Naval History and Heritage Command

George Philip, Jr.–born in Ft. Pierre, S.D., to George and Isle [Waldron] Philip, on 14 April 1912–attended the South Dakota School of Mines before being appointed a midshipman from the Third South Dakota Congressional District on 18 June 1931. While at the U.S. Naval Academy, Philip, known to acquaintances as “Geordie” or “Phil,” participated in lightweight crew, and served on the staffs of The Log and The Lucky Bag. Graduating with the Class of 1935 on 6 June 1935, Ens. Philip reported to the battleship Mississippi (BB-41) soon thereafter, on 29 June.

Ordered to the Battle Force for communication duty on 29 September 1937, he was detached from Mississippi on 23 October, and reported to California (BB-44) the same day, for duty on the staff of Adm. Claude Bloch. He subsequently served on the staff of Adm. Edward C. Kalbfus in the same capacity. During his time on board the flagship, he received promotion to lieutenant (junior grade) on 6 June 1938.

With orders (dated 17 September 1938) to assist in fitting out the destroyer Ellet (DD-398), Lt. (j.g.) Philip was detached from Adm. Kalbfus’s staff on 12 November, and reported to Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Kearny, N.J., the ship’s building yard, on 3 December. On 17 February 1939, Ellet was placed in commission. Within a fortnight of hostilities breaking out in Europe with Germany’s invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939 and the establishment, on the 5th, of a Neutrality Patrol to report the movements of all foreign men of war, Ellet was deployed on 14 September as part of the Grand Banks Patrol, to operate between Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Placentia Bay, Newfoundland. Philip served in that warship through the U.S. entry into global hostilities in December 1941.

Appointed lieutenant (for temporary service) on 2 January 1942, Philip accepted his appointment and took the oath of office on 3 January. A little over a month later, on 11 February, he received orders to travel to Bath, Maine, to assist in fitting out the destroyer O’Bannon (DD-450), then building at Bath Iron Works Corp., and reported on the last day of March 1942. Ultimately, on 26 June 1942, O’Bannon was commissioned at the Boston [Mass.] Navy Yard.

Following her shakedown, O’Bannon sailed for the Southwest Pacific on 29 August 1942. Based at Nouméa, New Caledonia, O’Bannon escorted Copahee (ACV-12) to Guadalcanal where, on 9 October, the auxiliary aircraft carrier launched 20 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats from Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF) 121 as reinforcements to base at Henderson Field.

O’Bannon’s next assignment proved more eventful. On 12 November 1942, Task Force 67 (Rear Adm. Richmond K. Turner) unloading in Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal, under the protection of air and surface forces, came under an unrelenting low-level attack by Japanese Mitsubishi G4M1 land attack planes [Betty]. During the aerial onslaught by the 703rd, 705th, and 707th Kokutais [Air Groups], Lt. Philip’s “skill, fearlessness, and careful control of the ship’s battery,” under his diligent direction knocked down between two and four of the attacking G4M1s. One, however, managed to escape the gauntlet to crash heavy cruiser San Francisco (CA-38).

“Third Savo” (as the battle was sometimes known) continued in the mid watch on 13 November 1942, when Task Group (TG) 67.4, comprising two heavy cruisers (including the already damaged San Francisco), three light cruisers, and eight destroyers (Rear Adm. Daniel J. Callaghan) encountered the Japanese Bombardment Force (Rear Adm. Abe Hiroaki) that included two battleships, proceeding to bombard Henderson Field, Guadalcanal. Shortly after midnight on 12 November; a savage nocturnal naval action ensued, with Abe's force inflicting heavy damage on TG 67.4 before it retired northward. The Japanese, however, did not emerge from the brutal nocturnal slugfest unscathed, with O’Bannon doing her part, Philip’s gunners contributing to the heavy damage inflicted upon the battleship Hiei in concert with gunfire from heavy cruisers Portland (CA-33) and San Francisco and destroyers Cushing (DD-376) and Laffey (DD-459). Eventually, Hiei was sunk by Grumman TBFs (VT 8) from carrier Enterprise and USMC Douglas SBDs (VMSB 142) and TBFs (VMSB 131) from Henderson Field.

In the wake of the battle, Lt. Cmdr. Donald J. McDonald, O’Bannon’s executive officer, singled out four individuals “for performance of duty far and beyond that expected of them in the normal line of duty.” At the top of McDonald’s list was Lt. Philip, “for…maintaining strict and controlled discipline over his battery and personnel; for being able to take the enemy under rapid and continuous fire; and for his assistance in the destruction of one enemy battleship…” Furthermore, his “fearlessness and calmness in an exposed station,” one observer later wrote, “from which he could observe the many shorts and overs being fired at [O’Bannon]…was an inspiration to all on board.” Commander South Pacific Force accorded him a Letter of Commendation with Combat “V.”

Philip continued to serve in O’Bannon as the destroyer established a fighting tradition in the crucible of the Solomon Islands. Becoming executive officer and navigator, Philip exhibited “skill, fearlessness, and outstanding leadership,” receiving a Silver Star for his being “instrumental in the successful accomplishment of all [O’Bannon’s] missions,” whether they were in bombarding Japanese shore installations or interdicting Japanese attempts to relieve its dwindling garrison on Guadalcanal [10 January–6 April 1943]. On 1 May 1943, Philip was promoted to lieutenant commander, for temporary service, to rank from that date.

O’Bannon then participated in the occupation of the New Georgia–Rendova–Vangunu Group (4–5 July) then fought in the Battle of Kula Gulf (5–6 July), Battle of Kolombangara (12–13 July), took part in the occupation of Vella Lavella (15–18 August), and finally participated in the Battle of Vella Lavella (6–7 October)–what proved to be the last surface engagement in the central Solomons. During that engagement she suffered damage in a collision with her sistership Chevalier (DD-451), then rescued and briefly provided a temporary home for that vessel’s survivors after she had had to be scuttled by LaVallette (DD-448). O’Bannon would later receive the Presidential Unit Citation for her performance of duty during the 7 October 1942–7 October 1943 time period.

Ordered to the West Coast Sound School, San Diego, Calif., on 11 February 1944, Philip reported nine days later, on 20 February, for instruction. Ordered to his next duty on 1 April, he reported to the destroyer Twiggs (DD-591), on 6 April, relieving Cmdr. John B. Fellows, Jr. On 7 September, he was promoted to commander “for temporary service” to rank from 1 March of that year.

Under Philip’s command, Twiggs participated in operations to recapture the Philippine Islands, at the landings at Leyte (10 October–29 November 1944) and Lingayen Gulf (4–18 January 1945). She then participated in the assault on Iwo Jima (15 February–16 March 1945), where her commanding officer exhibited “excellent service in the line of his profession,” courageously taking the initiative to take Twiggs in to provide close-in fire support for the pre-invasion reconnaissance” by Underwater Demolition Teams when they and the ships supporting them began taking brutal fire from Japanese shore batteries. “[Philip] skillfully maneuvered his ship…to render maximum fire support for the assault units.” For that action, he was later awarded a commendation from Commander, Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet.

Characterized as a “brilliant leader and seaman,” Phil Philip commanded Twiggs with “aggressive and relentless determination, constantly inspiring his increasingly battle-worn officers and men to a high peak of fighting morale by his personal examples of courage and endurance during the Okinawa campaign. “Dependable and skilled in completing each hazardous assignment and equally cool and efficient in the face of danger,” Philip led his stalwart sailors through the kamikaze attack of 28 April 1945, so that Twiggs could reach waters in which she could receive battle damage repairs in the forward areas. Thus restored to “full combat readiness” in minimum time, Twiggs ultimately returned to take her place in the Battle for Okinawa only to once more attract the unrelenting attention of Japanese determined to die for their Emperor. Exhibiting “courage, fortitude and initiative in the performance of a difficult and hazardous duty,” Philip, only 33 years of age, “gallantly gave his life in the service of his country” off Okinawa on 16 June 1945, when a Japanese plane torpedoed Twiggs, then circled around and plunged into her, massive explosions occurring in the forward part of the ship. Vessels in proximity rescued 188 survivors, including 35 wounded, but Cmdr. Philip was not among them.

