View source for USS Ponce (LPD-15)

{{Short description|Ship}}
{{other ships|USS Ponce}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
|+USS ''Ponce'' (AFSB-15)
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) underway in the Arabian Gulf on 26 April 2013 (130426-N-GZ984-233).jpg
|Ship caption=In 2013, after AFSB conversion
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag}}
|Ship name=''Ponce''
|Ship namesake= [[Ponce, Puerto Rico]]
|Ship ordered=17 May 1965
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Lockheed Shipbuilding]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
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|Ship laid down=31 October 1966
|Ship launched=20 May 1970
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|Ship completed=
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|Ship commissioned=10 July 1971
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=14 October 2017
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|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=13 November 2017
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=[[Norfolk, Virginia]]
|Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|368939000}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NSBJ
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=''Proud Lion''
|Ship honors=
|Ship captured=
|Ship fate= Scrapped in Brownsville 2022
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge= [[File:USS Ponce LPD-15 Crest.png|150px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Ship class={{sclass|Austin|amphibious transport dock}}
|Ship displacement=8883&nbsp;tons light, 16591&nbsp;tons full, 7708&nbsp;tons [[Deadweight tonnage|dead]]
|Ship length=*{{convert|173.7|m|abbr=on}} overall
*{{convert|167|m|abbr=on}} waterline
|Ship beam=*{{convert|30.4|m|abbr=on}} extreme
*{{convert|25.6|m|abbr=on}} waterline
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|Ship draft=*{{convert|6.7|m|abbr=on}} maximum
*{{convert|7|m|abbr=on}} limit
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|Ship speed={{convert|20|kn}}
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|Ship complement=29 officers, 487 men
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|Ship armament=*8 × [[M2 Browning|{{convert|0.5|in|mm|abbr=on|1}}]] [[caliber]] gun mounts
*2 × 20 mm [[Phalanx CIWS]]
*2 × 25 mm [[M242 Bushmaster#Mk 38 Mod 2|Mk 38 Mod 2]]<ref>
 {{cite news
 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/photos-uss-ponce-2012-9?op=1
 |title=America Has Never Had A Ship Like The USS Ponce
 |first=Robert
 |last=Johnson
 |date=23 September 2012
 |website=[[Business Insider]]
 }}</ref>
*[[Laser Weapon System]]<ref>{{cite news
 |url=http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/08/navy-to-deploy-laser-to-destroy-drones-small-boats/?hpt=hp_t5
 |title=Navy to Deploy Laser to Destroy Drones, Small Boats
 |date=8 April 2013
 |last1=Lawrence
 |first1=Chris
 |last2=Royce-Bartlett
 |first2=Lindy
 |website=[[CNN]]
 |access-date=9 April 2013
 |archive-date=16 May 2021
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516235833/https://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/04/08/navy-to-deploy-laser-to-destroy-drones-small-boats/?hpt=hp_t5
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
|Ship aircraft=
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}}
|}
'''USS ''Ponce'' (AFSB(I)-15) ('''''formerly''''' LPD-15)''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|ɒ|n|s|eɪ}} {{respell|PON|say}}), was an {{sclass|Austin|amphibious transport dock}}, formerly in service with the [[United States Navy]].
She has been the only ship of the Navy named for [[Ponce, Puerto Rico|Ponce]] in the Commonwealth of [[Puerto Rico]], which in turn was named after the Spanish explorer [[Juan Ponce de León]], the first governor of Puerto Rico and the European discoverer of [[Florida]]. Her [[keel]] was laid down on 31 October 1966 by the [[Lockheed Shipbuilding]] and Construction Company of [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. She was [[ship naming and launching|launched]] on 20 May 1970 [[Ship sponsor|sponsored]] by Florence W. Hyland, the wife of Admiral [[John Hyland|John J. Hyland]], and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 10 July 1971.<ref>{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p9/ponce.htm}}</ref> She spent most of her career based on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and operating in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, serving in [[Operation Desert Shield]] and supporting US operations in the [[2011 Libyan Civil War]].

