16,405 tons full, 10,878 tons light, 5,527 tons dead
Length
173.4 m (569 ft) overall, 167 m (548 ft) waterline
Beam
32.9 m (108 ft) extreme, 25.6 m (84 ft) waterline
Draught
6.7 m (22 ft) maximum, 7 m (23 ft) limit
Propulsion
steam
Speed
21 knots
Complement
106 officers, 1247 enlisted
USS Coronado (AGF-11) (originally LPD-11) was the second ship of the
United States Navy to be named after
the city of the same name in the
U.S. state of
California. She was designed as an
Austin-classamphibious transport dock (LPD), one of seven fitted with an additional superstructure level for
command ship duties. The ship was launched on 1 July 1966, commissioned 23 May 1970, and became the most advanced command ship in the world. The ship was the first combatant ship in the United States Navy to integrate women as full-time crew members.[3]
Coronado was decommissioned on 30 September 2006, was used for target practice during Valiant Shield 2012 exercises, and was sunk in the Marianas Island Range Complex on 12 September 2012.[4]
History
The Coronado's keel was laid down on 1 May 1965 by the
Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of
Seattle, Washington. She was
launched on 1 July 1966. After two years of labor shortages and a 12-month strike, she was
commissioned 23 May 1970.
First assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in the 1970s, Coronado conducted extensive operations, deploying on numerous occasions to the
Caribbean Sea and
Mediterranean Sea, as well as northern Europe.
Reassigned in October 1985, the Coronado relieved
Puget Sound (AD-38) as the command ship of Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet. During a ten-month tour with the Sixth Fleet, Coronado operated out of
Gaeta, Italy, participating in operations in the
Gulf of Sidra and strikes against
Libyan terrorist support facilities.
In July 1986, the Coronado was relieved as Sixth Fleet command ship and ordered to
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to become the command ship for Commander,
U.S. 3rd Fleet. The admiral and his staff embarked on board Coronado in November 1986. Subsequently, Coronado was relieved as Third Fleet command ship and deployed to the
Persian Gulf to assume duties as command ship for Commander, U.S. Middle East Force in January 1988. During this period she served as flagship for
Operation Praying Mantis, the largest American naval action since World War II.
Upon her return to Pearl Harbor on 9 November 1988, Coronado again assumed her duties as Commander, U.S. Third Fleet command ship.
USS Coronado remained homeported in Hawaii until August 1991, when crew and staff changed homeports to San Diego.
On 28 February 1994, USS Coronado became the first combatant ship in the United States Navy to embark women as part of its regular, full-time crew.[1]
Since then, Third Fleet and Coronado had become the center for naval innovation and technology experimentation. In November 1998 a large ship modification was completed. Incorporating the latest network-centric technology, Coronado became the most advanced command ship in the world.[5]
Sea-Based Battle Lab
In October 2001, the
Office of the Secretary of the Navy assigned Coronado to host the Navy's Sea-Based
Battle Lab (SBBL), an afloat platform for testing prototype systems and software, evaluating future naval capabilities, and assessing operational compatibility and possible further implementation throughout the
United States Navy.
Recent developments in technology have spawned significant advances in naval warfare capabilities. Wireless and Web-based tools, along with new weapon systems, have enabled naval forces to conduct precision operations with greater synchronization, expedience, and potency. With over 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) of reconfigurable command space and one of the world's most advanced naval C4I suites, SBBL offers a unique shipboard environment that facilitates the evaluation of research for maritime and joint operations.
The Third Fleet J9 Directorate was responsible for managing the SBBL. Partnered with other services, national laboratories, academia, and industry, the Third Fleet staff developed joint exercises and experiments for evaluating the following in an operational environment:
JTF Command Center organization and configuration
Tactics, techniques, and procedures
Naval and joint doctrine
Biometrics (human feature recognition)
Wireless applications
Knowledge management
Web-based applications
Logistics
Humanitarian assistance/disaster relief
The staff and crew provided an unbiased evaluation of the proposal's viability and functionality. Promising, mature initiatives are endorsed for advancement into the beta testing cycle on board the next deploying carrier battle group (or amphibious ready group) and/or into the acquisition process.
