USS Simpson (FFG-56)

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USS Simpson (FFG-56)
USS Simpson (FFG 56) port side.jpg
USS Simpson in April 2007
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
Namesake Rear Admiral Rodger W. Simpson
Awarded22 March 1982
Builder Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down27 February 1984
Launched31 August 1984
Sponsored byMrs. Grace Fowles-Simpson
Acquired13 September 1985
Commissioned21 September 1985
Decommissioned29 September 2015
Homeport N.S. Mayport, Florida
Identification
Motto
  • "Attaquer en Vigueur"
  • ("Attack with Vigor")
Badge USS Simpson FFG-56 Crest.png
General characteristics
Class and type Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length453 ft (138 m)
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draft22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus air detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × SH-60B LAMPS III helicopter
Aviation facilities

USS Simpson (FFG-56) is an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy, named for Rear Admiral Rodger W. Simpson.

Contents

History

Simpson was laid down at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, on 27 February 1984, launched on 31 August 1984 sponsored by Mrs. Grace Fowles-Simpson [1] widow of Rodger W. Simpson and commissioned on 21 September 1985 [2] in Newport, Rhode Island. The ship was delivered 13 September 1985. Bath Iron Works plans called for delivery to occur 9 August 1985, but that date slipped due to an extended strike at BIW that began 30 June 1985. [3] Simpson was homeported at Naval Station Newport until switching to Naval Station Norfolk on 31 March 1994. Simpson moved to Naval Station Mayport in July 2001. [4]

1980s

On 28 January 1986, the NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, launched Space Shuttle mission STS-51L utilizing the orbiter vehicle Challenger at 1138 EST. Escaping propellant combustion products cut into the craft's solid rocket booster, however, and 73 seconds after launch a massive explosion destroyed Challenger, killing all seven astronauts on board. Simpson took part in the ensuing search and rescue effort, and subsequently received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation with Operational "O" for her participation. [5]

Beginning January 1988, Simpson's first overseas deployment was to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Earnest Will, to escort reflagged Kuwaiti oil tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. On 18 April 1988, Simpson took part in Operation Praying Mantis, the U.S. response to the mining of the frigate Samuel B. Roberts, which had hit an Iranian M-08 mine on 14 April 1988.

On 18 April, Simpson, along with Wainwright and Bagley, destroyed Iranian naval and intelligence facilities on the oil platform Sirri in the Persian Gulf. Later that day, the ships encountered the Iranian Kaman-class (La Combattante II type) missile patrol boat Joshan, which launched a Harpoon missile at the US vessels. Simpson immediately returned missile fire, striking Joshan in her superstructure. Joshan was then sunk by combined gunfire. Simpson was awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award and the Combat Action Ribbon for this operation, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for the deployment.

1990s

20 February 1990, Simpson rescued 22 crew members from Surf City, a reflagged Kuwaiti tanker carrying $9 million in naphtha and gas oil. Surf City was transiting near the Iranian island of Abu Musa when it exploded, killing two and forcing the crew to abandon ship. According to Central Command, Simpson was not escorting the tanker, but was monitoring its progress from 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) away and responded immediately to rescue the crew. [6] The fire was so intense that US ships could not approach it and Surf City burned for two weeks. At the time, the fire was feared to be the result of an attack or a mine, but the NTSB later determined it to be an accident. [7]

In March 1992, during Simpson's third deployment, Simpson and Normandy escorted America and two supply ships into the Persian Gulf. At the time, Iraq was refusing to comply with UN weapons inspection and the ships departed the Persian Gulf in early April after inspections resumed. [8] [9]

In August 1993 on Simpson's fourth deployment she was again assigned to escort Carrier Group Six with America. During the deployment Simpson participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in the Adriatic Sea and supported Operation Continue Hope off Somalia. Simpson returned to homeport in February 1994. [10] [11]

In May 1994, Simpson was one of the ships enforcing United Nations sanctions on Haiti. [12]

1995

Simpson deployed to the Caribbean Sea for counter drug operations in late 1994 and again in February 1995. [10]