It was intended that the ship would be decommissioned in 2012, but she gained a reprieve to be converted at short notice into a testbed for the [[Afloat Forward Staging Base]] (AFSB) concept, in which she would act as a base for mine-sweeping [[MH-53E]] Sea Dragon helicopters in the [[Persian Gulf]]. Following the conversion, ''Ponce'' had been used to test other initiatives and technologies, such as the [[Laser Weapon System]] and operating [[United States Army|US Army]] attack helicopters at sea. After the arrival of {{USS|Lewis B. Puller|ESB-3|6}} as a permanent AFSB (now designated as [[Expeditionary Mobile Base]] (ESB)),<ref name="usni16aug17">[https://news.usni.org/2017/08/16/navy-commission-expeditionary-sea-base-lewis-b-puller-uss-warship Navy to Commission Middle East-based Expeditionary Sea Base Lewis B. Puller as a Warship] - News.USNI.org, 16 August 2017</ref> ''Ponce'' was decommissioned in October 2017 after 46 years of service and 27 deployments.<ref>[https://news.usni.org/2017/10/16/uss-ponce-last-austin-class-amphibious-warships-decommissions USS Ponce, Last of the Austin-class Amphibious warships, Decommissions] - News.USNI.org, 16 October 2017</ref>

==Ship history==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2018}}

===1980s===
On 2 February 1982, during a towing exercise while en route to [[Portsmouth]], England, ''Ponce'' collided with {{USS|Fort Snelling|LSD-30|6}}, causing minor damage to ''Ponce''{{'}}s port side, mainly to the [[accommodation ladder]] and flight deck catwalk.

On 14 February 1984, while attempting to bring an assault craft into the welldeck, near [[Morehead City, North Carolina|Morehead City]], [[North Carolina]], ''Ponce'' suffered major damage when her [[stern gate]] was damaged and eventually lost. She was later repaired in [[Philadelphia]]. Following the stern gate repairs, ''Ponce'' resumed her deployment, successfully loading the [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] and equipment off North Carolina's shores and heading for the Mediterranean, where she served as part of a multinational peacekeeping force, patrolling the shore off [[Beirut]], Lebanon in the wake of the [[1983 Beirut barracks bombing|attack on the Marine barracks]] the previous October.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ponce Command History 1984|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/p/ponce-lpd-15-i/pdf/1984.pdf|website=Naval History & Heritage Command|publisher=US Navy|access-date=6 May 2015}}</ref>

===1990s===
On 5 August 1990, as part of [[Operation Sharp Edge]] to remove US citizens caught up in the civil war in [[Liberia]], ''Ponce'', together with {{USS|Saipan|LHA-2|2}}, {{USS|Sumter|LST-1181|2}}, and {{USS|Peterson|DD-969|2}}, inserted a United States Marine Corps reinforced rifle company into the U.S. Embassy compound in [[Monrovia, Liberia|Monrovia]] for increased security.

From June to December 1991, ''Ponce'' completed a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, and was part of Operation Desert Shield and supported [[Operation Desert Storm]].

In the first half of 1992, ''Ponce'' completed a four-month maintenance availability in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. In June, she took on [[midshipmen]] for a training cruise off the [[Virginia Capes]], which earned her the "[[Cortramid|CORTRAMID]] '92 Surface Warrior of the Week". In September, she arrived in [[Miami]] for [[Hurricane Andrew]] relief efforts. In October, she commenced counter drug operations in the Caribbean with a [[United States Coast Guard]] Law Enforcement Detachment on board.<ref>{{cite book |title= 1992 Command History – USS ''Ponce'' |last= Sherrange|first= Daniel T., Capt. |year= 1993 |publisher= US Navy |location= Washington, DC |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/shiphist/p/lpd-15/1992.pdf |access-date=29 January 2012}}</ref>

On 17 March 1993, ''Ponce'' departed on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in support of Operations "Deny Flight" and "Provide Promise". She was accompanied by USS ''Saipan'' and {{USS|Pensacola|LSD-38|6}}. During the deployment, she operated bilaterally with Greek units in exercise "Alexandros '93" and conducted amphibious landing exercises with the Tunisians in "Phiblex '93".