For his performance of duty in his command of Twiggs during the Okinawa campaign, Philip was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously. Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal presented the decoration to Mrs. Margaret Taussig Philip [the daughter of Vice Adm. Joseph K. Taussig, U.S. Navy, (Retired)], Philip’s widow, in a ceremony at the Navy Department on 12 March 1946 which Philip’s parents also attended.

(FFG-12: displacement 3,700; length 445'; beam 47'; draft 24'6"; speed 28+ knots; complement 197; armament RIM-66 Standard, RGM-84 Harpoon, 1 76-millimeter, 6 Mk. 32 torpedo tubes; aircraft 2 Kaman SH-2 Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) Seasprites; class Oliver Hazard Perry)

George Philip (FFG-12) was laid down on 14 December 1977 at San Pedro, Calif., by the Todd Pacific Shipyards Corp., Los Angeles Division; launched on 16 December 1978; sponsored by Mrs. Margaret P. Simpson, daughter of the ship’s namesake; and commissioned at Naval Station (NS) Long Beach, Calif., on 15 November 1980, Cmdr. James L. Turnbull in command. Present at the ceremony that day was seven year-old Kelly Esau of Livonia, Mich., niece of EN1 T. L. Esau, a George Philip plankowner. Battling terminal leukemia, Kelly wanted to travel to Long Beach to see her uncle’s ship commissioned. The Sunshine Foundation made the arrangements to fulfill the little girl’s dream, and CBS News covered her story for The Morning Show with Charles Kuralt.

Upon her commissioning, George Philip joined Destroyer Squadron (DesRon) 9. Getting underway from Long Beach after a week in port, she sailed to San Diego to conduct shakedown and refresher training. From 29–30 November 1980, the guided missile frigate served as a visit ship at Broadway Pier, San Diego, welcoming 3,500 civilians and 550 recruits from Naval Training Center San Diego to her decks over the weekend. At the conclusion of the two-week training period, the ship returned to her homeport of Long Beach and commenced her first holiday leave and upkeep period.

During 1981, George Philip focused her attention on testing, modifications, and certifications to ensure the new frigate’s readiness to commence regular operations. She completed Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) in January and RGM-84 Harpoon over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile certification in February. The ship also stopped at Port Hueneme, Calif., in February and made her first foreign trip, visiting Acapulco, Mexico, in March. After completing final contract trials on 3 April, George Philip headed to San Francisco, Calif., for a port visit. She returned to Long Beach and entered Todd Shipyard in nearby San Pedro in May for a four-month post-shakedown availability (PSA), which included installation of the ship’s sonar and electronic warfare equipment as well as some time in dry dock. Putting to sea again in October following her PSA, George Philip performed underway testing of her new systems and conducted training. Following an official change of homeport to San Diego, Calif., on 30 October, the ship spent most of the rest of the year underway to prepare for and conduct the Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE) (8–10 December).

Effective 1 January 1982, George Philip joined DesRon 21. The ship spent the first half of the year preparing for her upcoming initial overseas deployment, beginning with refresher training and then a brief selected availability. During the spring, the frigate participated in several major underway readiness exercises, including RimPac 82, a large exercise with naval vessels from the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand that took place off Hawaii in April. She also took part in CompTuEx and ReadiEx exercises. In May, the crew sadly experienced the loss of a shipmate when 22-year old GSMFN Frank L. DeVito, III, died on the 21st from coronary failure while on board the ship.

With flags waving and music playing on the pier, George Philip’s crew said their goodbyes to friends and family, and the ship deployed from San Diego on 13 July 1982 in company with the frigate Stein (FF-1065). During their stop at Pearl Harbor (20–22 July), Adm. Sylvester R. Foley, Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visited George Philip. Departing on 23 July, the two frigates became three as Pearl Harbor-based Davidson (FF-1045) joined the task group as it headed for operations in the northern Pacific.

From 1–6 August 1982, the frigates took part in FleetEx 1-82 with DesRon 5, but poor visibility hampered the ships’ ability to attain their objectives. On 6 August, the task group steamed for the Sea of Okhotsk. As the American ships sailed towards the Kurile Islands and entered the Sea of Okhotsk, they attracted the attention of the Soviet military. Beginning on 8 August, various Soviet naval ships shadowed the task group to observe the Americans’ movements and activities as they steamed southwest through the Sōya Strait [Le Pérouse Strait] into the Sea of Japan on the 10th. For the next four days, the frigates and the submarine Skate (SSN-578) conducted antisubmarine warfare (ASW) exercises as a Soviet Krivak-class frigate continued its surveillance. On 14 August, a Soviet Tupolev Badger-D long-range bomber flew over the group, and later that day, Davidson spotted a Soviet Foxtrot-class submarine.

On 18 August 1982, George Philip and her task group arrived at Maizuru, Japan, for some crew liberty and to prepare for their next exercise. Putting to sea again on the 20th, the three frigates joined forces with vessels from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) as well as additional American naval ships for ASWEx 82-3AJ. As Typhoon Ellis entered the Sea of Japan, the exercise ended a day early on 27 August and the ships returned to Maizuru to debrief. The frigates called at Sasebo and Yokosuka, Japan, prior to AnnualEx 57G, a second joint exercise with the JMSDF (13–19 September). Following the exercise, George Philip detached from the other frigates and set course for Guam for an intermediate maintenance availability.

Returning to action in late October 1982, George Philip spent a day at Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, and then steamed for the Straits of Malacca to rendezvous with Battle Group Foxtrot, led by the aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN-65). The carrier group entered the Indian Ocean on 30 October and steamed to the Northern Arabian Sea. Rear Adm. Edwin R. Kohn Jr., Commander Carrier Group 3, paid a visit to George Philip on 15 November, and the frigate’s crew enjoyed a feast of steak and lobster that evening in honor of the ship’s second birthday. On 19 November, George Philip pointed her prow for the east coast of Africa to enjoy a port visit at Mombasa, Kenya, for the Thanksgiving holiday (24–28 November). She continued operations with the battle group in the Indian Ocean into December, detaching from the group and beginning her journey back to the United States late in the month. The ship celebrated Christmas in port at Singapore and rang in the new year at Hong Kong.

Her holiday respite concluded, George Philip sailed for the Philippines on 2 January 1983. Following several days of upkeep at Subic Bay, the frigate departed on 15 January once again in company with Stein to begin the transit back across the Pacific. After embarking 12 “Tigers,” male civilian relatives or friends of crewmembers, for the last leg of the voyage during a stop at Pearl Harbor, George Philip arrived home at San Diego on 4 February, welcomed at the pier by “teary-eyed loved ones, bagpipes, drums, and dancing girls.”

George Philip’s crew enjoyed a month-long leave and upkeep period following her return from deployment. From 7–9 March 1983, the ship unloaded ammunition at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif. Upon her return to San Diego, she held a month-long intermediate availability through 10 April and then operated locally for the rest of the month. From 3–19 May, George Philip took part in ReadiEx 83-4, playing the role of a Soviet Kynda-class cruiser as part of the “enemy” Orange Forces. On 23 May, the ship departed on a trip up the California coast first to San Francisco, where more than 7,000 guests toured her decks. Unfortunately at her next stop at Santa Cruz, at least 5,000 people who had obtained visit passes were not able to board the ship due to unfavorable weather conditions.

