Name USS Cayuga Laid down 28 September 1968 Acquired 1 June 1970 Construction started 28 September 1968 Weight 8,898 tons | Ordered 15 July 1966 Sponsored by Mrs. Luther C. Heinz Length 159 m Launched 12 July 1969 | |
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Namesake Cayuga County, New York Builder National Steel and Shipbuilding Company | ||
The third USS Cayuga (LST-1186) was a Newport-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. She was named after a county in New York.
Contents
History
Cayuga was laid down on 28 September 1968 at San Diego, California, by the National Steel & Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 12 July 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Luther C. Heinz, wife of Vice Admiral Luther C. Heinz, Commander of Amphibious Forces, Atlantic; and commissioned on 8 August 1970, Commander William T. Hollenbach in command.
Following commissioning, Cayuga was assigned to the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, with her home port at Long Beach, California. She alternated amphibious training operations along the west coast of the United States with regular, extended deployments to the Far East. Cayuga earned two battle stars for Vietnam service.
In May 1972, Cayuga, USS Schenectady (LST-1185), USS Manitowoc (LST-1180), and USS Duluth (LPD-6) were part of Operation Song Than 6-72, an amphibious landing of Marines in support of the defense of Huế City. Cayuga and Duluth were fired on by NVA artillery during the assault on 24 May 1972. USS Hanson (DD-832) and other gun fire support ships silenced the opposing guns. Cayuga received a Combat Action Ribbon for the incident.
In 1976, Cayuga was filmed portraying a rescue ship in the disaster films Airport '77 (1977) and Gray Lady Down (1978).
In 1981, Cayuga rescued Vietnamese boat people / refugees receiving the Humanitarian Service Medal.
In May 1983, Cayuga participated in a Marine Amphibious Battalion Landing Exercise (MABLEX) transporting Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as part of a beach assault and simulated civilian evacuation training exercise.
Cayuga and Amphibious Squadron 5 (PHIBRON 5) participated in Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1990 / 1991, departing in July 1990 and returning to its port in Long Beach in April 1991 after an extended deployment. It carried elements of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit's Battalion Landing Team 1/4. Alongside Cayuga were the USS Durham (LKA114), USS Ft McHenry (LSD43), USS Ogden (LPD5) and USS Okinawa (LPH3).
Cayuga became part of Naval Battle Force, Somalia, under Rear Admiral Arthur K. Cebrowski, in October–November 1993. Other elements of the force included USS America, USS Simpson, USS New Orleans (LPH-11), USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Comstock (LSD 45), and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Cayuga received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for Somalia related operations from 18 October 1993 to 1 February 1994.
Brazilian Navy
Cayuga was decommissioned 26 August 1994 and leased to the Brazilian Navy from 30 November that year where she serves as NDCC Mattoso Maia (G-28), named for Admiral Jorge do Paço Mattoso Maia, Minister of the Navy 1958-1961. On 19 September 2000 the ship was purchased by Brazil.
Awards
Cayuga received the following awards: