She was designed as an "Austin"-class amphibious 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 second combatant ship in the United States Navy (USS LaSalle - AGF 3 integrated women aboard in 1993) to integrate women as full-time crew members. "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. 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. In 1980, the "Coronado" was re-designated an Auxiliary Command Ship (AGF-11). Her first assignment was to relieve the "La Salle" (AGF-3) as command ship for Commander, U.S. Middle East Force, stationed in the Persian Gulf. 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.