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USS Bradley (FF 1041)

USS BRADLEY was the second ship in the GARCIA - class of Frigates. Commissioned as a Destroyer Escort, the BRADLEY was redesignated as FF 1041 on June 30, 1975. Decommissioned on September 9, 1988, the BRADLEY was leased to Brazil on April 15, 1989. There, the ship was recommissioned as PERNAMBUCO. On January 24, 2001, Brazil officially purchased the BRADLEY and the ship was stricken from the Navy list.

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Crew List:

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

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS BRADLEY memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS BRADLEY Cruise Books:

• WestPac Cruise Book 1970

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Accidents aboard USS BRADLEY:

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About the Ship's Name:

Captain Willis Winter Bradley Jr. (June 28, 1884 - August 27, 1954) was a U.S. Navy officer, Medal of Honor recipient, territorial governor, and politician. Born in Ransomville, New York, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1906 and subsequently served in a variety of ships and assignments.

During World War I, Bradley served as gunnery officer aboard USS PITTSBURGH (CA 4). On July 23, 1917, an accidental ammunition explosion occurred in one of the ship's casemates. Although temporarily stunned by the blast, Bradley entered the compartment and helped extinguish burning material near additional powder, preventing further explosions. For his actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Bradley continued his naval career between the wars, specializing in ordnance and holding a number of sea and shore commands. He served as Governor of Guam from 1929 to 1931, later commanded USS BRIDGE (AF 1) and USS PORTLAND (CA 33), and held senior inspection and administrative assignments on the Pacific Coast. He retired from the Navy as a captain on August 1, 1946.

After leaving active service, Bradley represented California's 18th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1947 to 1949 and later served in the California State Assembly. He died in Santa Barbara, California, on August 27, 1954.

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History of USS BRADLEY:

USS BRADLEY was a GARCIA-class destroyer escort built by the Bethlehem Steel Company at San Francisco, California. Her keel was laid on January 17, 1963, she was launched on March 26, 1964, sponsored by Mrs. Willis W. Bradley, and she was commissioned on May 15, 1965, with Commander Robert H. Robeson Jr. as her first commanding officer.

During the summer of 1965, BRADLEY completed fitting-out activities, shakedown training and initial evaluations along the Pacific coast. Following her shakedown, she entered Hunters Point Naval Shipyard at San Francisco for post-shakedown availability and subsequently resumed normal training along the West Coast. These activities occupied approximately the first fourteen months of her active service and prepared the ship for assignment to the Seventh Fleet in Southeast Asia, where the escalation of the Vietnam War was placing increasing demands on Pacific Fleet surface combatants.

Commander Robeson was relieved by Commander William Semmes Whaley on June 10, 1966. Less than a month later, on July 2, BRADLEY departed San Diego on her first Western Pacific deployment. After crossing the Pacific, she joined Seventh Fleet forces operating off Vietnam and spent approximately four months in the combat theater. Her principal duties alternated between antisubmarine warfare and plane-guard service for aircraft carriers of Task Force 77 in the Gulf of Tonkin and naval gunfire support closer to the South Vietnamese coast. During carrier operations, BRADLEY formed part of the protective screen and maintained readiness to assist aircraft and aircrew in the event of accidents during flight operations. Her gunfire-support assignments brought her closer to shore, where her two 5-inch guns were used in support of allied forces.

Official campaign records identify qualifying Vietnam service periods for BRADLEY from July 28 through August 10, September 1 through September 18, and October 17 through November 20, 1966. These periods coincided with continuing American air and naval operations against North Vietnam and extensive United States and South Vietnamese ground operations in South Vietnam. After completing her final operational commitments and beginning the eastbound transit, BRADLEY returned to San Diego on December 21, 1966. A postdeployment and holiday stand-down followed.

Training during January and February 1967 was followed by an unusual experimental assignment. Late in February, BRADLEY entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for installation of the prototype Sea Sparrow Basic Point Defense Missile System. The installation adapted the Sparrow air-to-air missile for shipboard use as a short-range defensive weapon. BRADLEY became an important test platform for the system and conducted intensive firing and evaluation trials off California between May and September. The experimental installation was removed in September 1967, after which BRADLEY resumed normal Pacific Fleet training from San Diego.