After returning to San Diego on 3 June 1983, George Philip remained in port for more than five weeks to conduct engineering training, OPPE, and two weeks of upkeep. On 11 July, she departed for a visit at Newport, Ore., and finished the month at home with a week of upkeep. Commencing refresher training on 1 August, the crew was able to take a break from the hectic pace of the summer with several days of liberty at Mazatlán, Mexico, beginning on 13 August. She returned home on the 21st and the next day entered Southwest Marine in San Diego for ship’s restricted availability (SRA) that took her through to the year-end holiday leave and upkeep period. On 15 December, the frigate rejoined DesRon 9 from DesRon 21. For her efforts during the 18-month period from January 1982 to June 1983, George Philip earned the Navy Battle “E” and several departmental awards.

Beginning 1984 with weapons onload at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., on 9 January, George Philip put to sea the following day for the ten-day Composite Training Exercise (CompTuEx) 84-1 (10–20 January). She then participated in Readiness Exercise (ReadiEx) 84-2 (9–14 February) as a member of the Orange Force. Following a week of upkeep, the ship had a Board of Inspection and Survey (InSurv) inspection (21–24 February) to evaluate the physical condition and operability of the ship. From 14 March–2 April, the frigate once again assumed an “enemy” Orange Force role in ReadiEx 84-3. Then from 7–12 April, the ship took part in Project J251 for the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), conducting RGM-109 Tomahawk active radar homing anti-ship missile test firings. On 9 May, George Philip entered Southwest Marine San Diego to have the Phalanx Mk. 15 Close-In-Weapons System (CIWS) installed. The availability ended with sea trials on 6 July, and the ship returned to San Diego. She operated locally into early August as the crew made final preparations for deployment.

On 28 August 1984, George Philip steamed from San Diego with DesRon 9 en route to the western Pacific and Middle East to begin her second deployment. The squadron conducted ASW exercises off Hawaii before putting in at Pearl Harbor from 5–7 September. Continuing west with the squadron, George Philip detached after the group passed Guam and sailed for Subic Bay, Philippines, where the ship commenced a three-week intermediate availability on 23 September. Departing on 15 October in company with guided missile destroyer Robison (DDG-12), George Philip steamed for the Persian Gulf, first stopping at Hong Kong for a port visit (17–20 October). However, a casualty to one of her diesel generators forced the frigate to return to Subic Bay for repairs. On 28–29 October, the ship sortied in the South China Sea to ride out Typhoon Warren. Upon completion of repairs on 13 November, the ship sailed to Singapore for a port visit (17–18 November) before continuing her transit to the Middle East.

In the Persian Gulf region, Iraq and Iran had been embroiled in war since September 1980. In 1981, Iraq began to attack ships bound for Iranian ports in the northern Gulf, and in March 1984, Iraq escalated this “Tanker War” by increasing both the number and the geographic extent of its attacks on shipping. In May 1984, Iran also began to target shipping in the Gulf. The United States hoped that the presence of its warships in the region would deter the strikes against the tankers and allow commercial shipping vessels to sail unmolested in the Persian Gulf.

After arriving on station in the Persian Gulf on 29 November 1984, George Philip made port visits at Bahrain (1–5 December) and Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia (15–16 December) before exercising with the Royal Saudi Navy (17–19 December). For the rest of the month, the frigate conducted surveillance operations in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Gulf of Oman. She remained underway during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, only touching very briefly at Bahrain on 30 December. She finally returned to Bahrain on 15 January 1985 for upkeep. On the 17th, Adm. James D. Watkins, the CNO, accompanied by Rear Adm. John F. Addams, Commander Middle East Force, visited the ship. Sailing on the 20th, George Philip departed the Gulf and transited the Arabian Sea. She rendezvoused with Robison on 28 January, and after a brief stop for fuel at Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 31 January, the ships continued east. Temporarily separating from the destroyer, George Philip made port calls at Penang (4–8 February), Malaysia, Singapore (9–11 February), and finally Subic Bay (15–19 February). Standing out to sea from the Philippines in company once again with Robison, the ships steamed to Pearl Harbor for one last stop on the voyage home (6–7 March). With Tigers embarked for the transit to San Diego, the frigate and destroyer sailed together across the eastern Pacific, arriving back home on 15 March.

Following a month of post-deployment leave and upkeep, George Philip operated locally, conducting engineering training and helicopter deck landing qualifications. She departed on 13 May 1985 for Naval Weapons Station Concord, Calif. After offloading her ammunition on 16–17 May, the ship called at San Francisco (18–20 May) before returning to San Diego. On 7 June, George Philip steamed to Long Beach, officially calling the city her home port once again. She held an intermediate maintenance availability (10–30 June) and then spent the next two months training for her operational propulsion plant reexamination, which took place from 27–29 August.

Underway again on 4 September 1985, George Philip headed up the coast to Oregon, serving as the Navy’s representative for the battleship California (BB-44) reunion at Seaside (9–12 September). During this underway period, the frigate became a member of Surface Squadron (SurfRon) 1. Returning to the southern California operational area, George Philip carried out a torpedo exercise with the submarine Pogy (SSN-647) on 17 September before returning to port in Long Beach. She continued training and local operations through the fall. Putting to sea on 2 November, the frigate steamed up the West Coast once again to conduct torpedo firing and testing for CNO Projects 371 and 225 in the vicinity of Nanoose Bay, B.C., Canada, on 6–7 November. The ship then put in to Esquimalt, B.C., Canada, where the crew enjoyed some leave in the nearby city of Victoria from the 8th–11th before returning to Long Beach on the 16th.

George Philip’s last underway period of the year took place on 14–15 December 1985, when she took part in a multi-threat exercise with other ships from SurfRon 1, including Lang (FF-1060), Gray (FF-1054), Racine (LST-1191), Wadsworth (FFG-9), and Vandegrift (FFG-48). During this evolution, naval reservists joined the crew for the first time to complete their monthly training weekend. On 11 January 1986, George Philip officially transferred to the Naval Reserve Force (NRF), the sixth Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate to do so since January 1984. As a member of the NRF, the ship operated primarily as a training platform for selected reservists, who going forward would comprise approximately 40% of George Philip’s crew. The reservists reported to the frigate for training one weekend per month plus two weeks annually to maintain their readiness to operate with the active duty crew in the event of a mobilization.

On 6 January 1986, George Philip entered Southwest Marine Shipyard in San Pedro for her second SRA. Scheduled to last 90 days, the availability stretched through most of May and included a major deckhouse modification to strengthen the ship’s superstructure, upgrades to the Mk. 92 Fire Control System and to the ship’s communications suite, and the addition of Link-11 to the ship’s Naval Tactical Data System. She returned to Long Beach on 5 May and loaded weapons at Seal Beach on the 7th. While the SRA continued, George Philip took part in Varsity Player 86-2 during naval reserve training weekend on 16–17 May. The SRA concluded on 22 May, and the ship immediately went into a restricted availability and upkeep period through 9 June. She spent the next month preparing for and conducting CSSQT but took the time during reserve training weekend to hold an employers’ cruise on 21 June and a dependents’ cruise the next day, giving the crew’s family members and the reservists’ regular employers the opportunity to observe their work on the frigate.

George Philip began her first two-week active duty training period for reservists on the weekend of 12–13 July 1986, during which the ship took part in exercise Varsity Player 86-3 with Lang, Gray, Racine, Wadsworth, and John A. Moore (FFG-19). The squadron then sailed for the Pacific northwest for exercise Behavior Criterion 86-17, consisting of underway training in antiair warfare (AAW), antisubmarine warfare (ASW), antisurface warfare (ASUW), and electronic warfare. George Philip visited Esquimalt (17–21 July), and then the squadron continued Behavior Criterion during the transit back to Long Beach. For the rest of the year, the frigate engaged in a routine of local operations and upkeep, with training primarily focused upon engineering issues to prepare for OPPE. She ended the year with exercise Varsity Player 87-1 during December’s reserve training weekend (12–14 December), followed immediately by weapons systems acceptance trials (15–17 December) prior to the year-end holiday stand down.

