Guided Missile Frigate
FFG 56 - USS Simpson
Type, Class:		Guided Missile Frigate; Oliver Hazard Perry - class (long hull) planned and built as FFG 56
Builder:		Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, USA
STATUS:		Awarded: March 22, 1982 Laid down: February 27, 1984 Launched: August 31, 1984 Commissioned: September 20, 1985 ACTIVE UNIT/ in commission (Atlantic Fleet)
Homeport:		Naval Station Mayport, Florida, USA
Namesake:		Named after and in honor of Rear Admiral Rodger Whitten Simpson (1898 - 1964) > see history, below;
Ship's Motto:		ATTAQUER EN VIGUEUR ‘attack with vigor’
Technical Data: (Measures, Propulsion, Armament, Aviation, etc.)		see: INFO > Oliver Hazard Perry - class Guided Missile Frigate
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Rodger Whitten Simpson
Namesake & History:
Rear Admiral Rodger Whitten Simpson (1898 – 1964):
USS SIMPSON honors Rear Admiral Rodger Whitten Simpson (1898-1964). RADM Simpson spent one year at the University of Oregon before entering the United States Naval Academy in June 1917. As a midshipman, he served in USS OHIO which operated with the Atlantic Fleet in World War I. He was commissioned an Ensign in June of 1920, graduating with the class of 1921. After graduation, RADM Simpson served in the cruiser BROOKLYN and destroyers FARQUHAR, TWIGGS, SLOAT, WILLIAM JONES, LUDLOW and WHIPPOORWILL. Following sea duty, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis and Yale University, completing courses in communications engineering in 1928. RADM Simpson was then assigned to the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 14, Scouting Fleet (USS HOPKINS flagship). He later became Assistant District Communications Officer of the 12th Naval District, San Francisco, and served until July 1933. After a two year tour in USS COLORADO, he was assigned as Assistant to the Officer in Charge, Navy Recruiting Bureau, New York City. RADM Simpson assumed command of the destroyer USS MAHAN in March of 1941. During that tour, he was awarded the Navy cross for extraordinary heroism during action against enemy Japanese forces south of the Gilbert Islands in October of 1942. The citation reads in part, "Boldly engaging an enemy patrol line in a daring daylight raid, (he)...launched determined and aggressive attacks in which two Japanese vessels were sunk by the effective gunfire of his ship and that of an accompanying destroyer. Despite terrific aerial opposition, he brought his ship and crew through this successful engagement without loss or damage..." RADM Simpson received the Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross while serving as Commander, Destroyer Division 15 for heroism during an engagement with enemy forces in Vella Gulf, Solomon Islands on the night of August 6, 1943. The citation in part states "...He disposed the units of his command for maximum fire power and combat efficiency, striking at the enemy boldly and with relentless determination and annihilating the entire hostile force of one Japanese cruiser and three destroyers..." As Commander, Destroyer Squadron 12 and Destroyer Division 23, RADM Simpson was awarded the Silver Star and cited "...for gallantry and intrepidity during operations in the Bismark Archipelago." On April 6, 1944, with the rank of Commodore, RADM Simpson was assigned as Commander, Task Flotilla 6. He planned and organized the rescue of over 7,500 Allied prisoners of war and civilians interned in Japanese concentration camps. For this rescue, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. The citation in part follows: "...by freeing the prisoners before the actual signing of the surrender, he saved the lives of hundreds of sick and starving U.S. service people..." RADM Simpson also served tours as Commander, Training Command, Marianas; Commander Fleet Training Group, Western Pacific; Commander, Underway Training Unit , Guam; Commanding Officer, USS ATLANTA; and Commanding Officer, Naval Station Treasure Islands. He retired in 1951. Awards: Navy Cross (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit Victory Medal Atlantic Fleet Clasp American Defense Service Medal Fleet Clasp Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Silver Stars (ten engagements) Philippine Liberation Ribbon World War II Victory Medal.
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. Simpson was laid down at Bath Iron Works, Maine, on February 27, 1984, launched on August 31, 1984 and commissioned on 21 September 1985. Simpson was deployed to the Persian Gulf in January 1988, as an escort to 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’S latest deployment was from October 2007 to April 2008. She participated in Counter Narco-Terrorism Operations in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea . During this deployment SIMPSON interdicted two go-fasts, two Self-Propelled Semi-Submersibles (SPSS), and one Logistics Support Vessel (LSV). This resulted in the interdiction of twenty-two tons of cocaine worth a street vale of almost half a billion dollars and the arrests of 15 Narco-Terrorists. She is currently homeported in Mayport , FL and is assigned to Destroyer Squadron Fourteen.
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