USS Antrim (FFG-20) was the twelfth ship of the of guided-missile frigates. She was named for Rear Admiral Richard Nott Antrim (1907–1969). Construction Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards, Seattle, Washington, on 28 February 1977, as part of the FY77 program, Antrim was laid down on 21 June 1978, launched on 27 March 1979, and commissioned on 26 September 1981. Service history On 1 October, Antrim departed Seattle, en route to Mayport, Florida, her home port. She made stops at Mazatlan and Manzanillo, before arriving in the Canal Zone on 25 October. The guided-missile frigate transited the Panama Canal, on Navy Day, 27 October 1981, and continued on to Mayport, where she arrived on 2 November. Antrim conducted independent ship's exercises out of Mayport, on an intermittent daily basis until 20 November, when she set sail for Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. She carried out shakedown training in the West Indies until 12 December. After a port visit to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, she tested and calibrated her sound equipment in the Bahamas, before returning to Mayport, on 20 December, to commence holiday stand down. The holiday leave and upkeep period ended on 11 January 1982, with her return to sea to conduct combat systems qualifications and trials. With that event, the guided-missile frigate resumed a normal schedule of operations out of Mayport, in the local operating area, and in the West Indies, as well. On 26 April, Antrim departed Mayport, bound ultimately for Bath, Maine, and post-shakedown availability at the Bath Iron Works. Along the way, she stopped at Yorktown, Virginia, to unload ordnance, and at Porstmouth, New Hampshire, for a port visit. The warship arrived in Bath, on 7 May and commenced a repair period that lasted 16 weeks. She embarked upon the voyage back to Mayport, on 27 August, made a series of stops en route, and entered Mayport, on 11 September. Antrim stayed in port for almost a month, putting to sea again on 8 October, to carry out post-repair refresher training in the vicinity of Guantanamo Bay. The guided-missile frigate completed that mission at the beginning of November, made a brief call at Key West, Florida, and then executed advanced ASW drills in the Bahamas. She reentered Mayport, on 12 November, and remained there through the end of the year. Antrim ended holiday stand down early in January 1983, returning to sea to begin training on 4 January. At