Decommissioning and disposal
Late 2003 saw a see-saw change for the Coronado. In November it was decommissioned, transferred to the
Military Sealift Command and redesignated T-AGF-11. However, it was concluded shortly thereafter that the operations the ship engaged in required it to be a warship and thus it was transferred back to the Navy and recommissioned, but kept a large civilian complement within the crew from the MSC. In 2004, the
7th Fleet command ship,
USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), went into dry dock and Coronado temporarily assumed 7th Fleet command responsibilities. On 27 September 2004, Blue Ridge returned to duty as the command ship.
Coronado was decommissioned at the end of Fiscal Year 2006.
Coronado on her commissioning day, 23 May 1970 in Seattle, Washington.
This group of sailors were
plankowner members of the
OE Division of the Coronado. Photo taken in 1972. Pictured are... Back Left-to-right: William Enzweiler, Harry Tiel, Vic Barish, Ron Mueller, Paul Ackerman, Doug Chirhart, ET1 Young. Middle: David Kilpatrick. Front Left-to-Right: Leslie Gaiter, Frank Hunter, Bill Bobbing, Ron "Gomer" Pyle.
Flagships
USS La Salle (Left) and Coronado (right) moored in
Bahrain in 1980. Coronado was relieving LaSalle as the flagship for the Commander, Middle East Force (now called
United States Naval Forces Central Command). Due to the nature of U.S. flagships individually covering large geographic areas, it was a rare occurrence for both ships to be in the same port.
This large bronze plaque hung on the
quarterdeck of the Coronado for decades. The year 1970 indicates the year the ship was commissioned. The year 1943 indicates the year the previous ship of the same name,
USS Coronado (PF-38) was commissioned. It also lists four operations during the Second World War in which the earlier ship was engaged. The current whereabouts of the plaque are unknown and it is feared to have been scrapped.
Left to Right:
USS Ainsworth,
USS Bigelow, and Coronado pier-side in
Mina Salman,
Bahrain in the summer of 1981. Coronado, the flagship of the U.S. Middle East Forces at the time, was painted white as is tradition for flagships since the
Great White Fleet.
Coronado in
Sicily 4 July, 1983. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts
The ruddler and starboard shaft of the Coronado while in dry dock at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1984. The screw is behind the green tarp. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts.
Men work beneath the starboard side of the Coronado while in dry dock at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1984. The ships's keel is on the left. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts.
USS Coronado (left) participates in underway replenishment with
USS John A. Moore on 1 April 1988.
USS Coronado (AGF-11), left, the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine
USS Ohio, center, and the guided missile cruiser
USS Worden lie tied up at the Pearl Harbor Naval Station, 1 January 1989.
A close-up view of twin Mark 33,
3"/50 caliber gun guns aboard Coronado. These guns were removed from the ship in 1992.
Change of Command ceremony of USS Coronado (AGF-11) on 3 April 1993 aboard the ship while moored at Pier J,
Naval Air Station North Island on
San Diego Bay. Captain Thomas Noonan (saluting left) relieved Captain Richard Nibe (saluting right) while Vice Admiral
Jerry L. Unruh (seated left), the Commander
Third Fleet, Commodore Thomas Hopson (standing right), Commander Amphibious Group Three, and the ship's executive officer, Commander Charles Eis (seated right) observe.
USS Coronado, at Pier Juliet, Naval Air Station North Island, October 1994.
San Diego–Coronado Bridge in the distance.
USS Coronado, Commander Third Fleet flagship, is assisted by the large harbor tugs Neodesha (YTB-815) and Waxahachie (YTB-814) as she departs Pearl Harbor during RIMPAC "98, 20 July 1998. US Navy photo # 980720-N-2619S-002 by PH2 August Sigur.
USS Coronado at Seattle, WA., 4 August 1999. US Navy photo # 990804-N-6939.
USS Coronado enters the Port of
Yokosuka, Japan to substitute
USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado enters the Port of Yokosuka, Japan to substitute USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado enters the Port of Yokosuka, Japan to substitute USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado begins its approach alongside the Military Sealift Command Ship (MSC) underway replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea on 20 April 2004.
