USS Kauffman

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USS Kauffman (FFG-59)
USS Kauffman (FFG-59)
USS Kauffman (FFG-59), in 1986.
History
United States
NameKauffman
Namesake
Awarded28 October 1982
BuilderBath Iron Works, Bath, Maine
Laid down8 April 1985
Launched29 March 1986
Sponsored byElizabeth Kauffman Bush
Commissioned28 February 1987
Decommissioned18 September 2015
HomeportNS Norfolk, Virginia
Identification
Motto
  • "Toujours en Vedette"
  • ("Always in the Lead")
Nickname(s)Special K
Statusdecommissioned
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeOliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate
Displacement4,100 long tons (4,200 t), full load
Length453 feet (138 m), overall
Beam45 feet (14 m)
Draught22 feet (6.7 m)
Propulsion
Speedover 29 knots (54 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (9,300 km at 33 km/h)
Complement15 officers and 190 enlisted, plus SH-60 LAMPS detachment of roughly six officer pilots and 15 enlisted maintainers
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys		AN/SLQ-32
Armament
Aircraft carried2 × SH-60 LAMPS III helicopters
Aviation facilities

USS Kauffman (FFG-59), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate, was a ship 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.

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[edit]

USS Kauffman sailing through Souda Bay, Crete, in August 2002.

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: Sevastopol, USSR port visit
  • 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]

1994[10]

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]

1998[13]

  • 13 March – 11 September: deployed, Med (originally tasked to Middle East Force)
  • 12 October – 11 December: planned restricted availability

1999[14]

2004[15]

  • 15 July – 22 September: ships restricted availability, installed Mk 53 "Nulka" Decoy Launching System (DLS)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Frey, Courtney; Evans, Mark L. (1 October 2015). "Kauffman (FFG-59)". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  2. ^ "USS Kauffman to be Decommissioned". U.S. Navy, USS Kauffman Public Affairs. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  3. ^ "Kauffman (FFG-59) Command Operations Reports". Naval History and Heritage Command. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  4. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1988" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 31 March 1989. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  5. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1989" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 March 1990. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  6. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1990" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 January 1991. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  7. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1991" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 13 January 1992. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  8. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1992" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 30 March 1993. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  9. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1993" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 14 March 1994. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  10. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1994" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 13 March 1995. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  11. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1996" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 2 June 1997. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  12. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1997" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 10 February 1998. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  13. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1998" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 25 February 1999. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  14. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 1999" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 1 February 2000. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
  15. ^ "USS Kauffman command history 2004" (PDF). Naval History and Heritage Command. 9 May 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to USS Kauffman (FFG-59).
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