The USS Rodney M. Davis, a retired Navy frigate that served for over four decades, was intentionally sunk during a controlled exercise in the Atlantic Ocean after being struck by a Harpoon anti-ship missile.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, designated FFG-60, was commissioned in 1982 and named after Medal of Honor recipient Rodney Maxwell Davis. The vessel completed its final operational mission through the deliberate sinking exercise, known as SINKEX, rather than being retired to a reserve fleet.
The Exercise
Before the controlled detonation, Navy personnel removed all hazardous materials and sensitive equipment from the ship to comply with environmental protection regulations. The AGM-84 Harpoon missile struck the vessel as planned, creating an opportunity for weapons specialists and naval engineers to collect data on missile effectiveness and ship structural response.
The exercise took place in designated waters off the Atlantic coast, with naval vessels positioned at safe distances to observe and document the results. The sinking provided real-world information that will inform future ship design and vulnerability assessments.
Legacy and Impact
The USS Rodney M. Davis spent decades supporting maritime security operations, joint naval exercises, and patrol missions across multiple continents. Former crew members attended the event to witness the final chapter of the ship’s service history.
Naval officials stated the controlled sinking contributes directly to fleet modernization efforts and helps the Navy better understand ship survivability in combat scenarios. The data collected will influence how future vessels are constructed and protected.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Defense team contributed to this report.
