Family members and friends hold signs and flags high, while looking for the ship to enter Naval Station Mayport's basin last week. Photo by SHSN Ivy Juarez

USS Simpson Returns To Mayport

From USS Simpson

USS Simpson (FFG-56) and HSL-44 Detachment 10 returned home to families and friends Nov. 13 after completing a five-month deployment in support of counter-drug operations and the Atlantic phase of UNITAS 43-02.

Since leaving Naval Station Mayport in June, Simpson traveled more than 30,000 miles, completed four transits of the Panama Canal and enjoyed port visits to Manta, Ecuador, Panama City, Panama, Golfito, Costa Rica, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, Brazil. The final port visit of the deployment was in Nassau, Bahamas, where 23 of the crew's family members and friends embarked for an action-packed trip back to Mayport.

Simpson's deployment included two missions. The first two-thirds of the deployment were spent in the Eastern Pacific in support of counter-drug operations.

The final months at sea were spent in support of UNITAS 43-02. Held each year since 1959, UNITAS is a multi-lateral naval operation that includes traditional at-sea exercises and inport training activities with international naval forces in support of the U.S. policy of engagement in the region. It presents an unequaled opportunity to build capabilities and cooperative relations among U.S. and South and Central American naval forces.

The highlight of Simpson's counter-drug mission came was a drug bust in September that netted 1,800 pounds of pure uncut cocaine confiscated from a drug-running vessel. The cocaine has a street value of more than $300 million. This drug bust was the culmination of months of hard work put forth by the crew.

USS Simpson returned to Mayport after a five-month counter-drug operations and UNITAS deployment. Photo by SHSN Ivy Juarez

Aside from the constant vigilance and pursuit of drug runners, Simpson also performed humanitarian missions in the Eastern Pacific, including the rescue of a Colombian marine from Malpelo Island. Simpson responded to a distress call from Colombia at flank speed and approached the navigationally challenging Malpelo Island at night and in miserable weather. Once the marine was safely extracted from the jagged coastline of the island via Rigid Hull inflatable Boat (RHIB), Simpson set her course for Columbia. Throughout the night, and without advanced medical facilities, Simpson's two corpsmen battled to keep the young Columbian alive. A Colombian helicopter later evacuated the marine. The Colombian government praised the crew for their heroic effort, which saved the marine's life.

In early October, Simpson arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Atlantic Phase of UNITAS 43-02, the final piece to the multi-mission deployment. Ships from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela sailed alongside Simpson and USS Thomas S. Gates (CG-51), a fellow DESRON Six ship, homeported in Pascagoula, Miss., for 10 days of intense underway exercises.

While in Rio de Janeiro, Simpson hosted a force reception, which officially kicked off the Atlantic Phase. Heading a most impressive list of dignitaries who attended the reception was the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil.

Once underway from Rio de Janeiro, the intense underway regimen began. Tactical maneuvering, gun shoots, underway replenishments, electronic warfare exercises and anti-submarine exercises were just a few of the many events that kept the multi-national force extremely busy. Two of the many highlights for the Simpson/Detachment 10 team were a flawlessly executed missile shoot and single-handedly winning the war game. UNITAS 43-02 wrapped up in Salvador, Brazil and was lauded as the best of the 42 previous UNITAS.

Simpson's deployment was the epitome of teamwork, mission-focus and patriotism. In addition to the endless ship successes the crew also obtained personal ones - an unprecedented 70 ESWS qualifications. The officers and crew of Simpson and Detachment Ten are now spending well-deserved time with families and friends.