Two ships were authorized in FY 1961; four each in FY 1962 and 1963. Built at four different yards and commissioned as destroyer escorts (DEs) 1040–41, 1043–45 and 1047–51 in 1964–68, they were redesignated frigates (FF) on 30 June 1975.
Counting Bath-built Glover (included in the table above) and the six guided missile escorts of the Brooke class, seventeen ships were built on the basic Garcia hull. Unlike the Bronsteins, the Garcias mounted two single 5-inch/38s, one on the bow and one with a limited arc of fire on the superstructure amidships. Hangars for the DASH unmanned helicopter were fitted but never used. In 1972-75, however, all except Sample and Albert David were modified to handle the new LAMPS Mk I (SH-2D Seasprite) manned helicopter.
Length: 414' overall; 390' waterline.
Beam: 44'.
Draft: 24' including sonar dome.
Displacement: 2,624 tons light; 3,560 tons full load.
Speed: 27 knots (design); 29 knots (trial).
Design complement: 13 officers; 196 enlisted.
The ten Garcias decommissioned before the Bronsteins, in 1988 and 1989. Garcia, Brumby, Koelsch and O’Callahan were subsequently leased to Pakistan but transferred back in 1993–4 before being sold for scrap. Bradley, Davidson, Sample and Albert David were first leased to Brazil in 1989 and then sold to Brazil in 2001 but retired soon thereafter. Voge and Edward McDonnell were stricken in 1992 and sold for scrap in 1995 and 2001 respectively.
Sources: Bauer & Roberts, Friedman, Silverstone.