USS Kauffman (FFG-59) is a decommissioned 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.

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.

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 decommissioning, she was one of only two Oliver Hazzard Perry-class ships remaining; the last Oliver Hazard Perry-class ship to be decommissioned was .

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.

1988 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 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 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 26 April – 26 October: deployment, MEF 2–91 4 June – 16 September: Middle East Force (MEF) operations in the Persian Gulf

1992 6 January – 21 February: counter narcotic operations, Caribbean Sea towed a vessel that had lost propulsion to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba rescued the crew from the stricken 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 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 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 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 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 March – 11 September: deployed, Med (originally tasked to Middle East Force) 12 October – 11 December: planned restricted availability

1999 15–18 September: sortied for Hurricane Dennis

2004 15 July – 22 September: ships restricted availability, installed Mk 53 "Nulka" Decoy Launching System (DLS)

References

External links

USS Kauffman official website

USS Kauffman @ navysite.de USS Kauffman FFG-59 @ MaritimeQuest