Forward of the main bridge and over the now-unused missile silo, there is a platform to mount a single Mk 38 Mod 2 25-mm chain gun, an autocannon with a 2.5 kilometer range. The Mk 38 is able to fire all US Navy-approved 25mm ammunition up to 180 rounds-per-minute. This gun can be seen in imagery supplies but, interestingly, is not listed on the USS Kauffman's official web site as part of the vessel's weapons profile.
Today, the Kaufman crew is made up of 17 officers and 198 enlisted personnel . Before 2004, the ship's carried 15 officers and 190 enlisted personnel as well as Harpoon missiles and SM-1MR Standard anti ship/air missiles in a 40 round magazine. The helicopter air wing remains the same, with 6 pilots and 15 crew for the two LAMPS III helicopters onboard.
The Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk helicopter, or LAMPS (Light Airborne Multipurpose System) Mk III, is deployed on Perry-class frigates as well as Burke-, Spruance- and Kidd-class destroyers and Ticonderoga-class cruisers. The SH-60B Mk III was built an all-weather mission helicopter capable of detecting, identifying and interdiction of enemy submarines (ASW) and attacking ships (ASUW). Additionally, the helicopter has added missions of cargo replenishment between ships (VERTREP), Search and Rescue (SAR) with MEDical ECAVuation (MEDEVAC) and Naval GunFire Support (NGFS). Using the targeting system BUNO 162349, the LAMPS MK III helicopter employs the aforementioned Mk 2 Mod 7 "Penguin" missile used in the added role of ASUW attack.
For ASW sorties, the helicopter is equipped with a dipping sonar (AQS-18A) which can deploy a 1,575 foot cable some 60 feet over the ocean. The anomaly detector is connected to the LN-66 radar and a AKT-22 data link. To aid in the rescue mission role, there is a 600 kilogram limit hoist along with mounts for support machine guns and pods for 2.75-inch FFAR rockets for point suppression.
The USS Kauffman has a number of sensor arrays to perform the missions assigned. The MK 92 MOD 6 CORT Fire Control System (FCS) can track up to 128 targets simultaneously out to 512.1 miles (824.1 kilometers). Mounted under the bow is a sonar system (SQS-56 Hull Sonar System) with a range of 5.8 miles (9.3 kilometers). The system is a passive-active system that can track up to 16 targets at once. The ship can deploy her own towed array sonar (SQR-19) system. A long sonar trailing behind the ship can reportedly track up to thirty-two submarines.
To date, the USS Kauffman and her crews have been awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Southwest Asia Service Medal, The Battle E, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Expeditionary Medal.
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