The USS Shreveport (LPD-12) was an Austin-class amphibious transport dock laid down in 1965, launched in 1966, and commissioned in 1970. The ship completed training in 1971 and, from 1972–1979, conducted amphibious exercises, Caribbean operations, and multiple Mediterranean deployments with the 6th Fleet, serving as the flagship. In the 1980s, she fulfilled Mediterranean deployments, operated off Beirut, conducted Red Sea mine clearing, and aided evacuations. In the 1990s, the ship supported Gulf War operations, Adriatic missions, Black Sea deployment, Persian Gulf patrols, and major multinational exercises. In the 2000s, the vessel assisted in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War as part of the Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, and in disaster relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. After one last deployment as part of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group, the USS Shreveport was decommissioned in 2007. In ships built before the 1980s, living quarters, mess areas, and crew workspaces contained asbestos. Moreover, electrical systems included asbestos-insulated wiring and control panel components, while emergency firefighting equipment and damage-control systems often incorporated asbestos to improve fire resistance.
760-621-6147
