MILITARY

PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS VANCE HAND

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS-4) returns to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego on June 30, 2022.

Fond farewell

Recently decommissioned USS Coronado maintained strong ties to namesake city

By MICHELLE DELANEY

With crew members, friends, families, the ship’s sponsor and members of the public looking on, the USS Coronado was recently decommissioned at a quiet, traditional ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island.

“Coronado did her job reliably and dependably, and so she was decommissioned with dignity and respect by the crew that loved her,” said Susan Ring Keith, a longtime Coronado resident and the ship’s sponsor.

Nicknamed the “Crown of the Fleet,” the ship was part of the Navy’s surface fleet of ships and was the third Navy ship to be named after the city of Coronado. The first served as a patrol frigate during World War II and was decommissioned in 1945. The second one, built as an amphibious transport dock, was commissioned in 1970 and served as the flagship for the U.S. 3rd Fleet. It was decommissioned in 2006 and sunk in 2012 as part of a Navy exercise.

This latest Coronado (LCS-4), decommissioned Sept. 14, was an Independence-class littoral combat ship, designed to be a high-speed, multimission vessel capable of operating independently or with an associated strike group. These ships use advanced tactical networks to share information with aircraft, other ships, submarines and units at shore.

The Coronado was commissioned April 15, 2014, at North Island and was immediately designated for a test-and-training role to determine what was efficient and

PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS VANCE HAND / U.S. NAVY

The USS Coronado’s decommissioning ceremony was on Sept. 14 at North Island.

effective, and what wasn’t.

“Coronado’s performance was fabulous and exceeded all expectations,” said retired Capt. Matt McGonigle, who served as one of the ship’s commodores. Despite initial positive reviews, littoral combat ships have been hindered by problems. The Coronado is the third littoral combat ship to be decommissioned.

The Coronado’s operations included a “maiden voyage” in 2017, after its 2016 deployment was cut short. It was the first littoral combat ship in its class to take an over-17-month deployment, while utilizing two crews. The 3,000-ton aluminum ship was also the first to exercise the MQ8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter as well as the Harpoon anti-ship missile.

“Not only is she different because she was a research and development ship, she was still testing equipment through her last working days so new ships today can perform with greater lethality and greater efficiency,” McGonigle said.

In 2009, the secretary of the Navy invited Coronado resident Keith to serve as the sponsor for the Coronado. A ship’s sponsor supports the ship through its ceremonial milestones, such as the christening, commissioning and decommissioning. The sponsor also maintains a relationship with the crew.

Keith was an obvious choice as her family shares a long history with the Navy and the USS Coronado. Keith’s father, both grandfathers and two uncles all served as naval officers. Her husband, two brothers (one retired as a rear admiral) and stepfather served in the Navy as well.

Keith’s history with the USS Coronado is equally distinguished. Her mother, Eleanor Ring, a Coronado resident since 1924, was the sponsor of the second Coronado while Keith served as the sponsor’s maid of honor, the person who helps carry out the duties of the sponsor.

When Keith became the Coronado’s sponsor in 2014, her daughter, Belle Drouin, served as the maid of honor.

Keith commends the ship for maintaining its connection to the local community with details such as naming the main passageway after Orange Avenue. In return, residents supported the ship. One local couple on First Street would shoot off the canon in their yard when the Coronado passed by as a hail and farewell.

“Aside from attending Coronado’s christening, my favorite memory of her was the Dependents Cruise. The families of the crew would be invited to spend a whole day on the Coronado, with lunch and time out on the ocean, taking in all that happens in a day on the ship. It was an event my entire family will always cherish of our time with the Coronado,” Keith said. ■

Michelle Delaney is a freelance writer.

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