The Crommelin's keel was laid on May 30, 1980, at Todd Pacific Shipyard, Seattle Division. The frigate was christened and launched July 2, 1981. Commissioned on June 18, 1983, she was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 9 and reached its homeport of Long Beach, California in August 1983.

In 1985, FFG 37 was assigned to the USS Constellation Battle Group and deployed to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. During this deployment, she became the first FFG to successfully engage a high-speed, maneuvering target with missiles. It was also the first ship to complete an operational deployment with the LAMPS MK III weapon system. In June 1986, the frigate received the first CNO LAMPS MK III Safety Award.

In 1987, USS Crommelin was assigned to Destroyer Squadron 13 and began an accelerated deployment with the Constellation Battle Group. USS Crommelin was the first FFG to deploy with two LAMPS MK III helicopters embarked. She was assigned to Commander, Middle East Force from 1 July to 25 August 1987, earning a Meritorious Unit Commendation for the convoy escort of the first five reflagged Kuwaiti tankers.

On 1 January 1988, the Crommelin was reassigned to Destroyer Squadron 9. Upon completion of her second availability period at Todd Pacific Shipyard, she was deployed in support of Joint Service, Counter narcotic Operations in the Central, South American, and Caribbean theater. On September 1, 1991, the frigate shifted homeports to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and joined Destroyer Squadron 31.

USS Crommelin completed a second four-month counternarcotics deployment in the Central, South American and Caribbean theater from Nov. 1992 to March 1993. Upon return to its homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, she was assigned to Commander Naval Surface Group, Middle Pacific.

In February 2001, USS Crommelin returned from a western Pacific deployment with the USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group.

In December 2001, the Crommelin had the opportunity to serve as a testing bed for the employment of U.S. Army helicopter OH-58s from her flight deck. Three OH-58s and their crews from the U.S. Army 3rd Squadron 4th Aviation Cavalry Regiment/25th ID (L) were embarked onboard for the trials. USS Crommelin, working together with Joint Shipboard Helicopter Integration Process (JSHIP) personnel, successfully increased the operational maneuvering envelopes, on deck safety procedures and improved operational tactics necessary for future joint operations.

March 7, 2003 USS Crommelin helicopter rescued several fishermen adrift at sea 250 nautical miles from Ecuador.

April 22, USS Crommelin returned to Pearl Harbor after a six-month deployment to the southern Command AoR where she took part in drug interdiction operations. Since her departure Oct. 22, the frigate participated in several counter-narcotics operations during its time in the eastern Pacific. With the help of HSL-37 Det. 3 and its aircraft, Easy Rider 57, Team Crommelin was able to interdict more than six metric tons of narcotics, valued at more than $183 million - narcotics whose eventual destination were the shores of the United States. They successfully rescued 157 Ecuadorians from a sinking fishing vessel, returning them home, as well as towing a fishing boat and crew of 14 back to their home port after they had drifted for three days with a broken engine.

March 10, 2004 USS Crommelin, commanded by Cmdr. Donald Hodge, was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award, or Battle 'E', at an awards ceremony at pier Bravo 17. The Battle "E" is awarded to a ship's crew for superior maritime performance in warfare, engineering, and command and logistics management.

April 9, FFG 37 hosted a cruise to Maui April 2-5 for family members, the Navy League and teachers from Holomua Elementary School, providing educational demonstrations performed by the crew. More than 200 guests were invited aboard to learn the responsibilities and rewards of being a U.S. Navy Sailor.

May 12, USS Crommelin departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a scheduled six-month deployment.

June 21, The guided-missile frigate rescued three fishermen south of Costa Rica June 11th. Don Luis II, a Costa Rican fishing vessel had been adrift for 17 days days after one of two batteries aboard exploded. On 12th, the fishing vessel’s master decided to abandon the Don Luis II and requested to embark the frigate. The three fishermen were taken aboard, fed and given a full medical examination, fresh clothes and bedding. The abandoned boat was sunk to prevent it from becoming a hazard to navigation. At approximately midnight on the morning of June 13, the Crommelin rendezvoused with a Costa Rican patrol boat inside Costa Rican territorial waters and transferred the fishermen to the patrol boat to be delivered safely home.

