According to information published by the U.S. DoD on July 18, 2022, live fire from Rim of the Pacific 2022 partner nation ships and aircraft sank the decommissioned ex-USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60), in waters 15,000 feet deep, 50 nautical miles north of Kauai.
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The Olivier Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate ex-USS Rodney M. Davis (Picture source: U.S. DoD)
Units from Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and the U.S. participated in the sinking exercise (SINKEX) to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting, and live firing against a surface target at sea.
Live-fire events provide realistic training that refines partner nations’ abilities to plan, communicate and conduct complex maritime operations such as precision and long-range strike capabilities.
Former Navy vessels used in SINKEXs are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency under a general permit the Navy holds pursuant to Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.
Each SINKEX is required to sink the hulk in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) of water and at least 50 nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to ensure that humans and marine mammals are not in an area where they could be harmed during the event.
Prior to the vessel being transported for participation in a SINKEX, each vessel is put through a rigorous cleaning process, including the removal of all polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), transformers and large capacitors, all small capacitors to the greatest extent practical, trash, floatable materials, mercury or fluorocarbon-containing materials and readily detachable solid PCB items. Petroleum is also cleaned from tanks, piping, and reservoirs.
About the ex-USS Rodney M. Davis
USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy. She was laid down on 8 February 1985 by the Todd Pacific Shipyards, Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, California; launched on 11 January 1986, and commissioned on 9 May 1987.
The ship was homeported at Yokosuka, Japan for several years while assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15. Rodney M. Davis was decommissioned at NS Everett on 23 January 2015.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class ships were produced in 445-foot (136 m) long "short-hull" (Flight I) and 453-foot (138 m) long "long-hull" (Flight III) variants.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates were designed primarily as anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare guided-missile warships intended to provide open-ocean escort of amphibious warfare ships and merchant ship convoys in moderate threat environments in a potential war with the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries.
