in 1970, the howard w. gilmore relieved the at key west, then after some yard time on the mississippi and alabama gulf coast, howard w. gilmore departed for her new homeport of la maddalena, sardinia, italy - where she provided service and support. from 1973 until shortly before being decommissioned, the ship's home port was la maddalena, sardinia. "howard w. gilmore" returned to norfolk, virginia and was decommissioned in 1980 and scrapped in march 2006.