Continuing her preparations over the first two months of the new year, George Philip successfully completed OPPE on 3–4 March 1987. She took part in Varsity Player 87-2 with Bolster (ARS-38), Duncan (FFG-10), Racine, Reuben James (FFG-57), and Sides (FFG-14) during reserve training weekend (13–15 March). On 20 March, the frigate sailed to San Diego to serve as Engineering Officer of the Watch school ship during a two-week training availability. Following her return to Long Beach on 3 April, the ship turned her attention to InSurv preparations. After successfully completing the inspection (21–23 April), George Philip offloaded her weapons at Seal Beach (29 April) and then held upkeep and an intermediate maintenance availability through 27 May.

On 1 June 1987, George Philip departed on a group sail as flagship for SurfRon 1. During the passage to the Pacific Northwest, the squadron conducted exercises Varsity Player 87-3 and Behavior Criterion 87-16. From 4–8 June, George Philip represented the Navy at the Portland Rose Festival with more than a dozen other ships and offered public tours daily. After returning to Long Beach on the 11th, the frigate operated locally for the next month until sailing for British Columbia with members of her squadron on 13 July. Conducting Behavior Criterion with Duncan, Gray, Lang, John A. Moore, Sides, Wadsworth, and Lewis B. Puller (FFG-23) while in transit, the frigate arrived at Vancouver on 16 July for the city’s Seafest and conducted public tours for the duration of her stay. Departing on the 21st, George Philip headed to Nanoose Bay to conduct ASW operations for a CNO special project before returning to Vancouver for the weekend (24–26 July). The frigate joined with Battle Group Foxtrot led by the aircraft carrier Enterprise to parade into Elliot Bay on 29 July for Seattle’s Seafair. In port until 3 August, George Philip remained with the battle group for exercise Behavior Criterion 87-20 and returned to Long Beach on the 6th.

From 8–18 September 1987, George Philip operated out of San Diego for intermediate refresher training with the Fleet Training Group. Serving as squadron flagship, she sailed for San Francisco on 8 October. Moored at Pier 27 during Fleet Week (10–14 October), George Philip extended her public hours each day to allow everyone in the lengthy visitor queues to board and tour the ship. After returning home on the 16th, she was underway in the southern California area several more times in the fall. Following a three-week intermediate maintenance availability from 9–29 November, the frigate took part in SurfRon 1’s Mid-Week Operations ASUW and AAW exercise (30 November–3 December), which included a successful firing of a standard missile at a Vandal target drone. She concluded the operational year with naval reserve training from 12–13 December during which she conducted exercise Varsity Player 88-1 with the ships of the squadron.

George Philip resumed operations on 9 January 1988, conducting reserve training and local operations into early April. Representing her entire squadron, George Philip had the honor of welcoming Adm. Carlisle A. H. Trost, CNO, to her decks on 14 January. On the 29th, the frigate served as host for the Canadian destroyer HMCS Huron (DDG.281) during her visit to Long Beach. In a first for the ship, in February Sarah Creecy, daughter of DC1 Bruce and Gina Creecy, was christened in the ship’s bell. The child’s name was engraved inside the bell to commemorate the occasion. Rounding out the frigate’s slate of special events for the quarter, George Philip held an employers’ and dependents’ cruise to Catalina Island on 12 March.

On 16 April 1988, George Philip sailed for Monterey, Calif., to take part in the city’s Doolittle Festival (18–19 April), commemorating the morale-raising U.S. air raid on Tokyo led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle, USAAF, on 18 April 1942. The ship then conducted underway training including exercise Varsity Player 88-2 (22–24 April) with Lewis B. Puller, Wadsworth, Racine, and Mahlon S. Tisdale (FFG-27) of SurfRon 1. She conducted several days of CNO operations through mid-May and then commenced a month-long intermediate availability on the 16th. During the maintenance period on 27 May, the vessel welcomed a very special guest, Mrs. Snow Simpson, sponsor of George Philip and daughter of the ship’s namesake, the late Cmdr. George Philip Jr.

George Philip put to sea once again on 24 June 1988 en route to Santa Barbara, Calif. During the Semana Nautica Festival (25–27 June), the frigate’s crew gave tours to over 1,000 visitors. She then headed for San Diego, conducting several days of underway training during the transit. In port at San Diego on 3 July, George Philip hosted the retirement ceremony for the ship’s first commanding officer, Capt. James L. Turnbull, concluding his service with the Navy after a 26-year career. The ship returned to Long Beach the next day and made final preparations to relocate to San Diego for an extensive yard period.

Making the short return trip to San Diego on 11 July 1988, George Philip entered Southwest Marine Shipyard and began overhaul. During dry dock (28 July–25 October), workers completed repairs to the ship’s hull, shaft, and screw. Additional modifications completed during the ten-month SRA included upgrades to the engineering and combat systems equipment and installation of the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar (TACTAS), which would improve the ship’s ability to detect and track submarines. George Philip would serve as test platform for the new sonar for the next three years. The frigate completed overhaul on 25 May 1989 and returned to Long Beach the next day, officially shifting her home port once again.

Resuming operations following the long availability, George Philip served as test platform to evaluate radar absorbent material for a CNO project (5–9 June 1989). She made a port visit at Santa Barbara for the Independence Day holiday and continued with her normal slate of training activities through the summer. On 18 September, George Philip sailed for the northern Pacific to take part in PacEx 89, which brought together approximately 50 ships including the battlegroups of three aircraft carriers and two battleships to form a huge task force. In the role of ASW screening vessel, George Philip used her new TACTAS system to discover an Orange Force “enemy” submarine waiting to attack the task force. With direction from George Philip, a LAMPS helicopter located the sub and dropped a “weapon” on it, scoring the only subsurface kill recorded in that phase of the exercise. Following PacEx, the ship made two Alaskan port calls at Kodiak and Ketchikan before returning to Long Beach in late October. At the end of the month, the ship had a successful OPPE and then spent most of November in an intermediate availability. After ten days of type training in early December, the ship entered the year-end holiday leave and upkeep period.

During the first several weeks of 1990, George Philip faced a series of assessments culminating with the training readiness evaluation (3–4 February). She was then underway for a week (8–15 February) for CompTuEx 1-90, which included ships from DesRon 31 as well as the Canadian navy exercising in ASW tactics. At the end of the month, the ship visited Ixtapa, Mexico (24–27 February). She spent most of March in training, getting underway on the 25th for two weeks of interim refresher training, which also served as the reservists’ annual active duty training period. At the completion of refresher training, the ship held a dependents’ cruise on 14 April. George Philip participated in the ASW and ASUW exercise MardezEx 1-90 (23–27 April), followed by a torpedo exercise (1–4 May). She spent most of the rest of May in an intermediate availability.

On 3 June 1990, George Philip embarked upon a goodwill tour of the Pacific Northwest while taking part in exercise Behavior Criterion 90-10 with SurfRon 1 ships Lewis B. Puller, Mahlon S. Tisdale, and Wadsworth. She called first at Portland, Ore., for the annual Rose Festival (6–12 June), followed by a port visit at San Francisco (15–19 June). After two days underway supporting the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course, the frigate returned to San Francisco (22–24 June). She then visited Vancouver (27–29 June), Ketchikan (3–6 July), and Seattle (9–11 July) before concluding Behavior Criterion on 16 July. George Philip then returned to San Francisco yet again for a training availability at the Naval Technical Training Center at Treasure Island (17–20 July). She returned to Long Beach on the 22nd and completed many training evolutions over the remainder of the summer, including a second MardezEx from 6–10 August.