In April, 1996, operating with elements of the 22d Marine Expeditionary Unit - Special Operations Capable [MEU (SOC)] and the USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), the Ponce sailed from North Carolina independent of the "big deck" (USS Kearsarge, LHD-3), that was operating off the west coast of Africa, in support of a Non-Combatant Operation (NEO).  Along with the Carter Hall, the Ponce supported all 11 of the LF6F 2-97 tasking, including conducting embassy reinforcements during Operation Silver Wake in Albania, following unrest in the capital.  Supporting 4 CH-46E Sea Knight and 2 UH-1 helicopters during the entire deployment, the Ponce entered the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait and conducted Exercise Cooperative Partner in Bulgaria, marking the first time a combined Navy-Marine Corps task force had operated in the former Soviet Bloc country.  A second trip to the Black Sea saw the Ponce participate in Exercise Rescue Eagle in Romania and Exercise Sea Breeze in Ukraine.  Following Exercise Dynamic Mix in Greece, Ponce and Carter Hall returned to the East Coast in October, 1996, concluding the entire deployment as a two-ship Amphibious Ready Group. <ref>Landing Force 6th Fleet 2-97 22d MEU(SOC) cruise book</ref>

===2000s===
On 27 April 2001, ''Ponce'' commenced a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean, returning to Norfolk on 15 October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/archives/command-operation-reports/ship-command-operation-reports/p/ponce-lpd-15-i/pdf/2001.pdf|title=Annual Command History 2001|publisher=history.navy.mil|access-date=6 April 2018}}</ref> On 29 August 2001, ''Ponce'' crewmembers boarded two derelict Italian boats, a {{convert|19|ft|m|adj=on}} motorboat and a {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} sailboat, in the [[Straits of Messina]] between [[Sicily]] and [[Calabria]]. The civilian vessels were adrift, creating a navigational hazard. A boarding party in a rigid hull inflatable boat found both derelicts unmanned, though the motorboat was well stocked. They towed both boats back to ''Ponce'', which flooded her welldeck, brought the boats aboard, carried them into [[Catania]], and turned them over to the ''[[Corps of the Port Captaincies – Coast Guard|Guardia Costiera]]'' (Italian Coast Guard).

On 10 January 2003, ''Ponce'' received orders to depart Norfolk, Virginia and take on Marines from [[Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune|Camp Lejeune]], North Carolina, for the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. That duty kept ''Ponce'' at sea through February. At the end of February, she became the flagship of the Commander of Mine Countermeasure Squadron Three, designated as Commander, Task Group&nbsp;55.4. The Task Group included a US Navy special clearance team, two explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) units, a detachment of MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters from [[HM-14|Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen]] (HM-14), a British unit and an Australian team. The ships involved included the [[Minehunter|coastal mine hunters]] {{USS|Cardinal|MHC-60|2}} and {{USS|Raven|MHC-61|2}}, [[Mine countermeasures vessel|mine countermeasure ships]] {{USS|Ardent|MCM-12|2}} and {{USS|Dextrous|MCM-13|2}}, and [[dock landing ship]] {{USS|Gunston Hall|LSD-44|2}}.

[[File:USS Ponce (AFSB-I) Aerials.webm|thumb|USS ''Ponce'' aerials]]
After breaking the Squadron's pennant at her yardarm{{clarify|date=February 2018}}, the crews of ''Ponce'' and ''Gunston Hall'' enjoyed liberty ashore in [[Manama, Bahrain]], from 28 February to 5 March. She then served as Task Group [[flagship]] for a weeks-long minesweeping operation in Iraq, as humanitarian aid was being blocked by [[naval mine]]s in the [[Khawr Abd Allah]] river and the port of [[Umm Qasr]]. The Group used a variety of methods, including MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters towing magnetic minesweeping sleds, trained marine mammals, unmanned underwater vehicles and EOD divers. On 28 March 2003, a {{convert|200|yd|adj=on}}-wide channel was declared safe, and the British [[auxiliary vessel]] {{ship|RFA|Sir Galahad|1987|6}} docked at [[Umm Qasr Port]] and began offloading hundreds of tons of food and water. Work continued for weeks after that, widening the channel.

