USS Simpson (FFG-56)

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 [ [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/simpson_ffg_56_data.htm Maritime Quest] .] widow of Rodger W. Simpson and commissioned on 21 September 1985 [ [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FFG56.htm NVR] lists commissioning as September 20, 1985 while [http://www.simpson.navy.mil/site%20pages/history.aspx Ships history page] lists 21 September 1985. DoD image captions such as in July 2001.Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic. [http://www.cnsl.surfor.navy.mil/Fact%20FIles/SIMPSON.pdf Simpson] .]

In January 1986, "Simpson" participated in search and recovery operations following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.Commander, Naval Surface Force, Atlantic. [http://www.cnsl.surfor.navy.mil/Fact%20FIles/SIMPSON.pdf Simpson] .]

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 USS|Samuel B. Roberts|FFG-58|2, which hit an Iranian M-08 mine on April 14, 1988.

On 18 April, "Simpson", along with USS|Wainwright|CG-28|2 and USS|Bagley|FF-1069|2, 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 twoFact|date=May 2008 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. [USS Constitution Timeline. US Navy. http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/historyupdate.htm (accessed 1 June 2008).]

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. [Captain and Massachusetts Man Die in Persian Gulf Blast; Mary Curtius, Globe Staff and Tina Cassidy, Contributing Reporter. Boston Globe. Boston, Mass.: Feb 23, 1990. pg. 2] 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. [NTSB. [http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/1992/M92_22_24.pdf Safety Recommendation M-92-22 through -24] . April 29, 1992.]

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. [U.S. CARRIER STIRS TENSION IN GULF; MARK THOMPSON - Knight-Ridder News Service. The Oregonian. Portland, Or.: Mar 14, 1992. pg. A.10] [BUSH WITHDRAWS FORCES, CITING IRAQI COMPLIANCE; Stewart M. Powell Hearst News Service. Seattle Post - Intelligencer. Seattle, Wash.: Apr 1, 1992. pg. a.2]

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.Navysite.de [http://www.navysite.de/ffg/FFG56.HTM FFG-56] . History.] [NORFOLK-BASED CARRIER HEADING TO SOMALI COAST. Richmond Times - Dispatch. Richmond, Va.: Oct 28, 1993. pg. B-4]

In May 1994, "Simpson" was one of the ships enforcing United Nations sanctions on Haiti. [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.: May 27, 1994. pg. a.31]

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

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.

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. [Mayport Mirror. Ensign Rebecca L. Rebarich. [http://www.mayportmirror.com/stories/102804/may_usssipmpson001.shtml Honoring Fallen Sailor, Former Simpson CO] . October 28, 2004.]

In July 2002, "Simpson" responded to Malpelo Island to medevac a wounded Colombian Marine who had received three gunshot wounds. [US Navy. [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=2867 Simpson Rescues Wounded Colombian Marine] . July 29, 2002.]

"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. [US Navy. [http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=16349 USS Simpson Returns From Deployment] . December 16, 2004.] "Simpson"'s Mk 13 missile launcher was removed sometime in 2005 prior to her next deployment.

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. [Mayport Mirror. [http://www.mayportmirror.com/stories/062906/may_usssimpson001.shtml USS Simpson Is Back In Town] . June 29, 2006.]

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. [Mayport Mirror. [http://www.mayportmirror.com/stories/041008/may_USSsimpson.shtml USS Simpson, HSL-46 Detachment 7 Are Back] . April 09, 2008.]

Fate

As of 2008, "Simpson" was homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Florida, and is part of Destroyer Squadron 14. [cite web| url= http://www.cds14.surfor.navy.mil/default.aspx | title= DesRon 14 |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher= U.S. Navy |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote=
accessdate= 2008-03-06 ] [Mayport Mirror. [http://www.mayportmirror.com/stories/041008/may_USSsimpson.shtml USS Simpson, HSL-46 Detachment 7 Are Back] . April 09, 2008.] "Simpson" has been part of the Active Naval Reserve Force, Category A since 2002. [United States Navy Naval Vessel Register. [http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/FFG56.htm FFG-56] .]

Notes

ee also

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

External links

* [http://www.simpson.navy.mil/ USS "Simpson" official website]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/07/0756.htm navsource.org: USS "Simpson"]
* [http://www.navysite.de/ffg/FFG56.HTM navysite.de: USS "Simpson"] - History section appears to duplicate old versions of the official "Simpson" web site [http://web.archive.org/web/20000530010318/www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ffg56/ussbio.htm Pre-1998 history] [http://web.archive.org/web/20000709182423/www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ffg56/98history.htm 1998-1999 history] [http://web.archive.org/web/20010807193653/http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ffg56/ 2000 history]
* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/ffg-7.htm History of the Frigate]
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/simpson_ffg_56_page_1.htm Maritime Quest - "Simpson"]