 5.

The ship moved north during December. She called at Chinhae on December 11 and 12 and participated with South Korean forces in Exercise Tae Kwon Do 36 from December 13 through December 16. BRONSTEIN visited Pusan from December 17 through December 19, Hong Kong from December 24 through December 27, and Manila on December 30 and 31. The deployment continued during the first months of 1984 with operations in Philippine waters and further work in the western and southern Pacific. BRONSTEIN visited Bacolod and Subic Bay before heading southeast through the Pacific. Her itinerary included operations and visits in Australian waters, waters near Guadalcanal and Suva, Fiji. She returned to San Diego on April 30, 1984.

BRONSTEIN was back in Hawaiian waters in June for RimPac 84. During the remainder of the year, she continued antisubmarine, fleet-readiness and local training. She shifted administratively back to Destroyer Squadron 23 on September 1. A visit to San Francisco followed later in the year, and she also completed naval-gunfire qualifications near San Clemente. By the middle of the 1980s, the TASS installation that had characterized much of her operational employment since the early 1970s was removed as the Navy increasingly assigned long-range towed-array duties to newer ships.

On April 1, 1985, BRONSTEIN shifted from Destroyer Squadron 13 to Destroyer Squadron 9. She participated in ReadiEx 85-2 from May 22 through May 28 and Behavior Criterion 85-5 from June 3 through June 6. From June 7 through June 10 she visited Portland for the Rose Festival, where approximately 3,000 people toured the ship.

Further fleet training followed during the summer. BRONSTEIN took part in Kernel Usher 85 exercises that included operations with ENTERPRISE, the battleship USS NEW JERSEY (BB 62), OKINAWA and other surface units. She subsequently sailed to Esquimalt, British Columbia, where she participated from August 30 through September 8 in events marking the 75th anniversary of Canada's naval service. Exercise MarCot 85-2 followed from September 9 through September 20 with Canadian and American forces. BRONSTEIN then visited Seattle from September 21 through September 23. ReadiEx 86-1 from November 8 through November 21 concluded her principal fleet exercises for the year.

She began 1986 with Composite Training Exercise 86-2 from January 22 through January 31, followed by ReadiEx 86-2 from February 20 through March 7. Staff personnel from Destroyer Squadron 13 embarked for an intra-squadron exercise from March 24 through March 28. BRONSTEIN visited San Francisco from June 12 through June 15.

A selective restricted availability began at Southwest Marine Shipyard on July 7. BRONSTEIN spent much of the period in dry dock while undergoing maintenance and receiving an AN/SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo-decoy system. During the yard period, she shifted administratively from Destroyer Squadron 9 to Destroyer Squadron 33 on September 1. The availability was completed on October 10.

On November 7, 1986, the commercial tanker EXXON LONG BEACH broke free from assisting tugs and struck both the pier and BRONSTEIN's bow. The accident did not cause serious damage to the frigate and no casualties were reported.

BRONSTEIN returned to sea in early 1987. From January 14 through February 18 she operated in Hawaiian waters during a series of fleet exercises, encountering periods of heavy weather. The remainder of the year consisted primarily of Pacific Fleet training, maintenance and equipment work. Beginning on December 17, the forward twin 3-inch gun mount was replaced, with the work continuing into January 1988. BRONSTEIN attempted to return to sea for gun testing from January 12 through January 14, 1988. Shortly afterward a loud noise in the shafting while near Ballast Point forced her back to port. She returned to sea on January 20 after replacement of a strut bearing. Refresher training began on January 25 and continued through February 19. On February 1, another problem developed when seaweed interfered with cooling around the rope guard and strut-bearing area. On February 13, a main-steam leak again required the ship to return for repairs.

Late in 1988, BRONSTEIN began a new mission that differed markedly from the Cold War antisubmarine work for which she had been designed. She operated with the U.S. Coast Guard in counter-narcotics patrols under Operation Blue Pennant. Blue Pennant 6 began on October 26, but a fuel-tank problem forced BRONSTEIN back to San Diego on November 2. After repairs she resumed the patrol on November 5.