USS Coronado alongside the Military Command Ship (MSC) underway replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea while underway in the Pacific Ocean on 20 April 2004
Captain Chris Noble, commanding officer USS Coronado, greets the Philippine press shortly after arriving at the former U.S. Navy base on 23 April 2004.
Lt. Cmdr. Romelda Sadiarin giving a tour of USS Coronado to students from the Philippine Navy's Naval Education and Training Command. Coronado was making a scheduled port visit.The ship was serving as the temporary command ship for U.S. Seventh Fleet while USS Blue Ridge was in a scheduled dry dock maintenance period. April 2004.
USS Coronado sits in
Shimoda Bay, in full dress ship on 14 May 2004.
Commanding officer of USS Coronado, Capt. Chris Noble, presents Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, with the Admiral’s pendant prior to disembarking the ship and reestablishing his staff aboard USS Blue Ridge during a change-of-flagship ceremony aboard Coronado.
USS Coronado moored pierside Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, CA. during her decommissioning and transition to MSC ceremony, 25 February 2005. US Navy photo by Larry E. Crutchfield.
Ex-USS Coronado being towed out of Pearl Harbor by USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52), 17 August 2012, en route to being disposed via SINKEX near Guam the following month.
The former USS Coronado being bombed during a live-fire exercise on 12 September 2012.
^
abAnderson, LTjg Benjamin T. (20 September 2012).
"Valiant Shield 2012 Ends". San Diego, California: Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Joint live fire sank the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11) in waters 18,270 feet deep, 102 nautical miles South of Guam at about 3:20 pm local time on Sept. 12.
^"USS Coronado Returns Home". Commander, U.S. Third Fleet. 3 November 2004. In 1998, a large ship modification was completed. Incorporating the latest network technology, Coronado became the most advanced command ship in the world.
16,405 tons full, 10,878 tons light, 5,527 tons dead
Length
173.4 m (569 ft) overall, 167 m (548 ft) waterline
Beam
32.9 m (108 ft) extreme, 25.6 m (84 ft) waterline
Draught
6.7 m (22 ft) maximum, 7 m (23 ft) limit
Propulsion
steam
Speed
21 knots
Complement
106 officers, 1247 enlisted
USS Coronado (AGF-11) (originally LPD-11) was the second ship of the
United States Navy to be named after
the city of the same name in the
U.S. state of
California. She was designed as an
Austin-classamphibious transport dock (LPD), one of seven fitted with an additional superstructure level for
command ship duties. The ship was launched on 1 July 1966, commissioned 23 May 1970, and became the most advanced command ship in the world. The ship was the first combatant ship in the United States Navy to integrate women as full-time crew members.[3]
Coronado was decommissioned on 30 September 2006, was used for target practice during Valiant Shield 2012 exercises, and was sunk in the Marianas Island Range Complex on 12 September 2012.[4]
History
The Coronado's keel was laid down on 1 May 1965 by the
Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of
Seattle, Washington. She was
launched on 1 July 1966. After two years of labor shortages and a 12-month strike, she was
commissioned 23 May 1970.
First assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in the 1970s, Coronado conducted extensive operations, deploying on numerous occasions to the
Caribbean Sea and
Mediterranean Sea, as well as northern Europe.
Reassigned in October 1985, the Coronado relieved
Puget Sound (AD-38) as the command ship of Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet. During a ten-month tour with the Sixth Fleet, Coronado operated out of
Gaeta, Italy, participating in operations in the
Gulf of Sidra and strikes against
Libyan terrorist support facilities.
In July 1986, the Coronado was relieved as Sixth Fleet command ship and ordered to
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to become the command ship for Commander,
U.S. 3rd Fleet. The admiral and his staff embarked on board Coronado in November 1986. Subsequently, Coronado was relieved as Third Fleet command ship and deployed to the
Persian Gulf to assume duties as command ship for Commander, U.S. Middle East Force in January 1988. During this period she served as flagship for
Operation Praying Mantis, the largest American naval action since World War II.