In November 1995, Simpson deployed to the Mediterranean joining the United States Sixth Fleet NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic. Simpson operated in the Adriatic Sea enforcing UN arms embargo against Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and participating in Operation Sharp Guard. Simpson returned to Norfolk 8 May 1996. [10]

2000s

Simpson arriving in New York Harbor, October 2004 prior to removal of Mk 13 launcher, but after removal of the STIR missile guidance radar. USS Simpson (FFG 56) sails past the Statue of Liberty.jpg
Simpson arriving in New York Harbor, October 2004 prior to removal of Mk 13 launcher, but after removal of the STIR missile guidance radar.
Simpson and Algerian frigate El Kirch, June 2006, after removal of missile launcher. USS Simpson (FFG 56) and Algerian frigate El Kirch.jpg
Simpson and Algerian frigate El Kirch, June 2006, after removal of missile launcher.

Capt. Gerald F. DeConto, Simpson's commanding officer from September 1998 to April 2000, was killed at the Pentagon during the September 11, 2001 attacks. [13]

In July 2002, Simpson responded to Malpelo Island to medevac a wounded Colombian Marine who had received three gunshot wounds. [14]

Simpson deployed with Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 44, Det. 10 as part of NATO's Standing Naval Forces Atlantic on 22 September 2004 returning 20 December 2004. Simpson visited New York City 12 October 2004 during this deployment. [15] Simpson's Mk 13 missile launcher was removed sometime in 2005 prior to her next deployment.

On 3 January 2006, Simpson deployed with HSL-42, Det. 9, joining Standing NRF Maritime Group 1 and participated in a number of international naval exercises in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean Sea returning to Mayport 24 June 2006. [16]

On 5 October 2007, Simpson deployed with HSL-46, Det. 7 and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 405, to the eastern Pacific for counter narcotics operations returning April 2008. During the deployment Simpson captured 16 metric tons of cocaine. On 29 November 2007, Simpson interdicted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) capable of carrying 5–8 metric tons of cocaine. The sub was sunk by its crew, but the crew was captured and turned over to Colombia. [17] [18]

2010s

On 17 January 2012, Simpson deployed to the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility, participating in Africa Partnership Station 2012, and Operation Active Endeavor. Ports of call included Funchal, Rota, Casablanca, Dakar, Lagos, Accra, Mindelo, Souda Bay, Sicily, Naples and Praia. She returned to Naval Station Mayport on 17 July 2012.

On 18 September 2013, Simpson deployed once more to the United States Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility. Ports of call included Ponta Delgada, Sicily, Bari, Athens, Valletta, Souda Bay and Casablanca. She returned to Naval Station Mayport on 20 March 2014. Simpson's final homeport was Naval Station Mayport, Florida, with assignment to Destroyer Squadron 14. [17] [19] Simpson was part of the Active Naval Reserve Force, Category A from 2002 until her decommissioning in September 2015. [20] She was the final Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in service in the United States Navy. [21] [22] The ship is set to be put up for foreign military sale. [23]

When Simpson was decommissioned, it meant the last United States ship still in active service to have sunk an enemy vessel was the 217-year-old USS Constitution. [24] [25]

Related Research Articles

<i>Oliver Hazard Perry</i>-class frigate Class of guided-missile frigates

The Oliver Hazard Perry class is a class of guided-missile frigates named after U.S. Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of the naval Battle of Lake Erie. Also known as the Perry or FFG-7 class, the warships were designed in the United States in the mid-1970s as general-purpose escort vessels inexpensive enough to be bought in large numbers to replace World War II-era destroyers and complement 1960s-era Knox-class frigates.

USS <i>Stark</i> Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate

USS Stark (FFG-31) was the 23rd ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates and was named after Admiral Harold Rainsford Stark (1880–1972). Ordered from Todd Pacific Shipyards in Seattle, Washington, on 23 January 1978, Stark was laid down on 24 August 1979, launched on 30 May 1980, and commissioned on 23 October 1982. In 1987, an Iraqi jet fired two missiles at Stark, killing 37 U.S. sailors on board. Decommissioned on 7 May 1999, Stark was scrapped in 2006.

USS <i>Reuben James</i> (FFG-57) Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

USS Reuben James (FFG-57), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, was the third ship of the U.S. Navy named for Reuben James, a boatswain's mate who distinguished himself fighting the Barbary pirates. Her crew totaled 201 enlisted, 18 chief petty officers, and 26 officers.

