Introduction: A Planned Conclusion to a Long Naval Service
The former USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60), a guided-missile frigate that once served as part of the United States Navy’s surface fleet, was intentionally sunk during a scheduled military training exercise. The event occurred as part of a SINKEX—short for “sinking exercise”—in which decommissioned naval vessels are used as live-fire targets to evaluate weapons systems and enhance operational readiness.
The ship was struck by an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile under controlled conditions. While images or descriptions of a missile impacting a former warship can easily capture public attention, officials have emphasized that this was not a combat incident or an accident. Instead, the sinking represented the final, carefully planned phase of the vessel’s lifecycle following decades of active service and a thorough decommissioning process.
This article explores the history of USS Rodney M. Davis, the purpose of SINKEX exercises, the role of the Harpoon missile, and the broader implications of such events for naval training, technology, and tradition.
The USS Rodney M. Davis: Origins and Historical Context
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) belonged to the Oliver Hazard Perry class of frigates, a group of warships designed during the Cold War to meet evolving maritime security needs. These vessels were intended to be versatile, cost-effective surface combatants capable of operating across a wide range of missions, with a particular focus on countering submarine threats.
Commissioned in 1982, the ship was named in honor of Marine Corps Captain Rodney Maxwell Davis, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War. Naming the frigate after Captain Davis reflected a long-standing naval tradition of honoring individuals whose service exemplified courage and sacrifice.
During the Cold War era, the United States Navy faced the challenge of protecting carrier strike groups and supply convoys from submarines and surface threats. The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were designed to address this need, combining anti-submarine warfare capabilities with surface and limited air defense functions.
Design and Capabilities of the Oliver Hazard Perry Class
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were notable for their standardized design and adaptability. Built to operate as part of larger naval formations, they were equipped with sonar systems, helicopters for anti-submarine missions, and guided missiles for surface engagements.
Although these ships were not intended to match the firepower of larger cruisers or destroyers, they played a critical role in fleet operations. Their relatively smaller size and lower operating costs made them well suited for escort duties, patrol missions, and joint exercises with allied navies.
USS Rodney M. Davis embodied these characteristics throughout its operational life, serving as a reliable component of U.S. naval presence during a period of significant geopolitical change.
Operational Service and Global Deployments
Over more than two decades of service, USS Rodney M. Davis participated in routine patrols, multinational exercises, and operations aimed at maintaining maritime security and regional stability. Like many ships of its class, it operated in multiple theaters, reflecting the global reach of U.S. naval forces.
These deployments supported a range of objectives, from ensuring freedom of navigation to strengthening partnerships with allied navies. Crew members aboard the ship carried out demanding missions that required coordination, discipline, and adaptability—hallmarks of naval service.
As the Cold War ended and new security challenges emerged, the ship continued to fulfill its assigned roles, adapting to changing operational requirements until newer technologies and platforms began to replace older frigates.
Decommissioning and Fleet Modernization
Advances in naval technology eventually led to the gradual retirement of the Oliver Hazard Perry class. Newer classes of ships offered improved sensors, weapons systems, and survivability features, prompting the Navy to modernize its fleet.
USS Rodney M. Davis was decommissioned as part of this broader effort. Decommissioning marks the formal end of a ship’s active service, after which it may follow several possible paths. Some vessels are transferred to allied navies, others are preserved as museum ships, and many are dismantled through ship recycling programs.
In certain cases, however, retired ships are selected for use in training exercises such as SINKEX events. These exercises allow the Navy to gain valuable real-world data while giving decommissioned vessels a final mission.
What Is a SINKEX?
A SINKEX, or sinking exercise, is a controlled military training operation in which retired ships are deliberately sunk using live weapons. The purpose is not symbolic destruction, but practical evaluation of weapons performance, ship survivability, and damage progression under realistic conditions.
Unlike simulations or computer modeling, live-fire exercises provide empirical data that can only be obtained by observing how actual ship structures respond to weapon impacts. This information is critical for refining weapon designs, improving defensive systems, and enhancing damage-control procedures aboard active ships.
SINKEX events are planned well in advance and conducted in designated areas, with strict safety and environmental protocols in place.
Preparing USS Rodney M. Davis for the Exercise
Before being used as a target, USS Rodney M. Davis underwent extensive preparation. Hazardous materials, fuels, and sensitive equipment were removed to minimize environmental impact and ensure compliance with U.S. laws and international regulations governing ocean disposal.
This preparation process is comprehensive and carefully documented. It reflects the Navy’s obligation to balance training requirements with environmental stewardship and safety considerations.