Those operations continued until December 28, 1967, when BRADLEY departed San Diego for her second Western Pacific deployment. Early in the transit, she operated with USS YORKTOWN (CVS 10), conducting antisubmarine training in Hawaiian waters from January 3 through January 12, 1968. She then spent January 13 through January 18 at Pearl Harbor before resuming the westward transit. The character of the deployment changed abruptly after North Korean forces seized the American intelligence collection ship USS PUEBLO (AGER 2) on January 23, 1968. BRADLEY's task group was diverted toward the Sea of Japan as the United States reinforced its naval forces near the Korean Peninsula. By January 31, BRADLEY was operating in the Sea of Japan, where she remained through February 29 as part of the American response to the PUEBLO crisis. The deployment took place while Washington attempted to secure the return of the captured crew without allowing the confrontation to expand into a wider military conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

After leaving the Sea of Japan, BRADLEY proceeded south. From February 29 through March 2, she was en route to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where she remained from March 3 through March 10. She departed on March 11 and made a brief stop at Subic Bay on March 12 to load ammunition. On March 13 and March 14, she proceeded toward the naval gunfire support area off South Vietnam, and from March 15 through March 29, she conducted shore bombardment missions in support of allied operations. The timing placed BRADLEY off Vietnam only weeks after the Tet Offensive had begun on January 30-31, 1968 and while extensive fighting continued in many parts of South Vietnam.

BRADLEY left the gun line at the end of March and proceeded toward the Philippines. She conducted gunnery training off Subic Bay on April 1, then headed for Kaohsiung, where she remained from April 3 through April 12. She returned toward the Gulf of Tonkin on April 13 and April 14. From April 15 through April 22, she operated in connection with carrier operations involving USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65). She then headed to Hong Kong on April 23 and April 24 and remained there from April 25 through April 30.

After leaving Hong Kong, BRADLEY resumed antisubmarine duties. From May 1 through May 4, she conducted antisubmarine training with YORKTOWN. From May 5 through May 15 she performed further antisubmarine coordination duties before returning to carrier plane-guard work. She operated as plane guard for YORKTOWN on May 15, for USS KITTY HAWK (CVA 63) on May 17, and again for YORKTOWN from May 18 through May 23. BRADLEY departed the carrier operating area on May 24 and proceeded toward Port Swettenham, Malaya. She arrived there on May 29 and remained through June 1. On June 2, she passed through the Strait of Malacca and subsequently rendezvoused again with YORKTOWN while proceeding toward Vietnam. Beginning on June 5, BRADLEY returned to naval gunfire support operations along the South Vietnamese coast.

This final gun-line period continued through June 14. During ten days of intensive firing, BRADLEY expended 3,247 rounds from her two 5-inch/38-caliber guns. She then proceeded toward Subic Bay, arriving on June 16 to offload ammunition. BRADLEY departed the Philippines on June 17 and reached Sasebo, Japan, on June 20. She began the eastbound voyage the following day and returned to San Diego on July 5, 1968, completing a deployment of more than six months.

BRADLEY remained in the San Diego area during the following months. Commander Whaley was relieved by Commander Joseph P. Metcalf III on October 15, 1968. During the same month, the ship entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for her first regular overhaul. The yard period continued through May 1969 and included extensive attention to the ship's high-pressure steam plant and a major upgrade of her AN/SQS-26 sonar. Following completion of the overhaul, BRADLEY underwent post-overhaul shakedown and returned to normal Southern California training operations. The remainder of 1969 was devoted principally to rebuilding operational proficiency and preparing for another overseas deployment.

On January 5, 1970, BRADLEY departed San Diego for her third Western Pacific deployment. After crossing the central Pacific, BRADLEY reached the western Pacific and by early February was operating off Vietnam. During February, BRADLEY conducted naval gunfire support and carrier escort duties. She operated at times with forces centered on USS RANGER (CVA 61), one of the carriers conducting operations from the Gulf of Tonkin. Official campaign records credit BRADLEY with qualifying Vietnam service from February 2 through March 20, 1970. On February 24, the ship made a documented visit to Bangkok, Thailand, passing up the Chao Phraya River before mooring at Sathu Pradit Landing.

