The Knox FF class was the result of congressional opposition to mounting costs of the Brooke FFG class Missile Frigate after only six Brooke class ships were built. Accordingly their mission was altered to ASW escort from that of a general escort. The original designation of the Knox class was "Destroyer Escort" (DE) being changed in June 1975 to "Frigate" (FF) but retaining the original hull number.

The Knox class has the distinction of being the last Destroyer type ships built for the U.S. Navy equipped with boiler & steam propulsion.

Mark Roberts is handling all pages and E-mails concerning the Knox class Frigates (at Destroyers Online).