USS Downes (FF-1070)

The USS Downes (FF-1070) was a Knox-class frigate of the United States Navy. Named for Medal of Honor recipient Master Gunner Reuben Downes, she was the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name.

Downes, as a Knox-class frigate, was designed primarily for anti-submarine warfare (ASW). She was equipped with sonar, torpedoes, and other systems specifically intended to detect, track, and engage submarines. Her operational history involved participating in various fleet exercises, deployments, and patrols, primarily in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. She also participated in law enforcement operations, assisting in drug interdiction efforts.

Commissioned in 1971, Downes served for over two decades. During her service, she underwent periodic overhauls and upgrades to maintain her operational readiness.

Downes was decommissioned in 1992 and subsequently struck from the Naval Vessel Register. Her decommissioning reflected the drawdown of the Navy following the end of the Cold War.

The Knox-class frigates, including Downes, were eventually phased out of service due to their age and the introduction of newer classes of warships with enhanced capabilities.