BRADLEY subsequently returned to the Gulf of Tonkin. During March, she again operated with RANGER and other escorts. The carrier group left the Gulf of Tonkin for Japan late in the month, and BRADLEY subsequently operated from Sasebo.

In April 1970, BRADLEY became involved in monitoring Okean, the large worldwide Soviet naval exercise conducted simultaneously in several ocean areas. A contemporary Navy photograph documents BRADLEY being followed by a Soviet Project 56 destroyer in the Philippine Sea while American units observed Soviet fleet activity. The operation formed part of the recurring Cold War practice in which American and Soviet naval forces monitored one another's exercises, formations and operating patterns.

BRADLEY subsequently returned to the Vietnam operating area. Beginning in May, she again alternated between carrier escort and naval gunfire support. Her officially credited Vietnam service included May 8 through May 16 and May 22 through June 9. During this phase, she operated with carrier forces and surface combatants in the Gulf of Tonkin while also returning periodically to the gun line along the South Vietnamese coast.

On June 9, BRADLEY completed her final combat-line period of the deployment. She then began the return passage, stopping at Subic Bay, Guam, Midway and Pearl Harbor. BRADLEY arrived at San Diego on July 2, 1970. Commander Metcalf was relieved by Commander Arthur Merwin Osborne on July 15. Following postdeployment leave and upkeep, BRADLEY resumed Southern California operations during August and continued local training through the remainder of 1970 and the first two months of 1971.

On March 2, 1971, BRADLEY departed San Diego for another Western Pacific deployment. After a stop at Yokosuka, Japan, she reached Yankee Station in the Gulf of Tonkin on April 1 and joined elements of Task Force 77. For approximately four months, she performed antisubmarine screening and plane-guard duties for American aircraft carriers, interrupted by port visits and maintenance periods. Official records identify qualifying Vietnam service periods from March 31 through April 17, April 25 through May 10, May 29 through May 30, June 15 through July 10, and July 24 through August 7, 1971. BRADLEY therefore spent repeated periods with the carrier force as American naval aviation continued combat operations over Southeast Asia. On August 8, she completed her final carrier assignment of the deployment. After a short visit to Yokosuka she began the eastbound voyage and returned to San Diego on August 24.

A month of postdeployment leave and upkeep followed. After several weeks of local operations, BRADLEY entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for her second regular overhaul. Commander Osborne was relieved by Commander Donald Martin on December 2, 1971 while the frigate was in the overhaul cycle. The overhaul continued through the first half of 1972 and was completed around July 4. In addition to machinery and general ship work, BRADLEY underwent further modernization of systems associated with her antisubmarine mission. After leaving the yard, she spent the following months in post-overhaul trials, refresher training and operating-area exercises off Southern California.

On November 15, 1972, BRADLEY departed San Diego for her fifth Western Pacific deployment. She reached Subic Bay on December 1 and was operating with Task Force 77 on Dixie Station in the Gulf of Tonkin by December 7. The deployment began during the final months of direct American combat involvement in Vietnam. BRADLEY again performed carrier escort, plane-guard and naval gunfire support duties. Official Vietnam service records identify qualifying periods from December 9 through December 14, December 18 through December 23, and December 30 through December 31, 1972.

The strategic situation changed on January 27, 1973, when the Paris Peace Accords brought a cease-fire and the formal termination of direct American combat operations in Vietnam. The agreement also required the United States to remove the naval mines laid in North Vietnamese waters beginning in May 1972. The Navy organized Task Force 78 to conduct Operation End Sweep, using minesweeping helicopters, surface minesweepers and supporting ships. BRADLEY remained in Southeast Asian waters after the cease-fire and supported the mine-clearance force. Her duties included providing cover for units conducting mine-clearance operations in North Vietnamese waters. She operated in the vicinity of Haiphong and served directly with Task Force 78 from April 18 through April 23, 1973. The operation formed part of the implementation of the Paris settlement while American prisoners of war were being repatriated and United States forces were withdrawing from Southeast Asia.

