Built as guided missile frigate by Todd Pacific Shipyard Co. Los Angeles for the USS Navy.
19 December 1978 keel laid down.
20 August 1979 launched under the name USS JOHN A MOORE (FFG19), named after a submarine commander who was lost during the Second World War in the Pacific. His widow Mrs. Virginia S. Moore christened her. One of the Oliver Hazard Perry class.
Displacement 2.750 ton standard, 3.605 tons full load. Dim. 135.6 x 14.3 x 5.7m. (draught)
Powered by two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 40.000 shp, one five bladed screw, speed 28 knots. As reserve two auxiliary retractable pods installed abaft the sonar dome to provide emergency propulsion in case of engine or propeller shaft failures. Each pod has a 325bhp diesel engine which gives the ship a maximum speed of 10 knots.
Armament One single Mark 13-missile launcher (40 Harpoon/Standard-MR missiles carried). One Mk 75- 76mm rapid firing gun. One MK 32 ASW torpedo tubes.
One helicopter SH-2F Seasprite (LAMPS1). One hangar later modified to two side-by-side hangars, so she can handle two helicopters.
Crew 11 Officers and 153 enlisted men plus 46-air crew.
14 November 1981 commissioned under command of Capt. Alan W Swinger.
After commission based at Long Beach.
During her 19 years of service under the USS flag she made nine deployments; four to the Western Pacific, one to the Arabian Gulf and four counter narcotics deployments to the eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
She visited 21 countries, and operated with many foreign navies.
26 October 1984 she collided with the USS QUELLET during FleetEX 85-1 exercises in the Pacific causing minor damage.
Early 1994 based in San Diego.
22 May 2000 she returned from her last deployment which was very successful with the ship embarking detachments from HSL-84 and the US Coast Guard Pacific tactical law enforcement being credited with the interdiction of 11.5 metric tons of cocaine.
Additionally, the ship located six fishing vessels in violation of Colombian law and suspected of supporting narcotics traffic through the Eastern Pacific.
01 September 2000 decommissioned, and the same day handed over to the Turkish navy, renamed TCG GEDIZ.
After handed over the flight deck was extended at the Istanbul Naval Shipyard to make it possible to operate the S-70-B2 Seahawk helicopters.
2008 In service
Turkey 2003 600.000li sg?, scott?
Source: Watercraft Philately Vol 51 page 56/57. http://navysite.de/ffg/FFG19.HTM