Departing Long Beach on 11 September 1990, George Philip loaded weapons at Seal Beach and then charted a course for the Pacific Northwest for the second time that year. She touched at Indian Island, B.C., Canada (14 September) and Esquimalt (15–16 September) and then sailed to the Quinault Underwater Tracking Range to conduct CNO Project 225 to evaluate the Mk. 50/Mk. 46 torpedo (16–19 September). George Philip stopped at Seattle (22–24 September) before returning to Long Beach on the 28th. The frigate spent the majority of the next two months in training, mostly in port, and she began an intermediate availability on 26 November. During the maintenance period, George Philip hosted sail training vessel Cuauhtemoc (A.07) of the Mexican Navy (1–5 December), with each ship holding a reception for military, diplomatic, and civilian dignitaries. At the conclusion of the maintenance availability on 16 December, the ship entered the end-of-year holiday stand down period.

George Philip stood out to sea on 8 January 1991 and headed for the northern Pacific to take part in exercises before calling at Seattle (15–24 January) and then Nanaimo, B.C. (24–29 January). For the last three days of the month, the ship continued to evaluate the Mk. 50 torpedo as part of CNO Project 225. She then put in to Esquimalt (1–2 February) before returning to Long Beach on 5 February. She was underway again on 12 February to take part in CompTuEx 91-1 with DesRon 31 and the Canadian navy through the 19th. On 2 April, George Philip steamed for San Francisco and completed a training availability at Treasure Island from 6–14 April. The following month, she returned to San Francisco for a port visit (23–27 May) after underway type training and then offloaded her weapons at Seal Beach on 30 May.

After returning to Long Beach, George Philip held an intermediate availability from 3 June–8 July 1991 and then immediately entered an SRA. During the restricted availability conducted through 19 September, work completed included enhancements to the ship’s halon system and Harpoon launch system, overhaul of two of her diesel generators and her Mk. 13 missile launcher, and refurbishment of antennas, radar, and distilling plants. Following sea trials on 20 September, the frigate held type training and prepared for her next engineering exam. George Philip conducted OPPE (22–24 October) but failed the examination. An additional mishap occurred when getting underway for reserve training on 16 November. While still moored at the pier, the frigate suddenly went to all ahead flank, parting all but one of the ship’s six mooring lines. Although no one was injured in the incident, the sudden movement of the ship caused $214,000 in damage to equipment on the pier. Concluding the operational year on a more positive note, George Philip retook and passed OPPE (10–12 December), demonstrating “a marked improvement” from her previous attempt.

At the beginning of 1992, George Philip prepared for and conducted her InSurv inspection, which took place 14–16 January. She was next underway on 8–9 February for reserve training and ASW exercise Probowl 92-2. She sailed to San Diego to conduct her combat systems assessment in mid-February and spent the second half of March in an intermediate maintenance availability with Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity (SIMA) Long Beach. After her reserve training weekend and ammunition onload, George Philip steamed to San Francisco, arriving on 7 April. She held an availability alongside destroyer tender Samuel Gompers (AD-37) and SIMA San Francisco through 19 April. She then proceeded north to Esquimalt for a port visit (22–26 April) followed by three days of operations at Nanoose Bay for CNO Project 779. She returned to Long Beach on 3 May and carried out upkeep until getting underway once again on the 16th for Probowl 92-3.

On 27 May 1992, George Philip departed Long Beach to deploy to Central America. After stopping for fuel at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, on 1 June, the frigate commenced law enforcement operations (LEO) in the eastern Pacific, patrolling for boats attempting to smuggle illegal drugs from South and Central America to the United States. Transiting the Panama Canal on 24 June, George Philip continued LEO in the Caribbean Sea. She called at Willemstad, Curaçao (27 June–2 July) and Roosevelt Roads, P.R. (9–12 July) before returning to the Pacific via the Panama Canal on 17 July. She continued counter-narcotics enforcement through 21 August, with visits at Puerto Quetzal (7–10 August) and Mazatlán (22–24 August).

After concluding her mini-deployment at Long Beach on 27 August 1992, George Philip held three weeks of upkeep, getting underway again on 19–20 September for her monthly reserve training weekend. She went right back to sea on 21 September as a ship of the Orange Force during FleetEx 92-2B and 92-3B, helping to prepare the Kitty Hawk (CV-63) Battle Group for deployment. She returned to Long Beach on 2 October but turned her prow to sea again on the 6th, bound for San Francisco as a member of Task Group 36.7. During Fleet Week (10–14 October), George Philip’s crew gave tours to more than 2,500 visitors. Returning to Long Beach with the task group on the 16th, she sailed again the following day for two days of reserve training.

While in port at Long Beach during the week of 18–25 October 1992, workers installed Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk dynamic interface testing equipment in George Philip. On 26 October, the frigate steamed for British Colombia to conduct CNO Project K176 to test the new equipment and evaluate the practicality of embarking LAMPS Mk. III helicopters in Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates that were not equipped with the RAST (recover, assist, secure, traverse) system. After a visit at Vancouver (29 October–1 November), George Philip proceeded to Nanoose Bay to conduct CNO Projects 371 and 779 to test Mk. 48 and Mk. 50 torpedoes. On the return trip home, the ship made a brief stop for fuel at Esquimalt (5 November) and then continued with SH-60B dynamic interface testing. Reaching her home port on 8 November, she immediately entered a restricted availability with SIMA Long Beach. On 30 November, George Philip sailed to San Diego for a training availability, returning to Long Beach on 11 December. For the short trip back to her home port, the ship had embarked Sea Cadets from the Betsy Ross Division, the only U.S. division of the corps with an all-female membership, girls aged 13–17. The cadets learned about the frigate’s operational mission and the various shipboard roles.

Beginning the new year with another trip north, George Philip stood out from Long Beach on 4 January 1993. She called at Seattle from 8–10 January and then unloaded her ammunition at Port Hadlock, Wash. She next steamed to Nanoose Bay, conducting additional testing for CNO Project 779 on the 13th. Touching briefly at Esquimalt for fuel, the frigate made her way home, arriving on 18 January. The ship operated locally for the next month and began a three-week intermediate maintenance availability with SIMA Long Beach on 16 February. She then held two weeks of regular upkeep and her reserve training weekend.

On 22 March 1993, George Philip commenced SRA at NS Long Beach with Southwest Marine that ran concurrently with a restricted availability with SIMA Long Beach. Repairs and upgrades completed during the nearly four-month upkeep period included improvements to the HALON 1301 system; refurbishment of the diesel generators, combat systems, and ordnance equipment; installation of two additional Mk. 36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard Chaff launchers, installation of Navy Standard Teletypes for improved communications, repacking of the ship’s lifeboats, and a complete inventory and update of spare parts in the supply department. She held sea trials on 14 July and wrapped up the SRA on the 16th. Following the availability, the ship resumed her normal operations with reserves training weekend on 17–18 July, followed by weapons onload at Seal Beach on the 19th.

From 26 July–5 August 1993, George Philip underwent Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART) II with Afloat Training Group Pacific to assess the ship’s state of operational readiness in order to customize the frigate’s training plan to meet her specific needs. Getting underway on 6 August, George Philip operated in support of a CNO project while steaming to Port Hueneme for a technical availability with the Naval Surface Warfare Center (9–12 August). As part of the International Marine Exchange Training Program, Lt. (j.g.) Abdul Fakkirou of the Royal Moroccan Navy embarked in the ship on 29 August. During his time on board George Philip through 24 October, Lt. (j.g.) Fakkirou took part in the ship’s regular operations to better understand the U.S. Navy’s standard practices and procedures.

