SITE NAVIGATION

SHIP SPECIFIC INFORMATION

TYPE	AMPHIBOUS TRANSPORT DOCKS (LPD)
CLASS	AUSTIN
OFFICIAL NAME	USS DUBUQUE
PENNANT NUMBER	8
NICKNAME	THE MIGHTY EIGHT
MOTTO	OUR COUNTRY, HERITAGE, AND FUTURE
BUILDER	INGALLS SHIPBUILDING
CONTRACT AWARD DATE	01/25/1963
KEEL LAYING DATE	01/25/1965
LAUNCH DATE	08/06/1966
DELIVERY DATE	08/21/1967
COMMISSION DATE	09/01/1967
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, 96663-1711
UIC (UNIT IDENT. CODE)	07182
TYPE COMMANDER	SURFPAC
FLEET COMMAND	N/A
GROUP COMMAND	PHIBGRU 1
SQUADRON COMMAND	PHIBRON 3

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS

.............................................

LPD 8 | USS DUBUQUE

Namesake:

City of Dubuque, Iowa

USS DUBUQUE is named after Dubuque, Iowa on the Mississippi River and her founder, Julien Dubuque - a French Canadian explorer. The second ship to bear the name

Historical Notes:

USS DUBUQUE was commissioned on 1 September 1967, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia. In November 1967, the ship arrived at its first homeport of San Diego, California after transiting the Panama Canal. From 1968 to 1975, DUBUQUE made five Western Pacific deployments that saw extensive duty in Vietnam. In a highly publicized event in October 1968, the ship returned 14 repatriated prisoners of war to North Vietnam. From 1969 to 1971, the ship conducted ten KEYSTONE CARDINAL troop lifts to Okinawa as part of the "Vietnamization" of the war. From February to June 1973, the ship operated helicopters that conducted mine clearance operations in Haiphong Harbor. In April 1975, the ship participated in the evacuation of Saigon and the rescue of refugees fleeing South Vietnam.

On 15 August 1985, USS DUBUQUE departed San Diego for its new homeport of Sasebo, Japan. The ship arrived in Sasebo on 4 September 1985 to join the U. S. SEVENTH Fleet Overseas Family Residency Program. Since joining the SEVENTH Fleet, the primary mission of the ship has been the support of U. S. Marines stationed in the Western Pacific.

In May 1988, USS DUBUQUE deployed to the Arabian Gulf and served as the control ship for mine sweeping operations to protect U. S.-flagged tankers during the Iran-Iraq War. For its participation in this operation, the ship was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation. In 1989, the ship participated in the contingency operation to evacuate U.S. personnel from the Philippines during a failed coup attempt.

Immediately following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, USS DUBUQUE received tasking in the Arabian Gulf as part of Operation DESERT SHIELD. The ship functioned as the leading element of Amphibious Ready Group Bravo, which transported Marine Regimental Landing Team Four to Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia during the critical early stages of the multi-national buildup.

In 1992, USS DUBUQUE celebrated 25 years of distinguished service. It has received three Battle Efficiency Awards and participated in countless amphibious exercises and operations throughout the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans.