View source for USS Doyle (FFG-39)

{{Other ships|USS Doyle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = [[File:USS Doyle FFG-39.jpg|300px|USS Doyle FFG-39]]
| Ship caption = USS ''Doyle'' (FFG-39)
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|2011}}
| Ship name = ''Doyle''
| Ship namesake = [[Vice Admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[James Henry Doyle]]
| Ship owner = 
| Ship operator = 
| Ship registry = 
| Ship route = 
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship awarded = 27 April 1979
| Ship builder = [[Bath Iron Works]], [[Bath, Maine]]
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 23 October 1981
| Ship launched = 22 May 1982
| Ship sponsor = *Mrs. Kathleen Doyle Watson
*Ms. Anne Doyle
| Ship christened = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 21 May 1983
| Ship recommissioned = 
| Ship decommissioned = 29 July 2011
| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship reclassified = 
| Ship refit = 
| Ship struck = 29 July 2011
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship homeport = [[Naval Station Mayport]] (1983 to 2011)
| Ship identification = *[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]:FFG-39
*[[International Code of Signals|Code letters]]:NJHD
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Juliet}}{{ICS|Hotel}}{{ICS|Delta}}
| Ship motto = 
| Ship nickname = "Valiant Mariner"
| Ship honours = 
| Ship honors = 
| Ship captured = 
| Ship fate = Scrapped
| Ship notes = 
| Ship badge = {{Dodseal|FFG-39|150}}
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate}}
| Ship type = 
| Ship tonnage = 
| Ship displacement = {{OHP frigate displacement}}
| Ship length = {{OHP frigate length}}
| Ship beam = {{OHP frigate beam}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{OHP frigate draft}}
| Ship draft = 
| Ship depth = 
| Ship hold depth = 
| Ship decks = 
| Ship deck clearance = 
| Ship ramps = 
| Ship ice class = 
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = {{OHP frigate propulsion}}
| Ship sail plan = 
| Ship speed = {{OHP frigate speed}}
| Ship range = {{OHP frigate range}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship test depth = 
| Ship boats = 
| Ship capacity = 
| Ship troops = 
| Ship complement = {{OHP frigate complement}}
| Ship crew = 
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = {{OHP frigate sensors}}
| Ship EW = [[AN/SLQ-32]]
| Ship armament = {{OHP frigate armament}}
| Ship armour = 
| Ship armor = 
| Ship aircraft = 2 × [[SH-60 Seahawk|SH-60 LAMPS III]] helicopters
| Ship aircraft facilities = 
| Ship notes = 
}}
|}

'''USS ''Doyle'' (FFG-39)''' was the 30th ship to be constructed in the {{sclass|Oliver Hazard Perry|frigate|4}} of [[guided missile]] [[frigate]]s of the [[United States Navy]]. ''Doyle'' was named after [[Vice Admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[James Henry Doyle]] (1897–1982). Vice Admiral Doyle was most known for his contributions during the [[Korean War]] as Commander Amphibious Group One. The ship was in service from 21 May 1983 to 29 July 2011. During her {{age|1983|05|21|2011|07|29}} years of service, ''Doyle'' went on at least six deployments to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and two deployments to the [[Persian Gulf]], including participation in [[Operation Earnest Will]]. The ship also operated in the [[Black Sea]], [[Baltic Sea]], and deployed to operate with the [[Middle East Force]]. ''Doyle'' took part in UNITAS 39-98. Deployed to the [[Standing Naval Forces Atlantic]], and conducted three Southern Command Deployments.<ref name="Historical Evaluation">{{cite web |url= https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/TeamShips/SEA21/InactiveShips/Historic/2011/DOYLE_FFG39DOI_FINAL_11-10-11.pdf |title= Doyle - Naval Vessel Historical Evaluation |publisher= NAVSEA, US Navy |date= 10 November 2011}}</ref>

== History ==
Her keel was laid down by [[Bath Iron Works]] Corporation of [[Bath, Maine]], on 23 October 1981. She was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 22 May 1982, sponsored by Mrs. Kathleen Doyle Watson and Ms. Anne Doyle, granddaughters of VADM Doyle. ''Doyle'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 21 May 1983.<ref name="Historical Evaluation" /><ref name="DANFS">{{cite web | url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/doyle--ffg-39--ii-1983-2011.html | title=Doyle II (FFG-39) | publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command | date=7 July 2015 | access-date=29 December 2015}}</ref>