On 25 March 2005, ''Ponce'' again departed Norfolk, deploying with the {{USS|Kearsarge|LHD-3|2}} [[Expeditionary Strike Group]] (ESG) for six months. Following a port visit to Augusta Bay, Sicily, ''Ponce'' spent three months in the Persian Gulf conducting operations in support of the global [[War on Terrorism]]. While in the Persian Gulf, she made port visits to Bahrain and [[Jebel Ali]] in the United Arab Emirates. ''Ponce'' departed the Persian Gulf in August 2005. On 19 August, ''Ponce'' was in the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] awaiting the underway movement of {{USS|Ashland|LSD-48|6}} to allow ''Ponce'' to dock pier side. While ''Ashland'' was in the process, the [[Katyusha rocket launcher|Katyusha]] rocket attack occurred on USS ''Kearsarge'' and ''Ashland''. ''Ponce'' remained in the Gulf of Aqaba for over a week in response to the attack. She then conducted port visits to Malta and [[Rota, Spain]], before returning to Norfolk on 27 September.

===2010s===
[[File:US Navy 110516-N-VK779-150 Sailors and Marines man the rails as the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD 15) returns to Naval Station Norf.jpg|thumb|''Ponce'' returns in May 2011 from her last major deployment as an LPD, during the Libyan civil war]]
On 2 March 2011, ''Ponce'', along with ''Kearsarge'', traveled through the [[Suez Canal]] in response to the [[2011 Libyan civil war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=2 US warships move closer to Libya via Suez Canal |author=Nasrawi, Salah |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/02/AR2011030201087.html |newspaper=The Associated Press |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=2 March 2011}}</ref>

On 23 April 2011, Commander, [[United States Sixth Fleet|U.S. Sixth Fleet]] (C6F) relieved ''Ponce''{{'}}s commanding and executive officers, as a result of a [[Naval Board of Inquiry#Purpose of the board|hazing inquiry]]. [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice Admiral]] [[Harry B. Harris Jr.]], relieved commanding officer (CO) [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] Etta Jones, due to a demonstration of poor leadership and failure to appropriately investigate, report, and hold accountable sailors found involved in hazing incidents. Additionally, she failed to properly handle a loaded weapon during a security alert, which endangered some of her ship's crew. The relief of the executive officer (XO), [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]] Kurt Boenisch, was attributed to his failure to provide support to the command and to his commanding officer.<ref>Lessig, Hugh (24 April 2011). [https://www.dailypress.com/2011/04/23/commander-executive-officer-of-uss-ponce-relieved-of-command-after-hazing-inquiry/ "Commander, Executive Officer Of USS Ponce Relieved Of Command After Hazing Inquiry"] . ''[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Newport News Daily Press]]''.</ref><ref>Reilly, Corinne (1 December 2011). [https://archive.today/20120726174312/http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2011/12/navy-report-finds-preferential-treatment-ponce "Navy report finds preferential treatment on ''Ponce''"]. Norfolk, Virginia: ''The Virginian-Pilot''. Retrieved 6 December 2011.</ref>