Upon her return to Pearl Harbor on 9 November 1988, Coronado again assumed her duties as Commander, U.S. Third Fleet command ship.
USS Coronado remained homeported in Hawaii until August 1991, when crew and staff changed homeports to San Diego.
On 28 February 1994, USS Coronado became the first combatant ship in the United States Navy to embark women as part of its regular, full-time crew.[1]
Since then, Third Fleet and Coronado had become the center for naval innovation and technology experimentation. In November 1998 a large ship modification was completed. Incorporating the latest network-centric technology, Coronado became the most advanced command ship in the world.[5]
Sea-Based Battle Lab
In October 2001, the
Office of the Secretary of the Navy assigned Coronado to host the Navy's Sea-Based
Battle Lab (SBBL), an afloat platform for testing prototype systems and software, evaluating future naval capabilities, and assessing operational compatibility and possible further implementation throughout the
United States Navy.
Recent developments in technology have spawned significant advances in naval warfare capabilities. Wireless and Web-based tools, along with new weapon systems, have enabled naval forces to conduct precision operations with greater synchronization, expedience, and potency. With over 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) of reconfigurable command space and one of the world's most advanced naval C4I suites, SBBL offers a unique shipboard environment that facilitates the evaluation of research for maritime and joint operations.
The Third Fleet J9 Directorate was responsible for managing the SBBL. Partnered with other services, national laboratories, academia, and industry, the Third Fleet staff developed joint exercises and experiments for evaluating the following in an operational environment:
JTF Command Center organization and configuration
Tactics, techniques, and procedures
Naval and joint doctrine
Biometrics (human feature recognition)
Wireless applications
Knowledge management
Web-based applications
Logistics
Humanitarian assistance/disaster relief
The staff and crew provided an unbiased evaluation of the proposal's viability and functionality. Promising, mature initiatives are endorsed for advancement into the beta testing cycle on board the next deploying carrier battle group (or amphibious ready group) and/or into the acquisition process.
Decommissioning and disposal
Late 2003 saw a see-saw change for the Coronado. In November it was decommissioned, transferred to the
Military Sealift Command and redesignated T-AGF-11. However, it was concluded shortly thereafter that the operations the ship engaged in required it to be a warship and thus it was transferred back to the Navy and recommissioned, but kept a large civilian complement within the crew from the MSC. In 2004, the
7th Fleet command ship,
USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), went into dry dock and Coronado temporarily assumed 7th Fleet command responsibilities. On 27 September 2004, Blue Ridge returned to duty as the command ship.
Coronado was decommissioned at the end of Fiscal Year 2006.
Coronado on her commissioning day, 23 May 1970 in Seattle, Washington.
This group of sailors were
plankowner members of the
OE Division of the Coronado. Photo taken in 1972. Pictured are... Back Left-to-right: William Enzweiler, Harry Tiel, Vic Barish, Ron Mueller, Paul Ackerman, Doug Chirhart, ET1 Young. Middle: David Kilpatrick. Front Left-to-Right: Leslie Gaiter, Frank Hunter, Bill Bobbing, Ron "Gomer" Pyle.
Flagships
USS La Salle (Left) and Coronado (right) moored in
Bahrain in 1980. Coronado was relieving LaSalle as the flagship for the Commander, Middle East Force (now called
United States Naval Forces Central Command). Due to the nature of U.S. flagships individually covering large geographic areas, it was a rare occurrence for both ships to be in the same port.
This large bronze plaque hung on the
quarterdeck of the Coronado for decades. The year 1970 indicates the year the ship was commissioned. The year 1943 indicates the year the previous ship of the same name,
USS Coronado (PF-38) was commissioned. It also lists four operations during the Second World War in which the earlier ship was engaged. The current whereabouts of the plaque are unknown and it is feared to have been scrapped.
Left to Right:
USS Ainsworth,
USS Bigelow, and Coronado pier-side in
Mina Salman,
Bahrain in the summer of 1981. Coronado, the flagship of the U.S. Middle East Forces at the time, was painted white as is tradition for flagships since the
Great White Fleet.