USS <i>McInerney</i>

USS McInerney (FFG-8), is an Oliver Hazard Perry class guided-missile frigate, in service with the United States Navy from 1979 to 2010. She was then transferred to the Pakistan Navy and entered service as Alamgir (F260) in early 2011.

USS <i>Antrim</i> (FFG-20)

USS Antrim (FFG-20) was the twelfth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided-missile frigates. She was named for Rear Admiral Richard Nott Antrim (1907–1969).

USS <i>Stephen W. Groves</i> Oliver Hazard Perry–class frigate

USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG-29), twenty-first ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided missile frigates, was named for Ensign Stephen W. Groves (1917–1942), a naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism at the Battle of Midway during World War II.

USS <i>Doyle</i> (FFG-39)

USS Doyle (FFG-39) was the 30th ship to be constructed in the Oliver Hazard Perry class of guided missile frigates of the United States Navy. Doyle was named after Vice Admiral James Henry Doyle (1897–1982). Vice Admiral Doyle was most known for his contributions during the Korean War as Commander Amphibious Group One. The ship was in service from 21 May 1983 to 29 July 2011. During her 28 years of service, Doyle went on at least six deployments to the Mediterranean Sea and two deployments to the Persian Gulf, including participation in Operation Earnest Will. The ship also operated in the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and deployed to operate with the Middle East Force. Doyle took part in UNITAS 39-98. Deployed to the Standing Naval Forces Atlantic, and conducted three Southern Command Deployments.

USS <i>Vandegrift</i> Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

USS Vandegrift (FFG-48) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate of the United States Navy. The ship was named for General Alexander A. Vandegrift (1887–1973), 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps.

USS <i>Jarrett</i> American guided missile frigate

USS Jarrett (FFG-33), was the twenty-fifth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates, was named for Vice Admiral Harry B. Jarrett (1898–1974).

USS <i>Aubrey Fitch</i> US Navy guided missile frigate

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USS <i>Crommelin</i>

USS Crommelin (FFG-37), twenty-eighth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates, was named for five brothers: Rear Admiral John G. Crommelin (1902–1996), Vice Admiral Henry Crommelin (1904–1971), Commander Charles L. Crommelin (1909–1945), Lieutenant Commander Richard Crommelin (1917–1945), and Captain Quentin C. Crommelin (1919–1997). The Crommelin brothers were the only group of five siblings ever to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. Four of them became pilots, and Time magazine dubbed them "The Indestructibles." The brothers saw action in more than ten campaigns in the Pacific Theater. Henry, the second-oldest, became a Surface Warfare Officer while Richard and Charles died in combat as naval aviators in 1945. Individually and as a fighting family, they gained fame in World War II, attaining outstanding combat records and multiple decorations. Crommelin (FFG-37) is the first ship of that name in the United States Navy.

USS <i>Curts</i>

USS Curts (FFG-38) was the twenty-ninth ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided-missile frigates. She was named for Admiral Maurice Curts (1898–1976). Curts is the first ship of that name in the US Navy.

USS <i>Samuel B. Roberts</i> (FFG-58) Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate (1986–2015)

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) is one of the final ships in the United States Navy's Oliver Hazard Perry-class of guided missile frigates (FFG). Commissioned in 1986, the ship was severely damaged by an Iranian mine in 1988, leading U.S. forces to respond with Operation Praying Mantis. Repaired and returned to duty, the ship served until decommissioned in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Praying Mantis</span> 1988 U.S. naval offensive against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War

Operation Praying Mantis was an attack on 18 April 1988 by the United States Armed Forces within Iranian territorial waters in retaliation for the Iranian naval mining of international waters in the Persian Gulf during the Iran–Iraq War and the subsequent damage to an American warship.

USS <i>Ford</i> (FFG-54) US Navy frigate

USS Ford (FFG-54) was a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in service with the United States Navy from 1985 to 2013. She was sunk as a target in the Pacific Ocean near Guam in 2019.

