A third-generation guided missile frigate of the Oliver Hazard Perry class, she was laid down as Bath Iron Works hull number 388 on 27 September 1982 and launched 23 April 1983.

Her 453-foot (loa) hull displaces 4,100 tons and her gas turbine power develops 41,000 shp (31,000 kW) for a single screw, giving a top speed of over 29 knots (54 km/h).

Since her commissioning, Nicholas has deployed to the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and North Sea, as well as participating in maritime interdiction operations and various fleet exercises.

On 11 September, Nicholas sortied on an emergency basis from Valletta, Malta and conducted sustained underway operations until returning to her home port of Norfolk, Virginia two months later.

Nicholas operated as the sole US warship in the Mediterranean for her six-month deployment and acted as a surrogate for the Argentina ship Sarandi, enhancing international relations and building new alliances.

She participated in multiple exercises and operations and achieved historic distinction when she tracked and assisted in the interception of a merchant ship loaded with nuclear centrifuges bound for Libya.

In 2006 she deployed once more to the Persian Gulf, conducting patrols around the Iraqi oil terminals Kaot & Abot, alongside USS McFaul, HMAS Ballarat, and other coalition warships.

On 1 April 2010, Nicholas came under fire from Somali pirates while deployed in the waters off of East Africa near the coast of Kenya and Somalia conducting anti-piracy operations.

On 28 February 2023, Nicholas was removed from the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began its journey to Brownsville, Texas, where it will be scrapped.