The USS Rodney M. Davis, a guided-missile frigate that served the U.S. Navy for four decades, was intentionally sunk during a controlled military exercise after being struck by an anti-ship missile.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, commissioned in 1982, completed its final mission through the SINKEX operation, a training exercise designed to test weapons systems and gather naval combat data. Named after Medal of Honor recipient Rodney Maxwell Davis, the ship had supported anti-submarine warfare, escort missions, and maritime security operations across multiple decades of active service.
The Controlled Sinking
Navy personnel removed all hazardous materials and sensitive equipment from the vessel before the exercise to comply with environmental protection standards. An AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile struck the ship as planned, allowing military analysts to document weapon effectiveness and hull survivability under combat conditions.
The deliberate sinking provided researchers with real-world performance data that cannot be replicated in laboratory settings. Technicians collected information on how the vessel’s structure responds to direct missile impact, findings that inform future ship design and defensive capabilities.
Legacy and Impact
The operation proved emotional for sailors who had served aboard the frigate throughout its operational lifetime. However, military officials noted the sinking advanced naval readiness by contributing critical research to fleet modernization and weapons development programs.
The SINKEX exercise represents standard procedure for decommissioned naval vessels, allowing the Navy to extract maximum operational value from ships reaching the end of their service lives. This story has been updated. CNN’s Naval Affairs team contributed to this report.