Departing Long Beach on 7 September 1993, George Philip sailed to San Diego to conduct Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) I in port and underway phases. On 18 September, the first day of reserve training weekend, more than 50 relatives and friends of the ship’s crew as well as members of the Sea Cadets’ Betsy Ross Division embarked the ship for a relatives’ cruise. The next day, the frigate offered a similar cruise for the reservists’ primary employers to acquaint them with the work that their employees do for the U.S. Navy. TSTA concluded on 24 September. With SurfRon 1’s redesignation as Destroyer Squadron 1 on 1 October, George Philip’s home port officially shifted back to San Diego. The frigate spent most of the fall preparing for OPPE and conducting reserve training. She took part in Probowl 94-1, a coordinated ASW exercise (16–17 October). The ship successfully completed OPPE on 22–24 November and save for her reserve training weekend on 11–12 December remained in upkeep for the rest of the year.

George Philip conducted training and operated locally during the first quarter of 1994. From 8–11 February, she was underway for an ASW exercise while concurrently holding the Senior Officer Ship Maintenance and Repair Course for six prospective commanding officers of guided missile frigates. Following her reserve training weekend (12–13 February), the ship was busy with the in port and underway phases of TSTA II through 11 March. She then completed a two-week availability followed by another two weeks of upkeep before getting underway for the Pacific northwest on 4 April. Calling at NS Everett, Wash., to partake in the standing up festivities for the new base, George Philip welcomed more than 2,500 visitors during her stay in port (7–10 April). After pausing briefly to refuel at Esquimalt (11–12 April), the frigate arrived home at San Diego on the 15th. Getting underway again on 2 May, she conducted her final evaluation problem in the southern California operating area to demonstrate her operational readiness to deploy. After the successful conclusion of the evolution on 6 May, George Philip continued with trainings and assessments through the spring and completed an intermediate maintenance availability (23 May–16 June) with a concurrent restricted availability with SIMA San Diego (1–12 June). After loading weapons at Seal Beach on 24 June, she remained in port through Independence Day.

With U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 5 embarked, George Philip stood out of San Diego on 5 July 1994 and headed for Central America to conduct counter-narcotics operations as part of Joint Task Force 4. After refueling at Puerto Quetzal on the 12th, the frigate conducted turnover the next day with Wadsworth and commenced counter-narcotics patrols. George Philip acted as primary AAW vessel in the eastern Pacific area during operation Rolling Rock, which sought to counter the northbound transport of illegal drugs by aircraft over Central America. On 21 July, the ship provided food, water, and an emergency tow to the disabled fishing vessel Rosa Emilia, which had been adrift for ten days. After touching at Rodman on 1 August to refuel and embark personnel, the ship passed through the Panama Canal the next day and continued LEO in the Caribbean including a port visit at Oranjestad, Aruba (9–12 August). While operating in the Caribbean, George Philip refueled a Drug Enforcement Agency boat before she embarked upon an undercover mission. The frigate also towed the disabled motor vessel Andrewson more than 250 nautical miles to Cristobal, Panama, when the vessel’s generator could not power the main engine (19–21 August).

Transiting the Panama Canal on 22 August 1994, George Philip put in to NS Rodman for several days of upkeep. Departing on the 28th, she resumed LEO in the Pacific. Over the course of the deployment, the ship tracked and reported 17,028 air contacts and 415 surface contacts. Working with the embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, the crew also boarded and searched seven suspicious vessels suspected of drug smuggling. She returned to Rodman for a port visit (13–17 September) and also called at Mazatlán (24–26 September) en route to San Diego, where she arrived on 30 September.

Following two weeks of post-deployment leave and upkeep and her monthly reserve training weekend, George Philip departed for San Francisco on 18 October 1994. Arriving on the 22nd, the frigate participated in a pre-mission conference for her next assignment as tow escort ship. Departing the Bay Area on 27 October, George Philip accompanied salvage ship Salvor (ARS-52), which had the ex-Richard B. Russell (SSN-687) in tow. With the safe arrival of the submarine at Bremerton, Wash., George Philip proceeded to nearby British Columbia and visited Esquimalt (31 October–1 November) and Vancouver (3–6 November). After returning to San Diego on 9 November, George Philip operated locally for the rest of the year, primarily engaging in reserve training and upkeep activities. On 10 December, the ship bade farewell to lieutenants (junior grade) Redouane Dargram, Mohammed Zejjani, and Mahammed Khald of the Royal Moroccan Navy who had been embarked since 17 October as part of the International Marine Exchange Training Program. On the 16th, the ship held a change of command ceremony and entered the year-end holiday leave and upkeep period the following day. For her efforts during the year, George Philip received her second Battle “E” award.

For the first two months of 1995, George Philip operated locally, primarily conducting various trainings. From 8–10 February, the ship had her hull cleaned. She was underway (11–12 February) to take part in exercise Outlaw Bandit and again (13–22 February) for FleetEx 95-1B/1C. The frigate unloaded her ammunition at Seal Beach on 2 March and offloaded her fuel at NS San Diego (6–9 March) while concurrently conducting CART I. On 13 March, George Philip completed a dead stick move to the “Pride of San Diego” Dry Dock at Southwest Marine Shipyard, San Diego, and commenced a selected restricted availability. During the yard period, workers overhauled parts of the engineering plant, combat systems equipment, and communications antennas. They also replaced the AN/SPS-49 antenna, upgraded the AN/SPS-25 repeater, resurfaced the flight deck, and installed two additional lifeboats. After refueling on 25 May and conducting sea trials on 7 June, the ship finished the availability on 9 June. She spent the next two days conducting naval reserve training and reloaded weapons at Seal Beach on the 12th.

George Philip held a very special underway day on 16 June 1995 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the loss of the destroyer Twiggs (DD-591). George Philip held a solemn Day of Remembrance off southern California in honor of Twiggs, her captain, and her fallen crew. During the ceremony, some of the 15 participating Twiggs survivors recollected the sense of “togetherness, cooperation, devotion to duty, and the serious concern for competence and proficiency” demonstrated by their brethren. They read aloud the names of their shipmates lost on that fateful evening off Okinawa and then placed a wreath in the sea to honor their memory.

Returning to San Diego following the commemoration, George Philip got underway again that same evening, headed for Santa Catalina Island. She spent two days at Avalon, Calif. (17–18 June) and then proceeded to Port Hueneme, where she held a technical assist visit for a combat systems groom with the Naval Surface Warfare Center from 19–23 June 1995. After also completing an aviation assist visit on the 22nd, the ship returned to San Diego on 24 June. For the next week, the frigate served as Eastern Pacific ready duty counter narcotics ship and also completed CART IIA during that time. George Philip visited San Francisco (7–11 July) and continued with her trainings and inspections through the summer, including TSTA I from 24 July–18 August. After an intermediate availability with SIMA and Fleet Valve Maintenance Facility San Diego (21 August–15 September), the ship conducted TSTA II through 12 October and held an intermediate availability with SIMA San Diego for most of the rest of the month. In November the ship directed her attention to preparing for OPPE, which took place on 20–21 November. In December, she participated in CompTuEx 96-2A as plane guard for the Carl Vinson (CVN-70) battle group. George Philip hosted a luncheon for the head of the Ecuadorian Navy on the 11th, and after completing cruise missile tactical certification on the 15th entered the year-end holiday stand down period. For the second year in a row, George Philip earned the Navy Battle “E” award.

As the frigate prepared for her upcoming overseas deployment, George Philip’s training cycle continued into the new year. She completed TSTA III (22–26 January 1996) and then demonstrated her operational readiness to deploy during the final evaluation problem, conducted from 9–11 February. Departing the following day, the ship then took part in Fleet Exercise 96-1, operating with the Blue Forces conducting evolutions typical of a Middle East deployment. After returning to port on 20 February, George Philip spent the next three weeks in upkeep, followed by a three-week pre-deployment leave period.

