SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	AMPHIBOUS TRANSPORT DOCKS (LPD)
CLASS	AUSTIN
OFFICIAL NAME	USS CLEVELAND
PENNANT NUMBER	7
NICKNAME	N/A
MOTTO	PROMPTUS ET PARATUS
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	01/25/1963
KEEL LAYING DATE	11/30/1964
LAUNCH DATE	05/07/1966
DELIVERY DATE	04/03/1967
COMMISSION DATE	04/21/1967
PLANNING YARD	PUGET SOUND DETACHMENT BOSTON, BOSTON, MA
NAVSEA PMS	470
CUSTODIAN	US NAVY
STATUS	ACTIVE DUTY
HOMEPORT	SAN DIEGO, CA
MAILING ADDRESS	FPO, AP, 96662-1710
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	07181
TYPE COMMANDER	SURFPAC
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	N/A
SQUADRON COMMAND	N/A

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS

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LPD 7 | USS CLEVELAND

Namesake:

Not yet available

Not yet available

Historical Notes:

USS CLEVELAND (LPD-7) was commissioned April 21, 1967 at Norfolk, Virginia. The USS CLEVELAND is the third ship to be named after the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The first was the Protected Cruiser (C-19) from 1903-1929 and the second a light Cruiser (CL-55) from 1942-1947.

After commissioning, the USS CLEVELAND changed homeport to San Diego, California to become a member of the Pacific Fleet Amphibious Forces. USS CLEVELAND has divided her time between operations in the Easter Pacific and extended deployments to the Western Pacific. USS CLEVELAND is usually assigned as part of a Marine Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), with her embarked Marines acting as part of the United States military effort in Southeast Asia.

USS CLEVELAND first saw action during the Tet Offensive in 1967 and has participated in numerous amphibious and combat support operations, as well as functioning as a Flagship for various Fleet Commanders. Upon the Vietnam cease-fire in January 1973, USS CLEVELAND joined Task Force 78 in the mine-clearing effort of Haiphong Harbor and Operation end Sweep.

USS CLEVELAND then began a series of seven Wester Pacific Deployments commencing in the years 1974, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1985 before entering an extensive overhaul.

In January of 1988, USS CLEVELAND assumed duties as flagship for Commander Third Fleet and served in this capacity until November 1988. Upon Completion of Flagship duties, CLEVELAND deployed to Prince William Sound, Alaska in support of oil spill cleanup efforts associated with the Exxon Valdez disaster.

USS CLEVELAND deployed to the Western Pacific in 1990 and again in 1991 in support Operation Desert Storm.

In October 1992 the USS CLEVELAND deployed on short notice to Central America in support of Law Enforcement Operations and again in March of 1993. During these deployments the USS CLEVELAND played a key role in the seizure of the vessel Sea Chariot, the largest Maritime cocaine bust in history, as well as transiting the Panama Canal four times. During her fourteenth major deployment she participated in the United Nations relief effort to Rwanda and the relocation of the United States Liaison office from Mogadishu, Somalia to Nairobi, Kenya. Following the relocation efforts, USS CLEVELAND was ordered to steam into the North Arabian Gulf to deter the Iraqi aggression of massing troops on the Kuwait border as part of Operation VIGILANT WARRIOR.

Following intensive repair and training availabilities in 1995, USS CLEVELAND participated in exercise RIMPAC '96 off the coast of Hawaii prior to the beginning of her fifteenth major deployment in October of 1996. During this deployment USS CLEVELAND participated in numerous bilateral training exercises in the Arabian Gulf including EASTERN MAVERICK '97 and EAGER MACE 97-1. While in the Arabian Gulf, USS CLEVELAND also became the first Amphibious Warship to participate in Maritime Interception Operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq. After leaving the Arabian Gulf, USS CLEVELAND participated in exercise TANDEM THRUST '97, a joint training exercise with the U.S. and Australian Armed forces before returning to San Diego.