Of the 51 Oliver Hazard Perry-class (FFG-7) class frigates delivered into the U.S. Navy in the 1980s, USS Kauffman (FFG-59) will be the last standing. Commissioned 28 February 1987, she is named after two Admirals, father and son, who were instrumental in developing the USN’s sub-busting tactics and doctrine and founding the Navy’s EOD and UDT/SEALs respectively.
Kauffman , some 28 years young next month, is set to start her final deployment Friday after being twice delayed this week due to weather and mechanical problems.
The Navy just has ten of the old Perry’s left in the “ghetto navy” and the other nine have completed their effective careers, just waiting to be decommissioned.
Kauffman ‘s patrol will be the final one of her class under a U.S. Navy Jack as well as the last of any American frigate as the type officially doesn’t exist anymore, replaced by either destroyers or littoral combat ships.
She is set to decommission in October. When that happens it will be the first time in more than 70 years that the fleet will be without a “frigate” somewhere on the Navy List.
