Notes: Originally an Austin-class LPD, Coronado was converted to be the Persian Gulf command ship in 1980 to temporarily relieve USS La Salle (AGF-3) while she was in refit. Sponsons adding 8’ to each side were added, as was a good deal of communications gear. The 3” guns were deleted. When La Salle returned to service, the USN decided to retain Coronado as a permanent command ship due to a general shortage of flagships in the fleet. In 1985, she relieved USS Puget Sound (AD-38) as the 6th Fleet flagship at Gaeta, Italy. In 1986, she was transferred to Pearl Harbor, HI to become the 3rd Fleet’s flagship. In 1991 she was reassigned yet again to be the command vessel for Naval Base San Diego, CA.
In 2003, Coronado was transferred to Military Sealift Command and assigned a largely civilian crew; being renamed USNS Coronado (T-AGF-11). It was found that the flagship role was unsuitable for MSC so in 2004 it reverted back to being a regular USN ship.
In 2004, USS Coronado was reassigned yet again, this time as a temporary 7th Fleet flagship for USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) while she was in refit. After Blue Ridge returned to service, Coronado was reassigned to be the SBBL (Sea-Based Battle Lab) with 16,000sq ft to test new command and control computer systems. This was her last role, as the USN decommissioned the aging ship shortly thereafter. She will likely be used as a SINKEX target.
Displacement: 10,878t standard, 16,045t full Dimensions: 569’x108’x23’ Machinery: Steam-reduction: 2 Foster-Wheeler 600PSI boilers, 2 De Laval geared steam turbines, 2 shafts Max speed: 21kts Range: 7700NM @ 20kts Complement: 516 (25 officers, 491 enlisted) + 120 flag staff
AIRCRAFT
Hangar for two light type. USS Coronado also experimentally tested operations with an AV-8B Harrier II.
WEAPONS-Guns
x2 Mk15 Phalanx CIWS 1NM AA
(all Mk33 3” guns deleted during conversion)
SENSORS-Radar
AN/SPS-40C (E/F) 2D air search: 150NM vs. large/high, 48NM vs. small/low, 14NM vs. sea-skimming misile
AN/SPS-10F (G) 48NM surface search/9NM air search (range, bearing)
AN/SPS-59 (I) 28NM navigation (range, bearing)
SENSORS-EW
AN/SLQ-32 Sidekick ECM/ESM suite
AN/SLA-10B blanker
AN/KAS-1 NBC warfare sensor
AN/UPX-29 IFF
Mk36 SRBOC countermeasures launchers
JDISS ELINT system
TRE-TRAP ELINT system
SENSORS-Sonar
AN/UQN-4A fathometer
AN/WQN-2 doppler navigation sonar
AN/SLQ-25 Nixie towed decoy
MISC.
AN/URN-25 TACAN, AAN/FRT-39 HF comms, AN/WRN-6 GPS, AN/UCA-2 SATCOM, AN/WSC-3 SATCOM, AN/WSC-6 SHF SATCOM, AN/SRR-1 SATCOM, LINK-11, OTCIXS UHF network, MDU Tomahawk mission targeting system, “Challenge Athena III” civilian SHF interface