USS <i>Taylor</i> (FFG-50)

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USS <i>Gary</i> (FFG-51) Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

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USS <i>Carr</i> Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate

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USS <i>Klakring</i>

USS Klakring (FFG-42), an Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate, was a ship of the United States Navy named for Rear Admiral Thomas B. Klakring (1904–1975), who was awarded three Navy Crosses as commander of the submarine USS Guardfish during World War II.

USS <i>Rentz</i> Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the US Navy (in service 1984-2014)

USS Rentz (FFG-46) was a United States Navy Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate. She was named for George S. Rentz, a World War II Navy Chaplain, posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for actions following the loss of USS Houston in the Battle of Sunda Strait. He was the only Navy chaplain to be so honored during World War II.

References

  1. ↑ Maritime Quest.
  2. ↑ NVR lists commissioning as 20 September 1985 while Ships history page lists 21 September 1985. DoD image captions such as Image:USS Simpson (FFG-56) during commissioning.jpg list 9 November 1985 leading some websites to use that date for commissioning.
  3. ↑ BATH IRON STRIKERS TAKING A HARD LINE; John Milne, Globe Staff. Boston Globe. Boston, Mass.: 27 August 1985. pg. 37
  4. ↑ Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic. Simpson.
  5. ↑ Evans, Mark L. (1 October 2015). "Simpson II (FFG-56)". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  6. ↑ Captain and Massachusetts Man Die in Persian Gulf Blast; Mary Curtius, Globe Staff and Tina Cassidy, Contributing Reporter. Boston Globe. Boston, Mass.: 23 February 1990. pg. 2
  7. ↑ NTSB. Safety Recommendation M-92-22 through −24. 29 April 1992.
  8. ↑ U.S. CARRIER STIRS TENSION IN GULF; MARK THOMPSON – Knight-Ridder News Service. The Oregonian. Portland, Or.: 14 March 1992. pg. A.10
  9. ↑ BUSH WITHDRAWS FORCES, CITING IRAQI COMPLIANCE; Stewart M. Powell Hearst News Service. Seattle Post – Intelligencer. Seattle, Wash.: 1 April 1992. pg. a.2
  10. 1 2 3 Navysite.de FFG-56. History.
  11. ↑ NORFOLK-BASED CARRIER HEADING TO SOMALI COAST. Richmond Times – Dispatch. Richmond, Va.: 28 October 1993. pg. B-4
  12. ↑ U.S. Patrol Craft to Tighten Haiti Embargo; Shallow-Draft Vessels Will Try to Intercept Coastal Traffic; Risk to Navy Personnel Rises. Thomas W. Lippman. The Washington Post (pre-1997 Fulltext). Washington, D.C.: 27 May 1994. pg. a.31
  13. ↑ Mayport Mirror. Ensign Rebecca L. Rebarich. Honoring Fallen Sailor, Former Simpson CO. 28 October 2004.
  14. ↑ US Navy. Simpson Rescues Wounded Colombian Marine. 29 July 2002.
  15. ↑ US Navy. USS Simpson Returns From Deployment. 16 December 2004.
  16. ↑ Mayport Mirror. USS Simpson Is Back In Town. 29 June 2006.
  17. 1 2 Mayport Mirror. USS Simpson, HSL-46 Detachment 7 Are Back. 9 April 2008.
  18. ↑ Affairs, This story was written by USS Simpson Public. "USS Simpson Completes Successful Counter--narcotics Deployment".
  19. ↑ "DesRon 14". United States Navy. Archived from the original on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 6 March 2008.
  20. ↑ United States Navy Naval Vessel Register. FFG-56.
  21. ↑ Faram, Mark D. (22 August 2017). "Crews past and present bid farewell to frigate Kauffman".
  22. ↑ "Hours before decommissioning, USS Simpson crew recall historic naval battle". CNN. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "Last Oliver Hazard Perry Frigate USS Simpson Leaves Service, Marked for Foreign Sale - USNI News". 29 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "The Only Ship Left in the US Navy That Has Sunk an Enemy Ship is 217 Years Old". Fox News. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  25. ↑ https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2015/10/03/navy-retires-its-last-modern-ship-to-sink-an-enemy-vessel/

This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register , which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.The entry can be found here.This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.

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