USS Kauffman
1986 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate
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USS Kauffman (FFG-59) is a decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate of the United States Navy named for Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman (1887–1963) and his son, Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman (1911–1979), both experts in sub-surface naval missions.
USS Kauffman (FFG-59), in 1986. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Kauffman |
| Namesake | |
| Awarded | 28 October 1982 |
| Builder | Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine |
| Laid down | 8 April 1985 |
| Launched | 29 March 1986 |
| Sponsored by | Elizabeth Kauffman Bush |
| Commissioned | 28 February 1987 |
| Decommissioned | 18 September 2015 |
| Home port | NS Norfolk, Virginia |
| Identification |
|
| Motto |
|
| Nickname(s) | Special K |
| Status | decommissioned |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate |
| Displacement | 4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load |
| Length | 453 feet (138 m), overall |
| Beam | 45 feet (14 m) |
| Draught | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | over 29 knots (54 km/h) |
| Range | 5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h) |
| Complement | 15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys | AN/SLQ-32 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters |
| Aviation facilities | |
Kauffman was laid down on 8 April 1985 by the Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched on 29 March 1986; sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth Kauffman Bush, the daughter of Vice Admiral James L. Kauffman and sister of Rear Admiral Draper L. Kauffman; and commissioned on 28 February 1987 at Bath, Maine.[1]
As of 2012, Kauffman was homeported at NS Norfolk, Virginia, and assigned to Destroyer Squadron 22.
Kauffman deployed for the final time on 8 January 2015. She was decommissioned on 18 September 2015. At the time of her decommission, she was one of only two Oliver Hazzard Perry-class ships remaining; the last Oliver Hazard Perry-class ship to be decommissioned was USS Simpson (FFG-56).[2]
History
Note: the milestones are extracted from the official command histories and no other sources. The set of command histories available is not complete, resulting in the partial record following.[3]
1988[4]
- 6 January – 28 May: 4100 ton modifications by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.
- 12 August: a sailor died instantly when the Slewing Arm Davit broke from its mount and fell on him.
1989[5]
- 31 May – 10 November: Maiden deployment, Med 3–89
- 4–7 August: Port visit to Sevastopol, Soviet Union
- October: Sixth Fleet "Hook'em" Award for best ASW platform in Sixth Fleet AO in 1989
- 13 September – 3 October: NATO exercise Display Determination-89
1990[6]
- 9 January: presented with Battle 'E'
- 15 January – 15 March: ships restricted availability, #1A gas turbine engine and the Mk. 75 76mm gun mount are replaced
- 8–15 June: BALTOPS-90
- 27–30 June: Gdynia, Poland port visit
1991[7]
- 26 April – 26 October: deployment, MEF 2–91
- 4 June – 16 September: Middle East Force (MEF) operations in the Persian Gulf
1992[8]
- 6 January – 21 February: counter narcotic operations, Caribbean Sea
- towed a vessel that had lost propulsion 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi) to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- rescued the crew from the stricken 237 feet (72 m) coastal freighter Ramsli just before she sank
- 2 August – 23 October: Ships Restricted Availability (Drydock), by Bath Iron Works Bath, Maine
- 15 September: presented with Battle 'E'
1993[9]
- 11 March – 8 September: deployed, Med 2–93
- 29 April – 18 June: Operation Deny Flight in the Adriatic Sea, Operation Maritime Guard
- 22 June – 17 August: Maritime Interdiction Operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq, North Red Sea
- 7 November: provided assistance to the Argentine frigate ARA Granville (P-33) while in port at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico
- 9 November – 6 December: counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
1994[10]
- 13 May – 3 June: Maritime Interception Operations enforcing United Nations sanctions against Haiti
- 6 June: Homeport shift from Newport, Rhode Island, to Norfolk, Virginia
- 1 July – 1 August: Operation Support Democracy, Haiti with 3 US Army OH-58 Kiowa helicopters
- 5–6 July: rescued 787 migrants from Haitian waters, transported to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- 20–21 July: towed the Motor Vessel Valerie I from the south coast of Haiti to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
1996[11]
- 24 April: completion of an extended ships restricted availability period beginning September 1995, including installation of Mod 6 to the Mk 92 Guided Missile Fire Control System
- 8 July – 24 August: counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
- 20 September: Commander John A. Kunert, USN relieves Commander David F. Britt, USN
- 10–31 December: Operation Carib Shield – counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
1997[12]
- 1–17 January: Operation Carib Shield – counter drug operations, Caribbean Sea
- 4 March – 24 June: ships restricted availability (drydock) by Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
1998[13]
- 13 March – 11 September: deployed, Med (originally tasked to Middle East Force)
- 12 October – 11 December: planned restricted availability
1999[14]
- 15–18 September: sortied for Hurricane Dennis
2004[15]
- 15 July – 22 September: ships restricted availability, installed Mk 53 "Nulka" Decoy Launching System (DLS)
