She was named for Marine Corps Sergeant Ross F. Gray, who was a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor.

The Knox class design was derived from the Brooke-class frigate modified to extend range and without a long-range missile system.

The Knox class had a range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at a speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).

The ships were equipped with a torpedo-carrying DASH drone helicopter; its telescoping hangar and landing pad were positioned amidships aft of the mack.

She made numerous deployments to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, including in support of United States Naval operations during the Vietnam War.