FFG 58 Samuel B. Roberts
USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) deployed on Sept. 25, 2003. The Roberts set sail with the Silverbacks of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 44 Det. 7 and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 401. After departing Mayport, the frigate immediately turned south and transited the Panama Canal, bound for a counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific.
On station less than a fortnight, the wardroom and crew was rewarded with its first much anticipated drug bust, seizing nearly 3 metric tons of cocaine and detaining 8 men. Just a week later, Roberts located a vessel outside of designated fishing grounds operating without navigation lights. After requesting and receiving permission to board the vessel from Joint Interagency Task Force South, the agency responsible for counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean waters, embarked USCG personnel from LEDET 401 went aboard to investigate. The fishing vessel had a hidden compartment containing more than 2,200 kilograms of cocaine. The eight Colombian men were taken aboard as detainees. In the following weeks, Roberts conducted two more interdictions, and just halfway through their engagement in the Pacific. Two weeks into the New Year, Roberts intercepted a speedboat laden with cocaine bound for North America. The vessel was set ablaze by its crew after being spotted by the Robert’s SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, Magnum 450 of HSL-44 Det. 7. Roberts crew fought the fire and supported another succesful boarding that resulted in the detention of five suspects. Approximately one half of the 1.5 tons aboard was recovered and seized as evidence. A few weeks later the Roberts embarked helicopter sighted an unnamed go-fast on a westerly course. The frigate set best speed while Combat Information Center watch standers, receiving reports from the helicopter, determined an intercept course. The vessel, which eventually beached itself on the Costa Rican coast, jettisoned her illicit cargo. Five men were captured in Costa Rica, and Roberts, who had marked the position of the debris field, recovered 700 lbs. of cocaine from the Pacific waters.
In total, the Roberts Interdicted 10.7 metric tons of cocaine and detaining 29 suspected drug traffickers, and carried out the most seizures by any Navy ship during a single deployment: five.
The Samuel B. Roberts returned to Mayport, Fla., March 19, 2004 after completing a six-month deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command Area of Responsibility.
Crest & Shield
The shield is divided into navy blue, red and yellow, suggesting the shoreline of Guadalcanal and the Marines who were trapped there in September 1942. The three stars allude to the Naval Forces who volunteered to rescue the hard-pressed Marines. The gold star represents Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts, Jr., who was mortally wounded during this mission when his boat drew enemy fire away from the other boats embarking the Marines. The three stars also represent the three ships named for Samuel B. Roberts, Jr.; the gold star denotes the current ship.
The lion, a symbol of courage, signifies Samuel B Roberts' Spirit. The lion's red claws and tongue symbolize Samuel B Roberts' ultimate sacrifice for his comrades ; the blue collar bearing a cross pattee convexed indicates that Samuel B Roberts' died in battle and was awarded the Navy Cross for his gallant actions. The lion is grasping in his paws a blue torch, suggesting the passing on of Naval history. The lightning bolts represent the armament of this ship, and indicate the quick-strike capabilities of the modern warship.
Admiral Copeland, then LCDR, Commanding Officer of DE 413, concluded his report of the Battle of Samar, with these words; "In the face of this knowledge, the men zealously manned their stations wherever they might be, and fought and worked with such calmness, courage, and efficiency that no higher honor could be conceived than to command such a group of men."
