The USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, laid down in 1978, launched in 1979, and commissioned in 1980. These wessels were designed as general-purpose escorts, inexpensive enough to replace World War II-era destroyers. They fulfilled anti-submarine duties protecting amphibious landing forces, supply and replenishment groups, and merchant convoys. The frigate class could also provide air defense against aircraft and anti-ship missiles of the 1970s and 1980s. The frigates were equipped to conduct independent operations, including counter-illegal-drug-smuggling operations, maritime interceptions, and international exercises. With the addition of the Naval Tactical Display System, LAMPS helicopters, and TACTAS, these ships gained top combat capability, making them well-suited for littoral regions and most war-at-sea scenarios. The USS Samuel Eliot Morison was assigned to the Naval Reserve Force in 1986, decommissioned, and struck from the Register in 2002, after 21 years and 6 months of service. Navy ships built before the 1980s incorporated asbestos-containing materials throughout most parts. The widespread use of asbestos reflected the Navy’s priorities rather than a disregard for safety, as health risks weren't understood at the time. Consequently, asbestos affected veterans' health decades after their military years.
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