During the deployment, BRADLEY also visited Keelung, Taiwan, and the Japanese ports of Sasebo, Beppu and Yokosuka. After completing her remaining western Pacific commitments she departed for the United States on May 11. Following fuel stops during the Pacific crossing, BRADLEY returned to San Diego on May 25.

Commander Martin was relieved by Commander Alger Roscoe Heck on June 29, 1973. BRADLEY remained in port for much of the summer and did not return to sea until early September, when she began a period of testing. A material casualty involving her boilers soon forced the ship back to San Diego. The resulting repair period lasted several months and kept BRADLEY out of normal operations through the remainder of 1973 and the opening months of 1974. Repairs were not completed until early March 1974.

Following trials and deployment preparations, BRADLEY departed San Diego on April 9, 1974 for another Western Pacific deployment. She reached Subic Bay on May 5. For approximately three months, she operated primarily in the South China Sea and Philippine waters, carrying out fleet exercises and other Seventh Fleet assignments. The deployment took place after the withdrawal of American combat forces from Vietnam, although fighting between North and South Vietnamese forces continued despite the 1973 cease-fire.

On August 9, BRADLEY and her task group, then operating in the South China Sea, were directed toward Vietnam. On August 10, the group reestablished Dixie Station off the Vietnamese coast to monitor the deteriorating military situation in South Vietnam. The assignment lasted two days and ended on August 12. The task group then proceeded to Hong Kong for a port visit. After leaving Hong Kong, BRADLEY resumed exercises and other western Pacific operations. During the final part of the deployment she also supported manned helicopter operations associated with the expanding use of the SH-2 Seasprite in the Pacific Fleet. She continued operating from western Pacific bases through September. BRADLEY departed Subic Bay on September 29 and began the eastbound transit. She returned to San Diego on October 18, 1974. A month of postdeployment leave and upkeep followed, after which she remained largely in port through the end of the year.

BRADLEY spent the first half of 1975 either at San Diego or conducting exercises in the Southern California operating area. On June 28, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for another major overhaul. Two days later, on June 30, the Navy implemented a fleetwide surface-ship classification change and BRADLEY was redesignated from destroyer escort DE 1041 to frigate FF 1041.

Commander Heck was relieved by Commander Thomas Floyd Lettington on October 19, 1975 while BRADLEY remained in the overhaul cycle. The yard period lasted almost a year and included extensive machinery work as well as enlargement of the ship's helicopter hangar, improving her ability to support the manned SH-2 Seasprite. The overhaul was formally completed on May 21, 1976. BRADLEY then conducted sea trials, refresher training and the inspections and certifications required after a major overhaul. She was photographed operating off San Clemente Island on July 8, 1976 with the enlarged helicopter hangar clearly visible. During the remainder of 1976 and the opening weeks of 1977, she operated primarily in Southern California waters.

On February 17, 1977, BRADLEY departed San Diego to participate in Rim of the Pacific 1-77 in Hawaiian waters. After completion of the exercise she continued westward rather than returning to California. During the deployment, she operated with a group that included USS STERETT (CG 31), USS MORTON (DD 948), and the fleet tanker USNS MISPILLION (T-AO 105). BRADLEY reached Subic Bay on March 19. After approximately seven weeks of operations and preparations from Subic Bay, BRADLEY began an extended Indian Ocean deployment on May 3. The group proceeded south through Philippine and Indonesian waters. BRADLEY, STERETT and MISPILLION reached Ujung Pandang, Indonesia, on May 7 for a four-day visit. After departing on May 11, the ships conducted passing exercises with units of the Indonesian Navy in the Java Sea on May 12 and May 13 and entered the Indian Ocean after transiting the Lombok Strait.

The force reached Western Australia on May 19. After departing Australian waters on May 24, BRADLEY accompanied STERETT and MISPILLION westward for much of the passage across the Indian Ocean before separating to make a visit to La Reunion. The deployment subsequently took BRADLEY to East African and Persian Gulf waters. Her documented port itinerary included Mombasa, Kenya, and Bandar Abbas, Iran, while the ships conducted passing exercises with units of the French Navy and with USS LA SALLE (AGF 3). The Bandar Abbas phase occurred while Iran under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi remained a major United States security partner in the Persian Gulf.