On 26 October 2011, ''Ponce'' began a three-week tour that would take her to [[Port Canaveral]], Florida, the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], and her namesake city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. On her return to Norfolk, in December 2011, she was to begin the process of decommissioning.<ref>{{cite news |title=USS Ponce gets underway for Florida |author=Miller, Nathaniel |url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/79036/uss-ponce-gets-underway-florida |work=DVIDS |date=26 October 2011 |access-date=26 October 2011}}</ref> On 2 December 2011, ''Ponce'' came home to await decommissioning, scheduled for 30 March 2012, when she would be towed to the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]],<ref>{{cite news| title=USS Ponce to make final homecoming |author=Swink, Jessica |url=http://www.wwlp.com/dpps/military/uss-ponce-to-make-final-homecoming_4003362 |work=WWLP TV 22 |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=1 December 2011}}</ref> and put in reserve status. In January 2012, in response to requests from [[United States Central Command]], it was decided that she would be retrofitted and re-deployed as the first of a planned series of mine-countermeasures warships for use in keeping open strategic [[sea lane]]s.<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1">{{cite web|title=US Navy's new floating base gets a workout in Gulf|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-navys-new-floating-base-gets-a-workout-in-gulf/|work=[[Fox News Channel#Online|FoxNews.com]]|publisher=[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]]|access-date=28 September 2012|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001015641/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/23/us-navy-new-floating-base-gets-workout-in-gulf/?intcmp=obnetwork|archive-date=1 October 2012|url-status=live|date=23 September 2012}}</ref>

===Afloat Forward Staging Base, Interim (AFSB-I)===
[[File:USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) in the Arabian Sea in September 2014.JPG|thumb|In September 2014 after conversion to AFSB]]
[[File:120828-N-YG591-126.jpg|thumb|RHIB enters well-deck in 2012]]
On 24 January 2012, [[Military Sealift Command]] (MSC) posted a bid request to retrofit USS ''Ponce'' on a rush-order basis. MSC issued requests for proposal to upgrade and refit the ship. The work included upgrading the ship's navigation systems, bringing habitability up to MSC standards and general refurbishment.<ref name="Floating base ships"/> The ship was expected to be completely transformed in an estimated four to five months,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/us-navy-converting-ship-into-floating-commando-base-in-middle-east |title=US Navy Converting Ship into Floating Commando Base in Middle East |publisher=The Maritime Executive, LLC. |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref> and the target date for re-deployment to her new role was met.<ref name="Swink2"/>

''Ponce'' was re-designated from LPD-15 to AFSB(I)-15 (Afloat Forward Staging Base<ref name=wavy.com/> and "I" for "interim", until purpose-built vessels came on line in 2015),<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1"/> and she was modified to support mine-sweeping MH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters and small [[naval mine#Mine hunting|mine-clearance]] vessels.<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1"/><ref name=wavy.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/uss-ponce-to-become-floating-base |title=USS Ponce to become floating base |publisher= WAVY |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="Floating base ships">{{cite web|url=http://www.navytimes.com/news/2012/01/navy-afloat-forward-staging-base-ships-join-fleet-012812w/ |title=Floating base ships to join Navy fleet |work= Navy Times|date=28 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/pentagon-wants-commando-mother-ship/2012/01/27/gIQA66rGWQ_story.html |title=Pentagon wants commando "mothership" |newspaper=The [[Washington Post]] |date=28 February 2011 |access-date=29 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Photos from the 5th Fleet – 2012|url=http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/photos/2012.html|work=Cusnc.navy.mil|publisher=[[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]]|access-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105103535/http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/photos/2012.html|archive-date=5 January 2012|url-status=dead|format=JPG|date=18 September 2012}}</ref> The ship was operated jointly by active-duty Navy officers and sailors, as well as being crewed by government civilian mariners from Military Sealift Command, some of whom were more than 60 years old.<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1"/>

The ship served in the Persian Gulf as [[the Pentagon]]'s first floating staging base for military operations or humanitarian assistance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shanker |first1=Thom |first2=Eric |last2=Schmitt |first3=David |last3=Sanger |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/world/middleeast/us-adds-forces-in-persian-gulf-a-signal-to-iran.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title=U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, A Signal To Iran |date=3 July 2012 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> It was later reported that, despite the capability to do so, ''Ponce'' would not be a mothership for special operations, but rather a "lilypad" for MH-53E helicopters in a mine-clearance role, as well as for patrol and mine-clearance craft.<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1"/> As [[John C. Harvey, Jr.|Admiral John Harvey]] stated, "The topic was a hot one, and people read these [documents] we generate very closely. I think they put two and two together and got 22."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-01/transport-vessel-isn-t-being-made-seal-mothership-admiral-says.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721181102/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-01/transport-vessel-isn-t-being-made-seal-mothership-admiral-says.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 July 2012 |title=Transport vessel isn't being made SEAL mothership |work=Bloomberg Businessweek |date=1 February 2012 |access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref>