BRONSTEIN visited Mazatlan, Mexico, from November 10 through November 13 and continued patrol operations through November 21. During the deployment, her crew monitored more than 500 vessels, intercepted 36 and participated in seven boardings carried out under Coast Guard law-enforcement authority. The patrol produced no major narcotics seizure or arrests, although minor violations were identified. She later participated in Exercise Varsity Player 88-1 from December 11 through December 13, although adverse weather curtailed parts of the scheduled exercise.

In November 1988, BRONSTEIN was also selected for a Chief of Naval Operations test program involving the AN/USC-38(V) Extremely High Frequency satellite communications system and the Milstar communications network. Installation of the equipment began on March 17, 1989, and continued through July 17. The work gave the aging frigate a role in evaluating communications technology that was intended for future naval forces. The first major test period ran from July 22 through August 25, 1989. BRONSTEIN visited Mazatlan from July 22 through July 25 and crossed the Equator on July 29 while continuing the communications trials. She reached Rodman, Panama, on August 9 and remained through August 10. Political tension in Panama limited normal liberty for the crew. She subsequently visited Acapulco from August 16 through August 21 before returning toward California.

A second communications test period took place from October 10 through November 5 and carried BRONSTEIN into northern Pacific waters. During the voyage she refueled from the Canadian replenishment oiler HMCS PROVIDER (AOR 508), visited Sitka, Alaska, from October 16 through October 19 for Alaska Day activities, and called at Vancouver from October 22 through October 27. A planned visit to San Francisco was omitted after the major Loma Prieta earthquake struck the Bay Area on October 17, 1989. BRONSTEIN therefore continued past the region during her southward voyage. The communications trials represented one of her last significant technical assignments in U.S. Navy service.

BRONSTEIN undertook her final extended operational deployment in 1990. From June through September, she transited the Panama Canal and conducted counter-narcotics patrols in the Caribbean and adjacent waters in cooperation with U.S. law-enforcement authorities. The cruise included visits to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico; Castries, St. Lucia; Fortaleza, Brazil; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Caracas, Venezuela. At Rodman on August 9 and 10, BRONSTEIN's crew assisted sailors from an Ecuadorian naval vessel that had been damaged by fire. The Americans provided medical and technical assistance as well as more than 600 meals, laundry services and access to showers while the damaged ship's crew dealt with the casualty.

During the deployment, BRONSTEIN also encountered a French sailing vessel of about 50 feet in length that had been dismasted in heavy weather and had additionally lost effective engine and steering capability. The sailboat's food and fresh-water supplies were nearly exhausted. BRONSTEIN maneuvered alongside, provided assistance with repairs and replenished the vessel's fresh water before resuming her assigned patrol. The final deployment ended when BRONSTEIN returned on September 24, 1990. By then, she had served for more than twenty-seven years.

USS BRONSTEIN was decommissioned at Pier 13, Naval Station San Diego, on December 13, 1990. Rear Admiral Stanley T. Counts, retired, who had commissioned the ship as her first commanding officer in 1963, participated in the decommissioning ceremony. BRONSTEIN was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on October 4, 1991. On November 12, 1993, she was transferred to the Mexican Navy through the Security Assistance Program under a Foreign Military Sales arrangement. Renamed ARM HERMENEGILDO GALEANA (F 202), the former BRONSTEIN continued in Mexican service for more than two additional decades. She remained operational into the twenty-first century and was finally retired by the Mexican Navy in April 2017, nearly fifty-five years after her launching and more than fifty-three years after she had first entered commissioned service.

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USS BRONSTEIN's Commanding Officers:

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USS BRONSTEIN Image Gallery:

The photo below is an official US Navy photo taken on June 1, 1991. It shows the BRONSTEIN at the Pearl Harbor Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility.

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