USS Simpson (FFG-56)

Career (US)
Namesake:	Rodger W. Simpson
Ordered:	22 March 1982
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	27 February 1984
Launched:	31 August 1984
Acquired:	September 13, 1985
Commissioned:	21 September 1985
Homeport:	NS Mayport, Florida
Motto:	Attaquer en Vigueur ("Attack with Vigor")
Fate:	Naval Reserve Force, Active in service as of 2008.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
Displacement:	4,100 tons (4,170 t) full load
Length:	453 ft (138 m)
Beam:	45 ft (13.7 m)
Draft:	22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion:	2 × General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines generating 41,000 shp (31 MW) through a single shaft and variable pitch propeller; 2 x Auxiliary Propulsion Units, 350 hp (.25 MW) retractable electric azipods for maneuvering and docking.
Speed:	29+ knots (54+ km/h)
Range:	5,000 nm (9,300 km) at 18 knots (33 km/h)
Complement:	15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus air detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPS-49 air-search radar AN/SPS-55 surface-search radar CAS and STIR fire-control radar AN/SQS-56 sonar.
Electronic warfare and decoys:	AN/SLQ-32V5 with Sidekick Mark 36 SRBOC AN/SLQ-25 Nixie
Armament:	As built: One OTO Melara Mk 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun one Mk 13 Mod 4 single-arm launcher for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and SM-1MR Standard anti-ship/air missiles (40 round magazine) two Mk 32 triple-tube (324 mm) launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes one Vulcan Phalanx CIWS; four .50-cal (12.7 mm) machine guns. Currently: 1 × OTO Melara Mk 75 mod 2 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun 2 × Mk 32 12.75 in (324 mm) triple-torpedo-tube launchers for Mark 46, Mark 50, and Mark 54 torpedoes 1 × Block 1B Mk 15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS 2 × Mk 38 25 mm cannons (only while deployed overseas) 8 × mounts for crew served weapons
Aircraft carried:	2 × SH-60B LAMPS III helicopter

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.

History

Simpson was laid down at Bath Iron Works, Maine, on February 27, 1984, launched on August 31, 1984 sponsored by Mrs. Gloria Fowles-Simpson^[1] widow of Rodger W. Simpson and commissioned on 21 September 1985^[2] in Newport, Rhode Island, Cmdr. H. Wyman Howard Jr. in command. The ship was delivered September 13, 1985. BIW plans called for delivery to occur August 9, 1985, but that date slipped due to an extended strike at Bath Iron Works that began June 30, 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]

In January 1986, Simpson participated in search and recovery operations following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.^[4]

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 April 17, 1988, Simpson took part in Operation Praying Mantis, the U.S. response to the mining of the frigate Samuel B. Roberts, which hit an Iranian M-08 mine on April 14, 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 (Combatte II type) missile patrol boat Joshan, which launched a Harpoon missile. 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.

Simpson is one of at least two^{[citation needed]} presently commissioned ships in the US Navy known to have assisted in sinking an enemy vessel with her shipboard weaponry (as opposed to aircraft). Another is the USS Constitution.^[5]

1990s

February 20, 1990, Simpson rescued 22 crew members from MV 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 away and responded immediately to rescue the crew.^[6] The fire was so intense that US ships could not approach it and Surf City would burn for two weeks. At the time it 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 USS Normandy (CG-60) escorted USS America (CV-66) 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 Gulf in early April after inspections resumed.^[8][9]

In August 1993 on Simpson's fourth deployment she was again assigned to America's battlegroup. During the deployment Simpson participated in Operation Deny Flight and Operation Provide Promise in the Adriatic Sea and U.N. 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]

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 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 May 8, 1996.^[10]

2000s

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 arriving in New York Harbor, October 2004 prior to removal of Mk 13 launcher, but after removal of the STIR missile guidance radar.

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

Simpson and Algerian frigate El Kirch, June 2006, after removal of missile launcher.

On January 3, 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 June 24, 2006.^[16]

On October 5, 2007, Simpson deployed with HSL-46, Det. 7, to the western Pacific for counter narcotics operations returning April 2008. During the deployment Simpson captured 16 metric tons of cocaine. On November 29, 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]

Fate

As of 2008, Simpson was homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 14.^[18][19] Simpson has been part of the Active Naval Reserve Force, Category A since 2002.^[20]

Notes

See also

• List of ship launches in 1984
• List of ship commissionings in 1985
• List of United States Navy ships

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

USS Simpson (FFG-56)

• USS Simpson official website
• navsource.org: USS Simpson
• navysite.de: USS Simpson - History section appears to duplicate old versions of the official Simpson web site Pre-1998 history 1998-1999 history 2000 history
• History of the Frigate
• Maritime Quest - Simpson