On 1 June 2012, ''Ponce'', in her new role as AFSB, deployed to the [[United States Fifth Fleet|Fifth Fleet]] area in the Middle East,<ref name="Swink2">{{cite news |title=USS Ponce to deploy Friday |author=Swink, Jessica |url=http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/uss-carr-uss-ponce-to-deploy-friday |work=WAVYTV.com |date=31 May 2012 |access-date=31 May 2012}}</ref> and on 22 June 2012 she passed through the [[Suez Canal]] on her way to Bahrain, arriving there on 5 July.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. sending floating naval base through Suez Canal |author=Barbara Starr |url=http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/21/navy-officials-floating-base-set-to-pass-through-suez-canal/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102194135/http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/21/navy-officials-floating-base-set-to-pass-through-suez-canal/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 January 2013| work=security blogs at CNN.com |date=22 June 2012 |access-date=22 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=US "Floating Base" Deploys to Gulf |author=AFP |url=http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=416672 |work=NowLebanon.com |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=7 July 2012 |archive-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130040402/http://www.nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=416672 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She then participated in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2012 (IMCMEX 2012) between 16 and 27 September 2012,<ref>{{cite news |title=USS Ponce Showcases Capabilities |author=Navy News |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2012/09/21/uss-ponce-showcases-capabilities.html |work=military.com |date=21 September 2012 |access-date=21 September 2012}}</ref> demonstrating the capabilities her [[Improvisation#Improvised weapons|"stop-gap"]] role was intended to fill.<ref name="FoxNews9_28_12-1"/>

On 29 October 2012, ''Ponce'' rescued seven Bahraini fishermen whose vessel was foundering in a hailstorm.<ref>{{cite news | title=USS Ponce rescues Bahraini fishermen in Gulf hail storm |author=US Naval Force, 5th Fleet Public Affairs|url=http://www.dvidshub.net/news/96928/uss-ponce-rescues-bahraini-fishermen-gulf-hail-storm#.UI_Be8XAeSo |work=DVIDS |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=30 October 2012}}</ref>

In 2013, ''Ponce'' functioned as the operational center and HQ for the International Mine Countermeasures Exercise in the Persian Gulf, using the berthing designed for transporting marines in order to function as a floating "hotel" for the operation.<ref>[http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/international-exercise-poses-logistical-challenge-for-uss-ponce-1.222066 "International exercise poses logistical challenge for USS Ponce."]</ref>

In October 2016, ''Ponce'' was subjected to missile fire ostensibly launched from Yemen by [[Houthi]] rebels.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/united-states/news/article.cfm?l_id=110&objectid=11728511|title=US troops target after Saudi strikes|last=Lamothe|first=Dan|date=2016-10-14|newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777|access-date=2016-10-13}}</ref>

In August 2017, ''Ponce'' was replaced in the AFSB role by ''Lewis B. Puller'' (ESB-3),<ref>[http://news.usni.org/2013/11/06/keel-laid-first-dedicated-afloat-forward-staging-base Keel Laid for First Dedicated Afloat Forward Staging Base] - News.USNI.org, 6 November 2013</ref> and in mid-2017, both ships briefly operated together. With the role of AFSB permanently taken over, the ship returned to port at Norfolk, Virginia on 27 September 2017.<ref>[http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/09/27/one-navys-oldest-ships-returns-unusual-final-deployment.html One of Navy's Oldest Ships Returns From Unusual Final Deployment] - Military.com, 27 September 2017</ref>

