USS Reasoner (FF-1063) was a Knox class frigate of the US Navy. Reasoner, originally (DE-1063), was laid down 6 January 1969 by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company, Seattle, Washington and launched 1 August 1970. Reasoner was commissioned 31 July 1971. Reasoner was decommissioned on August 28, 1993, and subsequently leased to Turkey, where the ship was recommissioned as Kocatepe. On February 22, 2002, she was purchased by Turkey
General Characteristics: Builder: Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co., Seattle, Wash.
Propulsion system: 2 - 1200 psi boilers; 1 geared turbine, 1 shaft; 35,000 shaft horsepower
Length: 438 feet (133.5 meters)
Beam: 47 feet (14.4 meters)
Draft: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
Displacement: approx. 4,200 tons full load
Speed: 27 knots
Armament: one Mk-16 missile launcher for ASROC and Harpoon missiles,
one Mk-42 5-inch/54 caliber gun, Mk-46 torpedoes from single tube
launchers, one Mk-25 BPDMS launcher for Sea Sparrow missiles
Aircraft: one SH-2F (LAMPS I) helicopter
Crew: 18 officers, 267 enlisted
USS REASONER IS NAMED FOR FRANK STANLEY REASONER
Frank Stanley Reasoner was born 16 September 1937 in Spokane, Washington. Enlisted in the
United States Marine Corps in 1955, he reached the rank of sergeant prior to entering the United
States Military Academy in 1958. At West Point, he won four consecutive brigade boxing
championships. Graduated in June 1962, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the
Marine Corps.
Arriving in Vietnam in April 1965, 1st Lt. Frank Reasoner died in action near Danang, Vietnam,
12 July. That day he led a five-man reconnaissance patrol into enemy-controlled territory. He
killed two enemy soldiers, and destroyed an automatic weapons position. He died as he aided
a wounded Marine. For his bravery in battle and his concern for the wounded, Frank Reasoner
was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Chip Eckles at the Seattle Sea Fair Hydroplane Races on Lake Washington