''Doyle'' deployed with the ''Nimitz'' Battle Group for Med 1-87 to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from 30 December 1986 – 30 June 1987. From 24 February to 3 March 1987, ''Doyle'' sailed in company with guided missile cruiser {{USS|Josephus Daniels|CG-27|3}} through the [[Turkish Straits]] and carried out freedom of navigation exercises in the [[Black Sea]]. On 1 March 1987, a [[Bulgaria]]n ([[Riga-class frigate|Druzki-class frigate]] (FF.12) trailed the U.S. ships, and the Soviets closely monitored their operations in the [[Black Sea]]. ''Doyle'' conducted surveillance of Soviet ships and submarines at an anchorage at [[Astypalaia]], [[Greece]] from 3 to 12 March 1987.<ref name="DANFS" /> There were more significant incidents in adjacent years, [[1986 Black Sea incident]] and [[1988 Black Sea bumping incident]].

During the fall of 1991, ''Doyle'' deployed with elements of [[Standing Naval Force Atlantic]] and embarked a [[CL-227]] Maritime Aerial VTOL Unmanned System (MAVUS) for operational testing. Additionally, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light) HSL-46 Detachment 8 “Rude Dogs” with a complement of 15 Naval Officers and enlisted was embarked for Anti-Submarine support.

During a counter narcotics deployment to the Caribbean, 4 April – 20 June 2005, ''Doyle'', and ''Cutlass 463'', her embarked Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk of [[HSL-46|Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 46]] Detachment 3, pursued fishing vessel ''Dos Continentes'', suspected of smuggling cocaine, north of the Panamanian/Colombian coast, 3 May. The smugglers set their boat ablaze and jumped overboard. ''Doyle'' launched ''Cutlass 463'' and made for the scene at flank speed. She lowered a [[rigid hull inflatable boat]] (RHIB) that rescued four of the smugglers, and battled the fire for several hours until they extinguished the flames during the mid watch. The ship's damage control sailors, reinforced by Coast Guard law enforcement agents, boarded ''Dos Continentes'' and recovered several packages containing 150 pounds of cocaine from the hulk. ''Doyle'' prevented an estimated 13 tons of cocaine from entering the United States during this interception, and the U.S. later sank the vessel to prevent her from becoming a hazard to navigation. The frigate made a total of five interdictions during her deployment that led to the apprehension of 28 narco-terrorists, and the seizure or destruction of an estimated $315 million worth of cocaine (83 bales during the first month alone).<ref name="DANFS" />

On 6 October 2005, ''Doyle'' returned from a six-month deployment.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=20479 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181012214515/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=20479 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 October 2018 |title= Doyle Returns from SOUTHCOM Deployment |publisher= US Navy News |date= 6 October 2005}}</ref>

On 6 December 2010, ''Doyle'', her embarked SH-60B Seahawk from [[HSM-72|HSL-42]], ''Proud Warrior 423'', and her embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement detachment, intercepted smuggling vessel ''Rio Tuira'' and seized 22 bales of cocaine, weighing approximately {{convert|500|kg|lb}} and with an estimated street value of $15.4 million, in the Eastern Pacific about 180 miles from Panama.<ref name=DANFS />

On 5 April 2011, ''Doyle'' returned from her final deployment, a six-month deployment to the [[United States Southern Command]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=59574 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120921154925/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=59574 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 21 September 2012 |title= USS Doyle Returns From Final Deployment |publisher= US Navy News |date= 5 April 2011 }}</ref>

== Fate ==
''Doyle'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] at [[Naval Station Mayport]] on 29 July 2011 after completing 27 years of service.<ref name="Historical Evaluation" />

On 23 June 2018 ex-Doyle was towed to Southern Recycling, part of EMR, for dismantling.

