About this Unit
USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate of the United States Navy, commissioned on 11 June 1980. Named after the renowned naval historian Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, the ship served primarily in the Atlantic Fleet, conducting anti-submarine warfare, escort missions, and drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean and Atlantic waters. USS Samuel Eliot Morison participated in multinational exercises and operations, strengthening alliances and promoting maritime security. The frigate was decommissioned on 11 July 2002, after over two decades of distinguished service.
Historical Facts
• Namesake: USS Samuel Eliot Morison (FFG-13) was named after Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, a renowned naval historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who chronicled U.S. naval operations during World War II.
• Class: She was an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, a class known for versatility in anti-submarine and escort missions during the Cold War and beyond.
• Commissioning: USS Samuel Eliot Morison was commissioned on 11 October 1980 at Bath, Maine, with Mrs. Samuel Loring Morison, granddaughter-in-law of the namesake, serving as the ship’s sponsor.
• Maiden Deployment: Her first deployment was to the Mediterranean Sea in 1981, where she participated in NATO exercises, demonstrating the interoperability of allied naval forces.
• Counter-Narcotics Operations: In the 1990s, FFG-13 was heavily involved in counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean, intercepting vessels suspected of drug trafficking and aiding in the seizure of large quantities of illegal substances.
• Navy's "Adopt-a-Ship" Program: The frigate was adopted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts, where Samuel Eliot Morison was born, strengthening ties between the Navy and the local community through educational programs and public visits.
• Significant Rescue: In 1994, the ship assisted in the rescue of Haitian migrants at sea during Operation Support Democracy, providing humanitarian aid and medical attention to those in distress.
• Decommissioning: USS Samuel Eliot Morison was decommissioned on 11 July 2002 after more than 21 years of service, reflecting the gradual phase-out of the Perry-class frigates from active U.S. Navy duty.
• Final Fate: After decommissioning, she was sunk as a target during a live-fire exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Puerto Rico on 10 October 2003, providing valuable training for U.S. and allied forces.
• Legacy: The ship’s motto, “In Simplex Virtus” (In Simplicity, There is Virtue), embodied both the character of Samuel Eliot Morison and the reliable, multi-role performance of the frigate throughout her career.
