W S SIMS FF 1059

Ship Name and Designation History

This section lists the names and designations that the ship had during its lifetime. The list is in chronological order.

Knox Class Destroyer Escort Building contract awarded 22 July 1964 Keel Laid 10 April 1967 - Launched and christened 4 January 1969 USS W. S. SIMS DE-1059 Commissioned 3 January 1970 USS W. S. SIMS FF-1059 Reclassified Frigate (FF) 30 June 1975 Assigned to Naval Reserve Force 30 September 1990 Decommissioned 6 September 1991 Stricken from Naval Register 11 January 1995 Grant aid to Turkey as parts hulk 31 December 1998

Naval Covers

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1. USS W. S. Sims Covers Page 1    (1977-1989)

 

Postmarks

This section lists examples of the postmarks used by the ship. There should be a separate set of postmarks for each incarnation of the ship (ie, for each entry in the "Ship Name and Designation History" section). Within each set, the postmarks should be listed in order of their classification type. If more than one postmark has the same classification, then they should be further sorted by date of earliest known usage.

A postmark should not be included unless accompanied by a close-up image and/or an image of a cover showing that postmark. Date ranges MUST be based ONLY ON COVERS IN THE MUSEUM and are expected to change as more covers are added.
 
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Postmark Type --- Killer Bar Text	Postmark Date	Thumbnail Link To Postmark Image	Thumbnail Link To Cover Image

 

Locy Type FDC 2(n+) ("W E SIMS")

1970-01-03

DE-1059. First Day in Commission.

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (USS)

1972-02-10

DE-1059

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (USS,FF)

1977-03-22

FF-1059

 

Locy Type 2t(n+u) (USS)

1989-04-17

FF-1059

 

Locy Type 9eft(n+u) (USS)

1971-02-17

DE-1059. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USS) (1975)

1981-08-11

FF-1059. Ships cachet. From the Bob Govern collection.

 

Locy Type 9-1(n+u) (USS) (1989)

1989-04-17

FF-1059

 

Other Information

USS W. S. SIMS earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon, the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Award Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon w/ 3 stars during her Naval career.

NAMESAKE - Admiral William S. Sims, USN (1858 - 25 September 1936)
Sims was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1876 and graduated in 1880. Seventeen years of sea duty were followed by assignments as Naval Attaché to Paris, St. Petersburg, and Madrid. Sims next served as Inspector of Target Practice; and, under his supervision, the naval gunnery system increased the rapidity of hits 100 percent and the general effectiveness of fire 500 percent. He also served as Naval Aide to President Theodore Roosevelt for two and one-half years. On February 11 1917, Sims became President of the Naval War College. In March 1917, he was designated by the Secretary of the Navy as Representative of the Navy Department in London. With the entry of the United States into World War I in April, he was ordered to assume command of all American destroyers, tenders, and auxiliaries operating from British bases. In May, he was designated as Commander of United States Destroyers Operating from British Bases, with the rank of Vice Admiral; and, in June, his title was changed to Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters. On December 10 1917, he assumed additional duty as Naval Attaché, London, England. The North Sea Mine Barrage was laid under his direction. Admiral Sims again became President of the Naval War College in April 1919 and served in that capacity until his retirement on October 15 1922. He died at Boston, Mass. on September 25 1936.

The ships sponsor was Mrs. Robert H. Hopkins, eldest daughter of the late Admiral Sims.

Three ships of the US Navy have been named in his honor - USS Sims DD-409, USS Sims DE-154 and USS W. S. Sims FF-1059.

 

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