== Awards ==
* [[Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation]], for service from 01-Nov-1985 to 28-Feb-1986<ref name=Awards>{{cite web |url= https://awards.navy.mil |title= Unit Awards website |publisher= US Navy |access-date= 7 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041014224730/https://awards.navy.mil/ |archive-date= 14 October 2004 }}</ref>
* Coast Guard SOS Ribbon, for service from 01-Jul-1987 to 30-Sep-1987<ref name=Awards />
* [[Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal]], for service from 11-Sep-1988 to 11-Jan-1989, Persian Gulf (24 Jul 87 – 1 Aug 90)<ref name=Awards />
* [[Coast Guard SOS Ribbon]], for service from 01-Oct-1989 to 31-Dec-1989<ref name=Awards />
* [[Armed Forces Service Medal]], for service from 17-Jun-1994 to 30-Jun-1994, 7-Jul-1994 to 17-Jul-1994 and 24-Jul-1994 to 8-Aug-1994, Bosnia<ref name=Awards />
* [[Meritorious Unit Commendation]], as a part of the ''George Washington'' battle group, for service from 11-Jun-1994 to 05-Nov-1994<ref name=Awards />
* Meritorious Unit Commendation, as part of the ''Carl Vinson'' task group, for service from 10-Jul-1996 to 04-Sep-1996<ref name=Awards />
* [[Joint Meritorious Unit Award]], for service from 01-Jan-1997 to 31-Dec-1997<ref name=Awards />
* Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation, for service from 01-Apr-2005 to 30-Jun-2005<ref name=Awards />
* Coast Guard SOS Ribbon, for service from 12-Jul-2005 to 16-Sep-2005<ref name=Awards />
* Coast Guard SOS Ribbon, for service from 01-Oct-2010 to 30-Apr-2011<ref name=Awards />
* [[Navy E Ribbon]] for 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2007<ref name=Awards />

==Coat of arms==
The ship's motto was displayed on an azure doubled scroll with the inscription "Valiant Mariner" in gold letters.<ref name=COA>{{cite web |url= http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ffg39/Page_5.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20001115033800/http://www.spear.navy.mil/ships/ffg39/Page_5.html |archive-date= 15 November 2000 |title= Coat of Arms |website= USS Doyle |date= 15 November 2000}}</ref>

The shield contained an Azure lion rampant with fishtail and grasping a trident point up argent. Dark blue and gold are colors traditionally used by the Navy and represent the sea and excellence. The creature, half lion and half fish, with Neptune's trident symbolized Admiral Doyle's military prowess and accomplishments in amphibious operations.<ref name=COA />

The crest contained the following: Upon a wreath of the colors a chevron reverse coupled or interlaced with mullet points balled argent, charged with a pentagram parted and colored in the manner of the Korean Taeguk (scarlet above, azure below) and charged with a gold mullet all encircled by a wreath of laurel vert. The stars, laurel wreath and "VEE" refer to some of Admiral Doyle's decorations and awards: The Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. The reference to the Korean Taeguk commemorates Admiral Doyle's masterful exploits during the Korean War especially the invasion and the Hungnam withdrawal.<ref name=COA />

== References ==
{{reflist}}
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/doyle--ffg-39--ii-1983-2011.html}}
*{{Naval Vessel Register|hull=FFG-39}}
*[https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Portals/103/Documents/TeamShips/SEA21/InactiveShips/Historic/2011/DOYLE_FFG39DOI_FINAL_11-10-11.pdf Naval Sea Systems Command: USS ''Doyle'']

== External links ==
{{Commons category|USS Doyle (FFG-39)}}
* {{cite web |url= http://www.doyle.navy.mil |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071211221526/http://www.doyle.navy.mil/ |archive-date= 11 December 2007 |title= official USS Doyle website |publisher= US Navy }}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/frigates/pages/doyle_ffg_39_page_1.htm |website= MaritimeQuest |title= USS Doyle FFG-39 pages }}
*{{cite web |url= http://navysite.de/ffg/FFG39.HTM |title= USS Doyle |website= NavySite.de }}, with photos of the ship in Philadelphia, 16 October 2015.
*{{navsource|07/0739|USS Doyle (FFG-39)}}

{{Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doyle (FFG-39)}}
[[Category:1982 ships]]
[[Category:Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bath, Maine]]
[[Category:Cold War frigates and destroyer escorts of the United States]]