USS CORONADO was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. Its keel was laid on 3 May 1965 and the ship was launched on 30 July 1966. USS CORONADO was commissioned 23 May 1970. USS CORONADO was designed as an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD), built to transport Marines and their equipment to the scene of an amphibious assault, and move them ashore by landing craft and helicopters.
The ship is one of seven fitted with additional superstructure for command ship duties. The USS CORONADO (AGF 11) has undergone numerous modifications since her redesignation from LPD to AGF. Among the more significant changes have been to her Command Control Communications Computers and Intelligence (C4I) capabilities. Other than C4I modifications the ship physically no longer looks like one of the original LPD's. Her 3" 50 caliber guns have been removed, the sterngate has been sealed shut, and the well deck has been replaced with offices to support the staff.
First assigned to the U. S. Atlantic Fleet in the 1970's, CORONADO conducted extensive operations and deployed on numerous occasions to Northern Europe and the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas. In 1980, CORONADO was redesignated an AGF (Miscellaneous Command Ship). Her first assignment was to relieve the USS LASALLE (AGF 3) as the command ship for Commander, U. S. Middle East Force, stationed in the Persian Gulf. Reassigned in October 1985, CORONADO relieved USS PUGET SOUND (AD 38) as the command ship of Commander, SIXTH Fleet. During her ten month tour with SIXTH Fleet, she operated out of Gaeta, Italy, participating in operations in the Gulf of Sidra and strikes against Libyan terrorist support facilities.
In July 1986, CORONADO was relieved as SIXTH Fleet command ship and ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to become the command ship for Commander, THIRD Fleet. Subsequently, CORONADO was relieved as THIRD Fleet command ship and deployed to the Arabian Gulf to assume duties as command ship for Commander, Middle East Force in January of 1988. Upon her return to Pearl Harbor in November 1988, CORONADO again assumed her duties as command ship for THIRD Fleet.
The ship remained homeported in Hawaii until August 1991, when it and THIRD Fleet changed homeports to Naval Air Station North Island, in her namesake city of Coronado, California. In March 1998 CORONADO shifted homeports from Naval Air Station North Island to Submarine Base, Point Loma, San Diego, California in order to accommodate berthing additional air craft carriers at the Naval Air Station.
CORONADO's communication assets by frequency range:
Ultra High Frequency (UHF)Specifications | |
| Power Plant | two Foster-Wheeler boilers, geared turbines, twin shafts, 24,000 shaft horsepower |
| Length | 570 feet (173.8 meters) |
| Beam | 100 feet (30.5 meters) |
| Displacement | 16,912 tons (15,375 metric tons) |
| Speed | 21 knots |
| Fuel capacity(gallons) | 750,000 |
| Aviation fuel(gallons) | 350,000 |
| Flight Deck Length(feet) | 200 |
| Flight Deck Area(sq.ft) | 16,000 |
| Aircraft | two light helicopters |
| Crew | 516 ships company + 120 flag staff |
Ships | ||||||
| Name | Number | Builder | Homeport | Ordered | Commissioned | Decommissioned |
| USS Coronado | AGF 11 | Philadelphia Navy Yard | San Diego | 23 May 1970 | ||