July 6, FFG 37 intercepted a shipment of cocaine and arrested five drug smugglers during a June operation while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces southern Command area of responsibility. The frigate had recovered a total of 72 cocaine bales weighing more than 50 pounds each and worth a total estimated street value of $36 million. The crew of frigate working in conjunction with USS Ticonderoga (CG 47), made their first recovery of illegal narcotics since reporting on station patrolling the waters of the eastern Pacific.

July 20, A 22-ship multinational task force completed 105 training events during the first week of at sea operations for UNITAS 45-04 Pacific Phase in July. During UNITAS 45-04 USS Crommelin made port visit to Salaverry and Callao in Peru.

August 10, USS Crommelin departed Colon, Panama, to participate in the maritime portion of PANAMAX 2004. Naval forces from eight countries are participating in PANAMAX 2004, a naval exercise designed to build up a coalition response to security threats against the Panama Canal. The multinational force includes surface and air assets from Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Peru and the United States operating in the north and south approaches to the Canal.

September 24, USS Crommelin working with U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 105, and embarked HSL-37, conducted what turns out to be the third largest drug interdiction in history, totaling 25,000 pounds of narcotics. Assisted by Coast Guard and Navy Maritime Patrol aircraft scouring the ocean in an area several hundred miles west of the Galapagos Islands, the frigate set a course to intercept, and once in range, sent its SH-60B Seahawk to relocate and monitor the fishing vessel, San Jose, as Crommelin moved into a position to strike. At the appropriate time, embarked LEDET 105 conducted a swift take down of the suspect vessel, supported by Crommelin’s rigid hull inflatable boat. By sundown LEDET and the frigate's crew had recovered a total of 525 bales of cocaine and taken eight suspects into custody.

October 29, USS Crommelin and her embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment intercepted a drug smuggling vessel off the coast of Mexico Oct. 16. USS Crommelin escorted the vessel and its crew toward Mexico, and on the morning of Oct. 20 turned the vessel and suspects over to Mexican authorities. Mexican officials later confirmed the fishing vessel was carrying 5.8 metric tons of cocaine.

November 12, FFG 37 returned to homeport after completing a successful six-month deployment to the U.S. southern Command area of responsibility. During its tenure in the SOUTHCOM AoR, the frigate intercepted and recovered a total 20.5 metric tons of cocaine worth more than $1 billion, detained 29 drug smugglers and rescued a total of 96 people adrift at sea.

February 1, 2005 USS Crommelin and USS Reuben James were the first two Pearl Harbor-based ships to be fitted with Man Overboard Identification (MOBI) Systems Jan. 25. The two Pearl Harbor-based frigates will next deploy with the new system, which is intended to provide immediate notification and rapid recovery of a Sailor or Marine who has fallen overboard.

July 6, Cmdr. Mark S. Manfredi relieved Cmdr. Donald D. Hodge as commanding officer of USS Crommelin, in a change of command ceremony held in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

August 4, More than 200 distinguished visitors from the Seattle area embarked The Crommelin on Aug. 3 to participate in the Parade of Ships for Seattle Seafair 2005.

August 12, USS Crommelin pulled to Homer, Alaska, prior to participating in Alaska Shield/Northern Edge 2005, a U.S. northern Command exercise conducted with military, state and local agencies and focuses on homeland security actions in and around the state of Alaska. Alaskan Shield/Northern Edge ’05 is taking place Aug. 15-19.

May 5, 2006 FFG 37 departed Pearl Harbor for a four-month cruise to the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet area of operation. She will travel to various locations in the western Pacific to take part in the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2006 exercise. CARAT is a regularly scheduled series of military training exercises with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, designed to enhance interoperability of the respective sea services.

May 20, U.S. Navy task group, including USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USS Hopper (DDG 70), USS Crommelin, the cutter USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720), and rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52) departed Okinawa to begin the fifth annual Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism maritime security exercise. The Military Sealift Command ship MV Sgt. William R. Button (T-AK 3012) is also taking part, in the role of a suspect vessel. Following SEACAT, the U.S. task group will transition into the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series.

May 29, The Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) maritime security exercise ended when the exercise task group arrived in Singapore.

June 14, FFG 37 departed Changi Naval Base, Singapore, after completing the first phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).

June 18, USS Crommelin arrived in Sattahip, Thailand, to participate in the Thailand phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training. She departed on 27th concluding the second phase of bilateral exercise.

July 24, FFG 37 arrived in Kemaman, Malaysia, for the 4th phase of CARAT exercise. The Crommelin departed Kemaman, Malaysia, on Aug. 3rd.

