US Joint Forces Complete Valiant Shield SINKEX

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120915-05
9/15/2012

From Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- A live-fire exercise, part of Valiant Shield 2012, sank the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11) in waters 3,045 fathoms (18,270 feet) deep, 102 nautical miles south of Guam at about 3:20 pm local time, Sept. 12.

Sinking exercises (SINKEX) benefit the Navy by providing crews the opportunity to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against surface targets, which enhances combat readiness of deployed units.

"These exercises provide important opportunities for realistic at-sea training with live ordnance, conditions that cannot be duplicated otherwise," said U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Krug, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Valiant Shield exercise lead.

Former Navy vessels used in SINKEXs are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Strict environmental compliance is observed during all SINKEXs. Each SINKEX is required to sink the hull in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) and at least 50 nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to ensure that humans and marine mammals are not in the area where they could be harmed during the event.

Coronado was commissioned on May 23, 1970. The former Austin-class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) initially served the Atlantic Fleet, in the Caribbean, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Coronado was re-designated an auxiliary command ship in 1980 and served as the command ship for the U.S. Middle East Force and Sixth Fleet. Coronado subsequently served as the command ship for U.S. 3rd Fleet, homeported at Pearl Harbor and later San Diego. At one time, the ship was said to be the most advanced command ship in the world. Coronado was also the first U.S. Navy combatant ship to have female crew members. Coronado was decommissioned on Sept. 30, 2006.