USS Simpson

Lookin forward to this.

Now just need a model of MV Mighty Servant.

Those Perrys are beautiful ships

Sad news indeed that we have no FFGs left. But I beg to differ on the missile combat. The Egyptions used boat launched missiles to sink an Israeli destroyer in the 1967 war, and the Israelis returned the favor with the Syrians in 1973 using missile boats.

The key here, l think, is the "exchange" of missiles. Both combatants fired missiles offensively. 

Battle of Latakia, October 1973. Both sides fired missiles offensively. The Israelis were able to use countermeasures to evade the Syrian Soviet made missiles. the Israeli missiles struck home and sank several Syrian Soviet made missile boats.

During Praying Mantis, USS Wainwright and USS Simpson both fired SSMs, Standards and Harpoons, against the Iranians. End result, US:1 Iran:0 

I'd buy your brother a beer for his participation in that action, anytime.

I defer to you Stik on the better research. I suppose to be more crisp, the Simpson can lay claim to be the first US Navy to have fought a missile naval battle? My brother served on the USS Copeland during Operation Earnest Will. The Copeland had a malfunction with her Phalanx and had to be pulled out of line and sent to a friendly port for repair. The Roberts took her place and we know what happened. No missiles were ever launched his way, but my brother still deserves a beer!

Cheers Evan

Yes, from what I have read of that engagement USS Simpson fired off the most missiles in that battle, and certainly holds an honored place in US Navy annals for being in the first USN missile surface battle. Your brother does indeed deserve a beer for his service in that place at that time, no matter which ship he served on. Dangerous times. They all sailed into harms way there. I have a good buddy here who was on a different FFG  at that time, in the Gulf. He has told me some most intersting stories, and he is not the BS type.

Right to say it was a pretty furious sea battle and Simpson blasted away with all she had against a worthwhile and capable enemy. Imagine that, probably one of the last true surface battles.

I have always admired the Perry class FFG's and am sorry to see them decommissioned before their time.  I fail to see how the ships of the LCS program (Often denounced as "Little Crappy Ships" by those who have served in them!) can fill the void in capability left by the Perry's.  To the USS Simpson! 

Bill Morrison