Putting to sea on 30 March 1996, George Philip sailed for the Western Pacific as part of the 1996 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) deployment. Begun in 1995, CARAT’s purpose was to conduct bilateral exercises with military forces from Southeast Asian nations in order to promote interoperability, cooperation, and friendship. In addition to George Philip, ships participating in the 1996 deployment included Mahlon S. Tisdale and Curts (FFG-38), dock landing ship Germantown (LSD-42), and La Jolla (SSN-701). During the westward Pacific transit, George Philip stopped at Pearl Harbor (5–7 April) and Guam (15–16 April). On 15 April, Capt. James M. Morrell, USNR, Commander DesRon 1, and tactical commander of the deployment forces, hoisted his broad pennant in George Philip.

During the first part of the deployment, George Philip visited Muara, Brunei, and Manila, Republic of the Philippines, exercising with their respective navies from 24–25 April and 6–7 May 1996. At Manila as well as the ship’s next two ports of call at Surabaya (15–20 May) and Jakarta, Indonesia (23–27 May), George Philip’s sailors helped to distribute supplies on behalf of Project Handclasp at schools, hospitals, and orphanages and also volunteered their time and labor to perform maintenance and repairs at these facilities. The frigate next called at Singapore (31 May–1 June); Lumut, Malaysia (3–6 June) for upkeep; Kuantan, Malaysia (12–14 June); and Sattahip, Thailand (17–21 June) before exercising with the Royal Thai navy in the Gulf of Thailand from 22–26 June. She returned to Sattahip (27–28 June) and Singapore (30 June–7 July) and then operated with the Singaporean navy in the South China Sea on 8–9 July. Following the joint exercise, the frigate once again stopped at Singapore (10–11 July), with Capt. Morrell and his staff disembarking the ship on the 11th. Beginning the voyage back to the United States, George Philip returned first to Guam (18 July) and then Pearl Harbor (27–29 July), where she embarked Tigers for the last leg of the trip. She concluded the deployment at her home port of San Diego on 5 August.

Following two and a half weeks of post-deployment leave and upkeep, George Philip prepared for her upcoming InSurv inspection, which she completed from 16–20 September 1996. She offloaded weapons at Seal Beach from 15–18 October. On the 28th, the frigate began SRA at Southwest Marine Shipyard, San Diego. During the availability, workers repaired the static frequency changers, tank level indicating systems, waste heat electrical heaters, fire suppression pipes and sprinklers, fin stabilizers, and boat davit, installed a new diesel engine and distilling plant, and renovated many crew quarters. She completed the yard period with sea trials on 18 December and then entered the holiday leave and upkeep period. George Philip received the Battle “E” award for the third straight year for her efforts during 1996.

Beginning a new training cycle at the start of 1997 to prepare for her next deployment, George Philip commenced the year’s operations with ordnance onload at Seal Beach on 7 January. She held intermediate maintenance availabilities from 18 January–2 February and again from 10–20 February. On the 13th, the ship hosted Rear Adm. John E. Kerr, USNR, Navy Reserve Commander, Third Fleet, for a visit and luncheon. She began the first phase of TSTA on 3 March and progressed through the phases during the spring. On 30 April, George Philip took part in a missile shoot with Vincennes (CG-49) and Callaghan (DDG-994), and at the end of June, she participated in exercise Kernel Blitz 97 with Amphibious Group 3, providing escort and gunfire support services for the group during the amphibious assault rehearsal. After spending the Independence Day holiday at Monterey (2–6 July), she held an availability with the submarine tender McKee (AS-41). The training period culminated with the successful completion of the final evaluation problem (15–17 August).

Following a month-long intermediate maintenance availability (18 August–19 September), George Philip sailed for the northern Pacific on 24 September 1997. Operating off the coast of Washington state, the frigate took part in undersea contingency operations through 2 October. The ship then made port calls at Everett, Wash. (3–8 October); Sitka, Alaska (11–13 October); and Esquimalt (16–19 October). On 20 October, George Philip commenced Maritime Coordinated Operation Training (MARCOT) 2-97 in company with destroyer Oldendorf (DD-972), an American submarine, the Chilean destroyer CS Almirante Blanco Encalada (FF.15), and Canadian destroyer HMCS Huron and frigates HMCS Ottawa (FFH.341) and HMCS Winnipeg (FFH.338). The combined forces completed AAW, ASW, and ASUW drills and scenarios. At the conclusion of the exercise, George Philip returned to Esquimalt to debrief and refuel (29–30 October) and then proceeded to Seattle for a port visit (31 October–4 November). She resumed regular operations upon her return to San Diego.

On 8 January 1998, George Philip embarked upon a mini-deployment to Central America. Operating as part of the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) West, the frigate once again took part in counter-narcotics operations, played an integral part in 35 rights of approach, 19 boardings, two drug interdictions, and one “Go-Fast” boat embarkation during the three-month assignment, returning to San Diego on 8 April. At the end of the month, Rear Adm. John F. Brunelli, Commander Naval Surface Reserve Force, visited the ship. George Philip commenced her next training cycle with CART I from 11–15 May. Underway again on 16–17 May for naval reserve training and a navigation checkride, the ship also had Mr. Chuck Evered and Mr. Josh Fardon of Dreamworks Studios on board as part of the Leaders to Sea program. The guests learned about the ship’s mission while witnessing air tracking, undersea warfare (USW), and gun fire exercises as well as helicopter deck landing operations. The frigate ended the month serving as Commander Third Fleet ready duty ship from 19–30 May.

Departing on 31 May 1998, George Philip steamed from San Diego to take part in CompTuEx 98-14. During the exercise, the ship served as USW commander, directing three other ships. Stopping briefly at Astoria, Ore., the ship embarked 321 passengers for the transit up the Columbia and Willamette Rivers to Portland. During the annual Rose Festival (4–7 June), George Philip welcomed more than 3,700 visitors for tours, and crewmembers were able to participate in a variety of recreational and community service activities. The ship then completed the second phase of CompTuEx and returned to San Diego on 11 June.

After weapons offload at Seal Beach on 16–17 June, George Philip commenced a two-month selected restricted availability at Southwest Marine Shipyard San Diego on 24 June 1998. During the yard period, Rear Adm. Gary Roughead, Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy, visited the ship on 8 July. The availability concluded on 26 August, and the ship continued with her program of training and inspections through the rest of the year, completing CART II at the end of September and working her way through the three phases of TSTA beginning in October 1998 and culminating with the final evaluation problem from 26–28 February 1999. In March and April, the destroyer prepared to deploy, completing a maintenance availability from 8 March–2 April. During March’s naval reserve training weekend (20–21 March), the ship once again welcomed George Hallad and James Solano, two local business executives, from the Leaders to Sea program. She entered the pre-overseas movement period on 16 April and following two and a half weeks of upkeep held a dependents’ cruise on 14 May.

On 21 May, George Philip departed San Diego, embarking upon the 1999 CARAT deployment with guided missile frigate Gary (FFG-51) and dock landing ship Comstock (LSD-45). Stopping first at Pearl Harbor (28–31 May), the frigate joined tank landing ship Frederick (LST-1184) and proceeded on to Okinawa, Japan. Arriving on 13 June, George Philip embarked a drone detachment. The next day, the ship hosted 20 Twiggs survivors and relatives of the deceased, including the two children of the late Cmdr. George Philip, for a memorial ceremony to honor the sailors who perished aboard the World War II destroyer. After George Philip steamed to the location off Okinawa where Twiggs sank on 16 June 1945, the Philip children and several survivors read the names of the men who had perished in the sinking, George Philip’s honor guard rendered a gun salute, and the survivors laid a wreath in the water that was the final resting place of their fallen shipmates. Following the remembrance, Snow Philip and Lt. Col. George Philip III, USMC (Ret.) committed their mother’s ashes to the deep so that she could be close to her husband once again.

