Decommissioned USN ship sunk IRIN vessel during Iran-Iraq War

USS Simpson (FFG-56) Oilver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigate

Decommission ceremony photo: Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union

According to Florida Times-Union:

The United States Navy decommissioned its last Perry-class frigate, reducing the Navy's number of ships that have sunk an enemy vessel to just one. The end of the Navy's frigates marks a new era of naval warfare where ships are less likely to go to battle in the open sea.

The USS Simpson removed its weapons, covered its windows, and on Sept. 29, it lowered its flags. Now, the ship will travel to Philadelphia until a foreign nation buys it.

After 30 years of service — including an April 1988 battle when it fired missiles at and sunk an Iranian oil platform and an Iranian Navy vessel — the ship's service came to an end on Sept. 29 with a ceremony at Mayport Naval Station.

Now the only Navy ship that has sunk an enemy is the USS Constitution, which did so during the War of 1812.

COMMENTARY: IRINS Joshan ("Shield") Kaman class (Combattante II type) patrol missile boat was sunk during Operation Preying Mantis involving actions of USS Simpson.

Operation Praying Mantis effectively knocked out Iran Navy's ability to provide convoy escort for its merchant shipping, rendering vulnerable Iran's means of continuing the conflict with declared war aim of removing Saddam Hussein from power.

More than a decade after the Iran-Iraq War, Iranian shipbuilders built a Combattante II based Sina class patrol missile boat, bestowing the name Joshan on the newly commissioned vessel. Joshan'​s launch on 22SEP06 was timed to coincide with Sacred Defense Week and took place at Noshahr’s Imam Khomeini Marine Sciences University..

This vessel currently serves at the Caspian Sea with IRIN 4th Naval Region, headquartered at Bandar Anzali.

IRIN Sina class (Combattante II type) patrol missile boats (PGGF)

Photo: Michail Varlashin at astra-novosti.ru 

Detail of Iranian-built Sina class patrol missile boat on 04JUL13, departing Astrakhan, Russia

Memorial at Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran for Iran Navy sailors who lost their lives during USN Operation Praying Mantis.