On June 28 and June 29, American ships in the group conducted exercises with units of the Imperial Iranian Navy and Iranian Air Force in the Gulf of Oman. After leaving the area on June 30, the formation proceeded eastward along the coasts of Pakistan and India. BRADLEY separated for Penang, Malaysia, which became her final Indian Ocean port call from July 10 through July 14. Commander Lettington was relieved by Commander Richard Warren Holly on July 15 while the ship was still deployed. BRADLEY visited Singapore from July 15 through July 19 and then proceeded toward the Philippines, reaching Subic Bay on July 23. Repairs and upkeep followed before she resumed western Pacific exercises.

BRADLEY began the homeward transit in September. During the final crossing, she and other returning ships reached Pearl Harbor near the end of the month before continuing toward California. During the final leg between Hawaii and San Diego, BRADLEY suffered an engineering casualty and lost the ability to continue normally under her own power. STERETT took BRADLEY in tow. BRADLEY reached San Diego on October 6, 1977. A postdeployment stand-down followed before she resumed normal Southern California operations.

The first nine weeks of 1978 were occupied by a restricted availability at San Diego. BRADLEY completed the maintenance period on March 8 and conducted sea trials. By the middle of April, she had resumed normal operations from San Diego, continuing training and readiness work through the summer and into the fall. On September 29, 1978, BRADLEY departed San Diego for another Western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment. She operated in association with the battle group centered on USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). BRADLEY reached Subic Bay in late October. On November 10, BRADLEY departed the Philippines for the Indian Ocean. She subsequently participated in Midlink 1-78, a multinational exercise conducted under the Central Treaty Organization framework and involving American, British, Pakistani and Imperial Iranian naval forces. BRADLEY also made a three-day visit to Karachi, Pakistan, in connection with this phase of the deployment.

The regional situation changed rapidly during the deployment. Political unrest in Iran intensified during the closing months of 1978, with nationwide strikes and demonstrations threatening the government of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. On December 7, BRADLEY moved into the Arabian Sea for possible contingency operations associated with the deteriorating situation in Iran. Her service in the region qualified for the Navy Expeditionary Medal from December 8, 1978 through January 19, 1979. BRADLEY remained in the Arabian Sea through the end of December and into January 1979. On December 24, she was operating with STERETT and WADDELL (DDG 24) while the force remained on contingency station. The ships continued monitoring events as the Iranian political crisis intensified. The Shah left Iran on January 16, 1979, shortly after BRADLEY had begun moving away from the contingency operating area.

On January 14, BRADLEY shaped a course for Subic Bay, arriving there on January 25. In February, she participated with STERETT and WADDELL in a weapons demonstration for Republic of Korea personnel before making a visit to Hong Kong. She later made a weekend visit to Manila and returned to Subic Bay on March 7. BRADLEY remained at the Philippine base until March 18, when she began the voyage home. Fuel and logistics stops at Guam and Pearl Harbor followed, and she returned to San Diego on April 8.

Leave and upkeep occupied April 8 through May 8. BRADLEY then resumed local operations from San Diego. On July 9, 1979, she entered the Bethlehem Steel shipyard at Long Beach for another extended overhaul. While the ship remained in the Long Beach area, she was involved in an accident on January 4, 1980. The fleet oiler USS PECOS (AO 65) collided with the moored BRADLEY at Terminal Island, Los Angeles. One person was slightly injured. BRADLEY sustained minor damage, while the collision opened an approximately two-foot hole in PECOS; no oil spill was reported.

Commander Holly was relieved by Commander Jerome L. Martin on July 12, 1980. BRADLEY completed the shipyard phase of the overhaul on July 30 and went to sea that day to begin post-overhaul trials. Sea trials and associated testing occupied much of August. After spending more than three weeks at San Diego, she resumed routine Pacific Fleet training along the West Coast. These operations continued through the remainder of 1980 and into the spring of 1981.