On 15 June 1999, George Philip sailed for Muara, Brunei. During the diplomatic visit from 22–23 June, the crew celebrated July 4th a little early on Frederick’s flight deck with employees of the U.S. Embassy in Brunei. Upon her arrival at Lumut, Malaysia, on 28 June, George Philip began the operational phase of the deployment. For the next two months, in between port calls at Lumut; Singapore; Sattahip and Pattaya Beach, Thailand; and Surabaya, Indonesia, the frigate exercised with the navies of the respective countries (Malaysia 4–7 July, Singapore 19–22 July, Thailand 2–4 August, Indonesia 18–20 August). In addition to providing training presentations and ship tours to their counterparts while in port, George Philip’s crew also took part in community relations projects and helped to distribute materials and supplies on behalf of Project Handclasp. On 9 August while en route to Surabaya, George Philip encountered the disabled fishing boat Burniaaiam, which had been adrift for three days. The frigate provided the six crewmen with food and water and helped the captain arrange a tow back to port. After the last debrief with the Indonesian navy concluded on 25 August, George Philip anchored off Bali from 27–31 August, allowing the crew to enjoy some liberty time ashore.

Commencing the journey home, George Philip returned to Okinawa (9–12 September) to disembark her drone detachment. At Pearl Harbor (25–29 September), she embarked a group of Tigers for the week-long transit back to the mainland. The frigate put in to her home port of San Diego on 6 October 1999, and save for her naval reserve training weekend, she spent the rest of the month in post-deployment leave and upkeep. For the rest of the year, the ship continued her training activities with local operations and made one liberty trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (9–11 November). After stopping at Seal Beach to unload her ammunition on 13–14 December, the ship ended the year with holiday leave and upkeep.

On 19 January 2000, George Philip entered dry dock at Continental Marine San Diego to begin overhaul. She exited dry dock on 7 March and completed sea trials on the 31st. The ship sailed to the southern California operating area on 3 April and exercised with ships from the Canadian navy for two days. She then steamed to Seal Beach to load weapons and returned to San Diego on the 7th. Departing again on 24 April, George Philip sailed independently for the Pacific Northwest. On this trip, she called at Esquimalt Naval Base (28 April–3 May) and Juneau, Alaska (5–8 May), arriving back at San Diego on 13 May. Later in the month, she made a trip to Port Hueneme (22–25 May) and from 9–12 June served as visit ship at Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego. During the summer, she continued with her regular regimen of naval reserve training.

Beginning in September 2000, George Philip completed additional underway training exercises as she prepared to deploy in January. After loading weapons at North Island on 19 September, she conducted engineering drills in the southern California operating area. On the afternoon of the 22nd, she assisted a distressed vessel back to San Diego and returned to sea the next morning to complete operations. Getting underway again on 2 October, the frigate conducted exercises with destroyers Higgins (DDG-76) and Hewitt (DD-966). She called at Ensenada, Mexico, from 6–9 October, providing tours for 75 Mexican naval officers and cadets and their families on the 8th. After additional underway exercises, George Philip returned to San Diego on 13 October. The ship sailed locally eight more times through mid-December, completing evolutions that included engineering drills, helicopter deck landing qualifications, a burial at sea, operations with the Constellation (CV-64) battle group, TACTAS operations, missile exercises, VBSS (visit, board, search, and seizure) exercises, and towing exercises. She commenced holiday leave and upkeep after returning to port on 17 December.

George Philip departed on a four-month deployment to Central America on 24 January 2001. Operating as part of JIATF East, the ship had U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 11 and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 84 embarked to conduct counter-narcotics operations in both the Pacific and Atlantic. Completing several boardings of suspicious vessels and two pursuits of “go fast” boats over the course of the deployment, George Philip seized more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine that was turned over to U.S. Customs agents. The frigate also spent three days assisting an Ecuadorian fishing vessel loaded with more than 200 migrants trying to reach the United States. She made port calls at Puerto Quetzal; Golfito, Costa Rica; Rodman; Mayport, Fla.; Guantánamo Bay, Cuba; Key West, Fla.; and Acapulco, Mexico, and returned to San Diego on 24 May.

Following a brief rest after her deployment, George Philip turned her attention to ship’s maintenance and training activities. On 28 July 2001, the ship commenced a two-month SRA that concluded with sea trials on 29–30 September. Following the availability, the frigate passed a series of assessments in preparation for her upcoming InSurv inspection. She completed CART II from 22–26 October and then began working through the phases of TSTA. The year culminated with a successful InSurv inspection (17–21 December). George Philip ramped up her training efforts during the first quarter of 2002, completing seven underway training evolutions in January and February. In March, her focus shifted to pre-deployment upkeep and leave. On 3 April, the frigate held a dependents’ cruise.

On 8 April 2002, George Philip departed San Diego to take part in her third CARAT deployment to Southeast Asia. As with previous CARAT deployments, the U.S. participants—which this year also included guided missile cruiser Vincennes, amphibious dock landing ship Anchorage (LSD-36), salvage ship Salvor, and the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC-722)—would promote interoperability with southeast Asian naval and marine forces and build goodwill with the citizens of host nations through community relations service projects. During the westward transit of the Pacific, George Philip stopped at Pearl Harbor (13–15 April) and Okinawa, where she completed upkeep at White Beach (27–28 April) before the task group proceeded to Brunei to commence bilateral operations.

During the operational phase of the deployment, George Philip conducted joint exercises with naval ships from Brunei (9–10 May), Indonesia (30 May–2 June), Thailand (15–16 June), Malaysia (26 June–1 July), Singapore (8–11 July), and the Philippines (22–25 July). In conjunction with these exercises, the ship called at Muara, Bali, Surabaya, Sattahip, Kuantan, Changi Naval Base (Singapore), and Subic Bay. Breaking the routine of training evolutions for a day, George Philip marked the occasion of crossing the equator on 4 June with the appropriate rituals to appease King Neptune and cleanse her of slimy pollywogs.

Departing Subic Bay on 27 July 2002, George Philip began a series of port visits to show the American flag around the southern and western Pacific. Operating independently, the frigate proceeded to Hong Kong (29 July–4 August), Okinawa (6–10 August), and Malakal, Palau (13–17 August). She operated off the coast of East Timor from 20–22 August and then called at Darwin, Australia (25 August–1 September); Karabela, East Timor (4–6 September); Cairns, Australia (10–15 September); and Noumea, New Caledonia (18–21 September). Headed next for Pago Pago, Western Samoa, the frigate changed course on 24 September and steamed instead to Pearl Harbor. After a two-day stop in Hawaii, George Philip sailed for the mainland on 1 October, reaching Pier 4 at NS San Diego through thick fog just after 1000 on 8 October.

After post-deployment leave and upkeep, George Philip spent most of the rest of 2002 in port completing ship’s maintenance and training. On 18 November, the frigate stopped at the ammunition pier at North Island and then headed out to sea for eight days of underway exercises off the southern California coast, returning to port on the 26th. In January 2003, George Philip went to Seal Beach (13–15 January), completed underway exercises with the Nimitz (CVN-68) battle group (18–19 January, 27–29 January), and conducted individual ship’s exercises (21–23 January). The crew then spent the next month and a half preparing the ship for decommissioning.

George Philip was decommissioned on 15 March 2003 and was transferred to the custody of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), Inactive Ships On-Site Maintenance Office, Bremerton, Wash., pending potential sale to a foreign government. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 24 May 2004. Proposed transfers to Bahrain, Portugal, and Turkey did not come to pass, and on 15 December 2014, the Defense Logistics Agency awarded a contract to scrap and recycle the hull to ESCO Marine of Brownsville, Tex., as part of a six-ship deal. However, a legal dispute with another company caused ESCO to close down in February 2015 and file for bankruptcy in March, so the contract was instead awarded to Southern Recycling LLC. In May 2015, the tug boat Delta Pacer departed Bremerton with the former George Philip in tow, arriving at Southern Recycling’s New Orleans, La., facility in late June. Work to dismantle the hull was completed on 23 January 2017.

Stephanie Harry (Ship History), Robert J. Cressman (Biography)
30 December 2019