Coronado in
Sicily 4 July, 1983. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts
The ruddler and starboard shaft of the Coronado while in dry dock at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1984. The screw is behind the green tarp. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts.
Men work beneath the starboard side of the Coronado while in dry dock at the
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in 1984. The ships's keel is on the left. US Navy Photo by
LI2 David Watts.
USS Coronado (left) participates in underway replenishment with
USS John A. Moore on 1 April 1988.
USS Coronado (AGF-11), left, the nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine
USS Ohio, center, and the guided missile cruiser
USS Worden lie tied up at the Pearl Harbor Naval Station, 1 January 1989.
A close-up view of twin Mark 33,
3"/50 caliber gun guns aboard Coronado. These guns were removed from the ship in 1992.
Change of Command ceremony of USS Coronado (AGF-11) on 3 April 1993 aboard the ship while moored at Pier J,
Naval Air Station North Island on
San Diego Bay. Captain Thomas Noonan (saluting left) relieved Captain Richard Nibe (saluting right) while Vice Admiral
Jerry L. Unruh (seated left), the Commander
Third Fleet, Commodore Thomas Hopson (standing right), Commander Amphibious Group Three, and the ship's executive officer, Commander Charles Eis (seated right) observe.
USS Coronado, at Pier Juliet, Naval Air Station North Island, October 1994.
San Diego–Coronado Bridge in the distance.
USS Coronado, Commander Third Fleet flagship, is assisted by the large harbor tugs Neodesha (YTB-815) and Waxahachie (YTB-814) as she departs Pearl Harbor during RIMPAC "98, 20 July 1998. US Navy photo # 980720-N-2619S-002 by PH2 August Sigur.
USS Coronado at Seattle, WA., 4 August 1999. US Navy photo # 990804-N-6939.
USS Coronado enters the Port of
Yokosuka, Japan to substitute
USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado enters the Port of Yokosuka, Japan to substitute USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado enters the Port of Yokosuka, Japan to substitute USS Blue Ridge as 7th Fleet flagship while Blue Ridge completes a scheduled maintenance period. Date: 24 March 2004
USS Coronado begins its approach alongside the Military Sealift Command Ship (MSC) underway replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea on 20 April 2004.
USS Coronado alongside the Military Command Ship (MSC) underway replenishment oiler USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) to conduct a replenishment-at-sea while underway in the Pacific Ocean on 20 April 2004
Captain Chris Noble, commanding officer USS Coronado, greets the Philippine press shortly after arriving at the former U.S. Navy base on 23 April 2004.
Lt. Cmdr. Romelda Sadiarin giving a tour of USS Coronado to students from the Philippine Navy's Naval Education and Training Command. Coronado was making a scheduled port visit.The ship was serving as the temporary command ship for U.S. Seventh Fleet while USS Blue Ridge was in a scheduled dry dock maintenance period. April 2004.
USS Coronado sits in
Shimoda Bay, in full dress ship on 14 May 2004.
Commanding officer of USS Coronado, Capt. Chris Noble, presents Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, with the Admiral’s pendant prior to disembarking the ship and reestablishing his staff aboard USS Blue Ridge during a change-of-flagship ceremony aboard Coronado.
USS Coronado moored pierside Naval Base Point Loma, San Diego, CA. during her decommissioning and transition to MSC ceremony, 25 February 2005. US Navy photo by Larry E. Crutchfield.
Ex-USS Coronado being towed out of Pearl Harbor by USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52), 17 August 2012, en route to being disposed via SINKEX near Guam the following month.
The former USS Coronado being bombed during a live-fire exercise on 12 September 2012.
^
abAnderson, LTjg Benjamin T. (20 September 2012).
"Valiant Shield 2012 Ends". San Diego, California: Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Joint live fire sank the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11) in waters 18,270 feet deep, 102 nautical miles South of Guam at about 3:20 pm local time on Sept. 12.
^"USS Coronado Returns Home". Commander, U.S. Third Fleet. 3 November 2004. In 1998, a large ship modification was completed. Incorporating the latest network technology, Coronado became the most advanced command ship in the world.