On April 21, 1981, BRADLEY departed San Diego for another Western Pacific deployment. Ships operating in the westbound formation included WADDELL, DECATUR (DDG 31), USS HARRY W. HILL (DD 986), and USS RICHARD S. EDWARDS (DD 950). The group trained in Hawaiian waters during the transit before continuing toward the western Pacific. BRADLEY reached the Sea of Japan during the middle of May. She conducted exercises with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and visited Kure, Japan, from May 27 through May 30. The deployment subsequently took her through waters ranging from Korea to Southeast Asia.

During June, BRADLEY operated in Korean waters. She visited Pusan and participated in combined antisubmarine exercises with units of the Republic of Korea Navy before returning toward the Philippines. Further antisubmarine exercises followed from Subic Bay during July. BRADLEY subsequently visited Hong Kong and later operated farther south in Southeast Asian waters. Her deployment included visits to Singapore and Pattaya Beach, Thailand, before she returned north toward Japan. During September, she again exercised with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and visited Japanese ports, including Yokosuka. These operations formed part of the recurring bilateral training conducted by the United States and Japan while Soviet naval forces maintained a substantial presence in the Pacific.

On October 6, BRADLEY departed Yokosuka for the United States. She made a brief stop at Pearl Harbor on October 14 and continued toward California, arriving at San Diego on October 21. Except for two short periods underway, she remained in port for the remainder of 1981. Commander Martin was relieved by Commander Clement Robert Twardy on June 7, 1982. BRADLEY spent the first ten months of 1982 conducting normal operations from San Diego, including training, maintenance and preparations for her next Seventh Fleet deployment.

On October 30, 1982, she departed San Diego for another Western Pacific deployment and reached Subic Bay on November 24. During the following five months, BRADLEY participated in exercises with other United States Navy units and allied navies. Her operations extended from the Philippines into the South China Sea and northward to waters around Korea and Japan. The deployment included visits to Buckner Bay at Okinawa, Pohang and Pusan in South Korea, and Singapore. These port calls were interspersed with antisubmarine and surface-force training and periods of maintenance. The Korean portion of the deployment continued the recurring pattern of combined United States-Republic of Korea naval operations. On April 1, 1983, BRADLEY was documented approaching the United States naval facility at Subic Bay following operations in Philippine waters. After completing final repairs and preparations she departed Subic Bay on April 25 and began the eastbound voyage. She stopped overnight at Pearl Harbor from May 7 through May 8 and arrived at San Diego on May 14.

Following postdeployment stand-down, BRADLEY prepared for another major shipyard period. On July 16, 1983, she entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard for a regular overhaul. Boiler problems formed an important part of the work required, and the overhaul lasted nearly one year. BRADLEY left Long Beach Naval Shipyard on July 11, 1984. Commander Twardy was relieved by Commander Theodore Koopman on July 14. The ship then entered an extended post-overhaul workup involving inspections, certifications, sea trials, refresher training and equipment testing during the remainder of 1984.

BRADLEY resumed more extensive fleet operations during 1985. From June 4 through June 8, she participated in amphibious Exercise Kernel Usher 85-3 with Task Group 177.6. The exercise integrated amphibious forces and their surface escorts in Pacific training operations.

During 1986, BRADLEY prepared for what became her final Western Pacific deployment. By September, she was operating in Korean waters. From September 1 through September 4, she visited Pusan, South Korea. USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) and USS BERKELEY (DDG 15) were in Pusan during the same period. The presence of the carrier and accompanying surface ships formed part of a period of extensive United States naval activity in the western Pacific and around the Korean Peninsula.

BRADLEY later returned to South Korean waters. The official Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea chronology records her at Chinhae from October 13 through October 15, 1986. Her visit coincided with the period of the combined United States-Republic of Korea antisubmarine exercise ASWEX 86-2 KOR, conducted from October 14 through October 18. Commander Koopman was relieved by Commander John Joseph Kennedy Jr. on November 1, 1986. BRADLEY continued her final Western Pacific deployment into January 1987 before returning to the United States. This was the last extended Seventh Fleet deployment of her United States Navy career.