Only after these steps are completed can a decommissioned vessel be approved for use in a SINKEX exercise.
The AGM-84 Harpoon Missile: Purpose and Design
The AGM-84 Harpoon is a long-standing anti-ship missile employed by the U.S. Navy and numerous allied forces. Designed to engage surface vessels, the missile is known for its sea-skimming flight profile, which allows it to travel at low altitude above the water to reduce detection.
Harpoon missiles have been in service for decades, with multiple upgrades improving their guidance systems, range, and reliability. Despite the development of newer missile technologies, the Harpoon remains an important component of naval arsenals worldwide.
During the exercise involving USS Rodney M. Davis, the missile was launched under controlled conditions, with the objective of evaluating its performance against a real ship hull rather than achieving a dramatic outcome.
Impact and Progressive Sinking
Observers of the exercise reported that the missile struck the vessel as intended. The impact compromised the ship’s structural integrity, leading to flooding and a gradual loss of stability.
Like many warships, USS Rodney M. Davis was built with compartmentalization designed to delay sinking in the event of damage. This feature allowed analysts to observe how water ingress progressed and how long the ship remained afloat after impact.
Eventually, accumulated damage caused the ship to list and sink. The sinking occurred within a designated area, with monitoring systems in place to track the vessel’s descent and assess environmental effects.
Why Real-World Testing Matters
SINKEX exercises provide insights that cannot be fully replicated through simulations alone. Engineers and analysts use data from these events to compare theoretical models with observed outcomes, identifying areas where assumptions may need adjustment.
For naval planners, understanding how ships respond to missile impacts informs future design decisions, including hull construction, compartment layout, and defensive systems. This knowledge contributes directly to improving the survivability of active vessels and the safety of their crews.
Such exercises also help evaluate layered naval defenses and the effectiveness of existing weapons systems in realistic scenarios.
Emotional Significance for Former Crew Members
While the sinking was planned and controlled, it carried emotional significance for many veterans who served aboard USS Rodney M. Davis. For sailors, a ship is more than a piece of equipment—it is a workplace, a home at sea, and a symbol of shared experience.
Veterans following the exercise expressed mixed emotions. Many recognized that the ship continued to serve a purpose even after decommissioning, while also feeling a sense of closure as a vessel tied to personal memories disappeared beneath the surface.
These reactions are common when retired military equipment is deliberately destroyed for training purposes and highlight the human dimension of naval operations.
Broader Implications for Modern Naval Warfare
The exercise involving USS Rodney M. Davis reflects broader trends in naval warfare. Anti-ship missiles remain a central element of maritime strategy, even as newer systems are developed.
The event underscored the vulnerability of older ship designs to modern precision weapons, reinforcing the need for continuous investment in advanced defensive technologies. These include missile interception systems, electronic warfare capabilities, and improved sensors.
At the same time, the exercise demonstrated the importance of ongoing training and testing to ensure readiness in an evolving security environment.
Environmental and Safety Oversight
Environmental considerations play a significant role in SINKEX planning. Ships are cleaned to remove pollutants, and sinking locations are chosen to avoid sensitive habitats and major shipping lanes.
Monitoring continues after the exercise to assess any environmental impact. In some cases, sunken vessels eventually become artificial reefs, providing habitat for marine life—an outcome considered a secondary benefit rather than a primary objective.
The Navy’s approach reflects a commitment to balancing operational needs with environmental responsibility.
A Final Mission Fulfilled
In its final role, USS Rodney M. Davis contributed to the advancement of naval knowledge and readiness. Though no longer crewed, the ship provided data that will help inform future ship design, weapon development, and tactical planning.
From its commissioning in the early 1980s through its deliberate sinking decades later, the frigate’s lifespan mirrored a period of significant change in global naval strategy and technology.
Conclusion: Service Beyond Decommissioning
The sinking of USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) was not the result of conflict or accident, but a carefully planned military exercise carried out to support training and analysis. Struck by a Harpoon missile during a controlled SINKEX event, the former frigate completed its final mission by contributing valuable insights to naval preparedness.
While the imagery of a missile striking a warship may attract attention, the deeper significance lies in what such exercises provide: knowledge that helps protect active ships and the sailors who serve aboard them.
USS Rodney M. Davis now rests beneath the sea, no longer sailing the world’s oceans. Yet even in its final chapter, the ship upheld a long-standing naval principle—that service does not end with decommissioning, but continues as long as a vessel can still contribute to the mission.