AGF 11 Coronado
On 12 September 2012, AGF-11 was sunk and now serves as an artificial reef for the Marianas region. 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 was one of seven fitted with additional superstructure for command ship duties.
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.
In 1998, a large ship modification was completed. Incorporating the latest network technology, Coronado became the most advanced command ship in the world.
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.
While stationed in San Diego, USS CORONADO has become an integral part of the surrounding community and continues to serve as the proud leader of THIRD Fleet.
The Navy announced on March 2, 2004 that the USS Coronado would deploy to the Wester Pacific where the Coronado would provide a command platform for the Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet staff and serve as a temporary replacement for USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) while it undergoes a maintenance period.
To prepare for the move, the Seventh Fleet staff initiated a Coronado Embark Planning Group in October 2003 to look at all aspects of the embark to ensure a smooth transition from one command ship to the other.
Coronado has typically been manned with 481 Sailors. The ship will retain a military crew of 117 Sailors. The MSC crew will include 86 CIVMARs in port, 126 CIVMARs at sea off southern California and up to 146 CIVMARs when deployed overseas. Transitioning U.S. Navy auxiliary ships to MSC was nothing new; however, this was the first time the Navy and MSC have transitioned only a portion of the crew while the ship maintained its commissioned status as a "USS" ship.
USS Coronado arrived at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, 40 miles south of Tokyo, on March 24, 2004.
USS Coronado and the embarked U.S. Seventh Fleet Staff arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines on April 23 for a regularly scheduled port visit. Coronado departed Subic Bay on April 26. The Manila Times reported on April 29 though, that during the ships visit to Subic Bay, was spilled some 1,000 liters of diesel fuel into the Subic Bay early on April 25, 2004. This resulted in a $5,000 fine issued by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. The diesel leakage was reported to have created an oil slick measuring 100 meters by 120 meters.
On Sept. 27, 2004, the U.S. 7th Fleet staff officially reembarked its flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19). From April 1, 2004, until that date, the U.S. 7th Fleet staff had been operating from USS Coronado (AGF 11), which had arrived in Yokosuka from Point Loma, Calif., March 24 to serve as the temporary flagship.
USS Coronado (AGF 11) returned to its San Diego homeport Nov. 3, 2004, following a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific. While deployed, Coronado served in Yokosuka, Japan, as a temporary replacement for USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) while it underwent an extensive dry dock maintenance period. During that time, Coronado was the command platform for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (COMSEVENTHFLT) staff. The Navy tested an innovative manning concept aboard Coronado, combining the skills of Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command (MSC) civilian mariners (CIVMARS).
Prior to deployment, Coronado completed a two-month yard period during which its basic engineering, navigation and hotel services were converted to civilian specifications. In February, the ship began operating with a hybrid crew where less than half of the ship's company are Sailors and the majority are CIVMARs. The combined crew was an innovative experiment aimed at operating Navy ships at a reduced cost while maintaining or improving capability. In the past, Coronado was typically manned with 481 Sailors, but as a result of the experiment, Coronado's crew numbered 117 Sailors along with 146 CIVMARs, for a total crew of 263. This was the first time the Navy and MSC transitioned only a portion of the crew while the ship maintained its commissioned status. MSC CIVMARs perform the duties of navigation, propulsion and auxiliary machinery operation, maintenance and repair, food service and other utility type responsibilities. Navy personnel retain operation of the C4I suites (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence equipment), the Sea Based Battle Lab (SBBL), helicopter detachment, weapons systems and other command/mission capabilities. In November 2003 Coronado was decommissioned, transferred to the Military Sealift Command and redesignated T-AGF-11. However, shortly thereafter, it was transferred back to the Navy and recommissioned. 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. USS Coronado (AGF-11) was decommissioned at the end of Fiscal Year 2006.
Shield & Crest
The three stars in chief, a position of honor on the shield, represent that CORONADO serves as flagship for Commander, THIRD Fleet, and signify integrity and strength. The divisions of the field, counter-changed gold and dark blue, represent the U. S. Navy and THIRD Fleet.
The City of Coronado and the explorer after whom it was named are symbolized by the jeweled coronet on the mound. The blue lining of the coronet refers to the Pacific Ocean, where CORONADO serves as flagship. California, the state in which the namesake city was located, was represented by the grassy mound that was used on the state's flag.
PF 38
The first USS CORONADO (PF 38), a patrol frigate, served in World War II as a convoy escort and distinguished itself with four battle stars: the Bismarck Archipelago Operation, the Holland Operation, the Western New Guinea Operation, and the Leyte Gulf Operation. The ship was decommissioned 12 July 1945.
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