During 1987, BRADLEY operated primarily from the West Coast, conducting training, maintenance and readiness work. By this time, the Navy was progressively reducing the number of older steam-powered GARCIA-class frigates remaining in active service. BRADLEY nevertheless remained operational during the first half of 1988 and completed a final northern Pacific cruise during May and June. On June 26, she was photographed underway off Vancouver, British Columbia, during the closing phase of this cruise. After returning to San Diego she entered preparations for deactivation.

From August 13 through September 6, 1988, USS JUNEAU (LPD 10) served as mothership at San Diego for four frigates being prepared for decommissioning: BRADLEY, USS BROOKE (FFG 1), USS RAMSEY (FFG 2), and USS SCHOFIELD (FFG 3). JUNEAU provided berthing, food service, ship services and administrative support while the crews of the four frigates carried out deactivation work.

Commander Kennedy remained BRADLEY's final commanding officer. USS BRADLEY was decommissioned at San Diego on September 30, 1988, ending more than twenty-three years of active United States Navy service. Her recognized service included the Navy Battle Efficiency Ribbon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with six campaign stars, Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with twelve awards, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Following decommissioning, BRADLEY was selected for transfer to Brazil under the Security Assistance Program. The United States transferred the ship for lease to Brazil on April 15, 1989. During the preparations for transfer, the former BRADLEY had to be moved, and on April 17, USS SAFEGUARD (ARS 50) departed with the inactive frigate in tow. After completing the required movement and transfer preparations, the former American frigate entered Brazilian Navy service at San Diego on September 25, 1989 as the destroyer PERNAMBUCO (D 30). PERNAMBUCO remained an operational unit of the Brazilian Navy throughout the 1990s and into the twenty-first century. On January 24, 2001, the former BRADLEY was struck from the United States Naval Vessel Register and ownership was transferred permanently to Brazil.

The Brazilian Navy decommissioned PERNAMBUCO on March 11, 2004 and placed the ship in reserve at Rio de Janeiro. Her active naval career had by then extended for almost 39 years from her original United States commissioning in May 1965. Brazilian naval authorities initially considered using the former destroyer as a fleet target. In May 2006, a Brazilian Navy directive formally designated the former PERNAMBUCO for that purpose. The plan was ultimately abandoned. An inspection in April 2010 found that the condition of the underwater hull and the fittings required for towing made a safe tow to the proposed exercise area problematic. Further naval engineering assessment concluded that substantial structural work would be necessary before the hull could safely be moved and used as a target.

The Brazilian authorities consequently decided to dispose of the ship instead. The decision was approved in June 2010, and the subsequent inspection, valuation and disposal process continued into 2011 and 2012. An auction in July 2012 resulted in the hull being sold to Mafra Comercio de Equipamentos Automotores Ltda. for R$300,000. The purchaser began removing material from the ship but failed to remove the remaining hull by the required deadline. Following administrative and legal proceedings, the Brazilian authorities revoked the company's ownership in April 2013. Another attempt to dispose of the remaining hull was subsequently unsuccessful.

By this stage, sections of the former warship had already been removed and the structural condition of the remaining hull had deteriorated. Towing it elsewhere for demolition was considered increasingly difficult and potentially unsafe. The Brazilian Navy therefore decided to dismantle the remaining ship at the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base. Preparations included an examination of the remaining structure and reinforcement of weakened parts of the hull so that it could safely be moved from its berth into dry dock. On October 14, 2014 a specialist engineering company submitted its structural assessment and towing plan. Naval personnel subsequently reinforced vulnerable portions of the hull and installed temporary towing arrangements.

On November 20, 2014, the former PERNAMBUCO was successfully placed in dry dock at the Rio de Janeiro Naval Base. Dismantling began on November 21. The work involved the removal of approximately 2,243 tons of material, comprising about 1,596 tons of metallic structure and equipment, 516 tons of non-metallic solid material, approximately 75 tons of oily residues, 25 tons of remaining water in tanks and about 30 tons of rubber associated principally with the large sonar dome and its internal structure. The dismantling at Rio de Janeiro ended the physical existence of the former USS BRADLEY almost fifty years after she had entered United States Navy service.

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