August 6, The guided-missile frigate arrived in Maura, Brunei Darussalam, for the fifth phase of CARAT exercise begining here Aug. 8 at the Royal Brunei Navy's (RBN) headquarters. The RBN task group is comprised of the Waspada-class fast attack craft KDB Pejuang (P03) and KDB Seteria (P04), and the Perwira-class coastal patrol craft KDB Perwira (P14) and KDB Pemburu (P15).

August 15, The Philippines phase of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise began in Subic Bay, Philippines, with an opening ceremony at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. Philippine Navy CARAT task group ships include BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), BRP Heracleo Alano (PG 376), BRP Teotimo Figuracion (PG 389) and BRP Bacolod City (LC 550).

September 15, USS Crommelin returned to Naval Station Pearl Harbor after four-and-a-half month deployment.

April 13, 2007 FFG 37 returned to homeport after an underway period in the Pacific Ocean.

November 27, USS Crommelin departed Pearl Harbor for a six-month deployment to southern Command area of responsibility. She will transit the Panama Canal en route to the Caribbean to conduct counter narcotic mission.

February 8, 2008 The guided-missile frigate recently pulled to Mayport, Fla., to pick up the supplies with plans to deliver them to Cartagena, Colombia.

June 8, USS Crommelin returned home after a scheduled underway period in the eastern Pacific. During the deployment, the crew visited numerous ports in Latin America, including Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Panama City, Panama; Cartagena, Columbia; and Trujillo, Peru. The ship confiscated approximately $71 million dollars worth of cocaine.

June 9, Cmdr. Kevin J. Parker relieved Cmdr. Patrick N. Huete, as commanding officer of FFG 37.

June 15, 2009 USS Crommelin departed Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a six-month deployment in support of the Mid-Pacific Surface Combatant Operational Employment program and to participate in the annual CARAT exercise.

June 24, The guided-missile frigate recently anchored off the coast of Pohnpei, in the Federal States of Micronesia, for a goodwill port visit.

July 8, Task Group 73.5 consisting of USS Crommelin, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Chafee (DDG 90) and USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) recently arrived in Sattahip, Thailand, for the fourth phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.

August 3, The CARAT ships pulled to Muara Naval Base in Brunei for the sixth phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise.

August 28, The CARAT 2009 exercise series ended with a ceremony aboard the Crommelin at Jakarta, Indonesia.

October 29, FFG 37 arrived in Hong Kong for a scheduled port visit.

November 12, USS Crommelin is currently participating in exercise ANNUALEX 21G.

December 4, The guided-missile frigate recently pulled to Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port visit.

December 15, USS Crommelin returned to Pearl Harbor after a scheduled deployment.

April 8, 2010 The Crommelin, commanded by Cmdr. Joseph M. Keenan Jr., arrived in Hilo for a three-day port visit to the "Big Island" for the Merrie Monarch Festival, an annual event that promotes the perpetuation and preservation of the art of the hula and the Hawaiian culture through education.

August 3, USS Crommelin departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a scheduled western Pacific deployment in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.

August 19, The guided-missile frigate departed Saipan after a two-day port visit.

September 19, FFG 37 is currenty participating in a joint-service exercise Valiant Shield off the coast of Guam.

October 17, USS Crommelin departed Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, after a five-day port call, participating in CARAT exercise.

October 25, The Crommelin arrived in Sihanoukville to participate in the second phase of CARAT Cambodia.

December 14, USS Crommelin returned to homeport after a five-month underway period in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Operations. The ship also made port calls to Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.

November 18, 2011 USS Crommelin returned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after participating in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-1", off the coast of Hawaii, Nov. 10-17.

March 30, 2012 The guided-missile frigate is currently participating in integrated training exercise "Koa Kai 12-2", off the coast of Hawaii.

April 12, FFG 37 arrived in Hilo for a three-day port visit to participate in the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

August 18, USS Crommelin pulled into Nawiliwili Harbor, Kauai, for a scheduled port visit to Lihue. Returned to homeport on Aug. 27 after its final underway period.

October 26, USS Crommelin held a decommissioning ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after a 29 years of servise.

October 31, The Crommelin was officially decommissioned and stricken from the U.S. Naval Vessel Register.

July 19, 2016 The ex-USS Crommelin was sunk during a sinking exercise (SINKEX), as part of a multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016, 55 nautical miles northwest of Kauai, Hawaii.