Search the Site with
|
Search the Site with
|
General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Cruise Books About the Coat of Arms About the Name "Rodney M. Davis" Patch Gallery Image Gallery to end of page |  |  |
USS RODNEY M. DAVIS was the last but one OLIVER HAZARD PERRY - class frigate and the first ship in the Navy named after Sergeant Rodney Maxwell Davis. The ship was last homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash. On July 12, 2022, RODNEY M. DAVIS was sunk as a target during RIMPAC 2022 approx. 50 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hi.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: October 28, 1982 |
| Keel laid: February 8, 1985 | |
| Launched: January 11, 1986 | |
| Commissioned: May 9, 1987 | |
| Decommissioned: January 23, 2015 | |
| Builder: Todd Pacific Shipyards Co., Los Angeles Division, San Pedro, Ca. | |
| Propulsion system: two General Electric LM 2500 gas turbines, two 350 Horsepower Electric Drive Auxiliary Propulsion Units | |
| Propellers: one | |
| Blades on each Propeller: five | |
| Length: 453 feet (135.9 meters) | |
| Beam: 45 feet (13.5 meters) | |
| Draft: 24,6 feet (7.5 meters) | |
| Displacement: 4,100 tons | |
| Speed: 28+ knots | |
| Aircraft: two | |
| Armament: one | |
| Crew: 17 Officers and 198 Enlisted |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS RODNEY M. DAVIS. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageUSS RODNEY M. DAVIS Cruise Books:
back to top go to the end of the pageAbout the frigate’s Coat of Arms:
The Shield:
Dark blue and gold are the colors traditionally associated with the Navy. The heraldic grenade represents the enemy grenade upon which Sergeant Rodney Maxwell Davis (USMC) threw himself when it landed in the midst of his platoon in Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 September 1967. The grenade, with chevrons representing sergeant's stripes, placed on a pale suggesting containment, further symbolizes his brave action which saved the lives of many of his fellow Marines and enabled the platoon to hold its ground.
The Crest:
The heraldic pelican, believed in antiquity to wound her breast with her long curved bill in order to draw blood for the purpose of feeding her young, is symbolic of Sergeant Davis' selfless act by which he gave his life to save others. The light blue collar with a suspended gold inverted star alludes to the Medal of Honor awarded to him for his heroic act. The sprig of bamboo signifies South Vietnam where Sergeant Davis fought and died.
back to top go to the end of the pageAbout the frigate’s name, about Sergeant Rodney Maxwell Davis:
Rodney M. Davis was born April 7, 1942, in Macon, Georgia. He attended elementary school and high school there and graduated from Peter G. Appling High School, May 29, 1961.
Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in his hometown, August 31, 1961; then reported for recruit training with the First Recruit Training Battalion Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Upon completion of recruit training in December 1961, he was transferred to the Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and under-went Individual Combat Training with the Second Battalion, First Infantry Training Regiment, graduating the following February.
He then joined Company "K", Third Battalion, Second Marines, Second Marine Division, FMF, at Camp Lejeune and served as a rifleman until May 1964. While stationed at Camp Lejeune, he was promoted to Private First Class, April 1, 1962, and to Lance Corporal, January 1, 1964.
Lance Corporal Davis was ordered to London, England, for a three year tour of duty as Guard with the United States Marine Detachment, Naval Activities. He was promoted to Corporal, January 1, 1966, and to Sergeant, December 1, 1966.
Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in August 1967, he was assigned duty as a Platoon Guide with Company "B", First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. He was operating with his unit in the Quang Nam Province on a search and clear mission during Operation SWIFT, when they were attacked by a large North Vietnamese force. Elements of the platoon were pinned down in a trench line by mortars, heavy automatic and small arms fire. He went from man to man encouraging them on and also returning fire at the same time. An enemy hand grenade fell in the trenches his men were fighting from and without hesitation he threw himself upon the grenade. He saved his fellow Marines in this selfless act and thus earned the nation's highest military decoration . . . the Medal of Honor.
His medals and decorations include: the Purple Heart; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; the Vietnam Service Medal; the Military Merit Medal; the Gallantry Cross with Palm; and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
back to top go to the end of the pageUSS RODNEY M. DAVIS Patch Gallery:
 |  |
back to top go to the end of the page
USS RODNEY M. DAVIS Image Gallery:
 |  |  |  |  |
The photos below were taken by me and show the RODNEY M. DAVIS at Everett, Wash., on March 13, 2010. Note the extra pad for the Mk-38 Mod. 2 25mm gun above the former Mk-13 guided missile launcher.
 |  |  |
The photos below were taken by me and show the RODNEY M. DAVIS undergoing overhaul at Seattle, Wash., on May 12, 2012. Mount Rainier is in the background.
 |  |
The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the RODNEY M. DAVIS laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., on April 17, 2016.
 |
The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the RODNEY M. DAVIS laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., on October 13, 2017.
 |
The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the RODNEY M. DAVIS laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., on June 12, 2022 - exactly one month before being sunk as a target during RIMPAC 2022.
 |
back to top
Back to Frigates list. Back to ships list. Back to selection page. Back to 1st page.