USS Estocin (FFG-15), ninth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates, was named for Captain Michael John Estocin (1931–1967). Ordered from Bath Iron Works on 27 February 1976 as part of the FY76 program, Estocin was laid down on 2 April 1979, launched on 3 November 1979, and commissioned on 10 January 1981.
Estocin (FFG-15) was the first ship of that name in the US Navy. The ship's motto, listed on her crest, was "Courage, Honor, Tenacity".
History
Estocin was sponsored by Michael John Estocin's widow, Mrs Quay Marie (Hampton) Estocin. Their three daughters served as maids of honor at the ceremonial launching and christening.
1980s
After her commissioning, Estocin was assigned to Destroyer Squadron Eight, homeported in Mayport, Florida. While there, she made deployments to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean, and participated in Special Operations off the Central American coast.
Estocin and her crew were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for operations near Lebanon between 10 October and 10 November 1982. See also Multinational Force in Lebanon.
thumb|left|Estocin moored near EMPRESS I EMP test facility, [[Solomons, Maryland|Point Patience, Maryland, October 1985.]]
15 October 1985 Estocin ran aground near Key West, Florida.
Throughout 1986, Estocin served as the Navy's testbed for the Mk-92 Fire Control System improvement project (CORT). The Mk-92 "CORT" program was a CNO Priority-1 Project, one of the only four in the entire Navy at that time. These tests had Estocin tracking and engaging a variety of surface and air targets. Fifteen SM-1 medium range missiles and nearly 1000 rounds of 76mm ammunition were fired in the course of the test cycle. By the end of 1986, Estocin had logged nearly 15,000 underway miles in support of this project.
On 14 May 2001, Estocin returned to homeport in Norfolk, Virginia after a five-month deployment to the Caribbean, including again Operation UNITAS. Estocin was decommissioned at Mayport and stricken a year later on 3 April 2003. She was the last short-hulled FFG operational with the US Navy.
==TCG Göksu (F 497)== <!-- Courtesy note per WP:RSECT: Various redirects such as TCG_Gosku_(F_497) target here. -->
On 3 April 2003, Estocin was decommissioned, stricken from the Navy list and transferred to Turkey as that nation's TCG Göksu (F 497). As of 2022, she is still in active service.
See also
- RADM David M. Thomas Jr., former engineering officer, USS Estocin (FFG-15)