===Laser weapon tests===
[[File:Laser Weapon System aboard USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) in November 2014 (05).JPG|thumb|Laser Weapon System aboard USS ''Ponce'' (AFSB(I)-15) in November 2014 (05)]]
''Ponce'' became the testbed platform for the [[AN/SEQ-3 Laser Weapon System]] (LaWS), with installation of a prototype weapon system for field testing in August 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy's New Laser Weapon Blasts Bad Guys From Air, Sea|author=Luis Martinez|url=https://news.yahoo.com/navys-laser-weapon-blasts-bad-215808231.html|newspaper=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|date=9 April 2013| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Navy sees shipboard laser weapon coming soon|author=Jonathan Skillings| url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57578559-76/u.s-navy-sees-shipboard-laser-weapon-coming-soon/| newspaper=[[CNET]]| date=8 April 2013| access-date=9 April 2013}}</ref> In December 2014 the Navy reported the LaWS system worked perfectly, and that the commander of ''Ponce'' was authorized to use the system as a defensive weapon.<ref name=cnn2014>{{cite news| last1=Lendon| first1=Brad| title=Navy: New laser weapon works, ready for action| url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/tech/innovation/navy-laser-weapon| access-date=12 December 2014| publisher=[[CNN]]| date=11 December 2014|ref=CNN2014}}</ref> On 9 December 2014, the Navy released video footage of the LaWS in operation,<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/sbjXXRfwrHg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20141210185048/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjXXRfwrHg&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|last1=U.S. Navy|title=Laser Weapon System (LaWS) demonstration aboard USS Ponce|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjXXRfwrHg|website=YouTube.com|date=9 December 2014 |publisher=U.S. Navy|access-date=11 December 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and while the operating power is unknown, it is estimated to be in the range of 15–50&nbsp;[[Kilowatt]] (kW) for engaging [[Unmanned combat aerial vehicle|drones]], small aircraft and high-speed boats.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/apr/09/us-navy-laser-cannon-planes "US navy laser cannon shoots down planes"] ''The Guardian.'' 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2013.</ref>

''Ponce'' was deployed to the Persian Gulf with the laser in late August 2014,<ref>[https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/u-s-navy-deploys-its-first-laser-weapon-in-the-persian-gulf.html?hootPostID=94e130e1e7fc30541915dec039384948 U.S. Navy Deploys Its First Laser Weapon in the Persian Gulf] - Bloomberg.com, 14 November 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.janes.com/article/46126/laser-weapon-breaks-cover-on-uss-ponce Laser weapon breaks cover on USS Ponce] - Janes.com, 23 November 2014</ref> and the LaWS remained in use until 2017;<ref>[http://news.usni.org/2015/07/28/navy-pursuing-upgraded-railgun-higher-power-laser-gun-by-2020 Navy Pursuing Upgraded Railgun, Higher-Power Laser Gun By 2020] - News.USNI.org, 28 July 2015</ref> at which point, ''Ponce'' was decommissioned and the LaWS was moved to {{USS|Portland|LPD-27}}.<ref name="usni16aug17"/>

==Possible sale to Argentina==
In 2017, it was reported that [[Argentina]] was interested in acquiring ''Ponce'' as an addition to [[Argentine Navy|their Navy]]. It was reported that talks of purchase began while US Vice President [[Mike Pence]] was on a state visit to Argentina and met with Argentine President, [[Mauricio Macri]]. Such a purchase would restore [[amphibious assault]] capability to the Argentine Navy, which it has not had since 1997, with the decommissioning of tank landing ship, {{ship|ARA|Cabo San Antonio|Q-42|6}}. In response to these reports, the [[United Kingdom]] has expressed concern that said purchase would give Argentina a way to invade the [[Falkland Islands]] once again,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wearethemighty.com/news/argentina-is-buying-a-new-warship-from-america-that-is-making-the-brits-nervous|title=Argentina is buying a new warship from America that is making the Brits nervous|date=31 March 2018}}</ref> and if purchased, the [[Royal Navy]] would have to increase its presence in the Falkland Islands. The Navy has since announced that ''Ponce'' will be dismantled following her decommissioning, likely negating any possibility of a sale.<ref name= "decomm">{{cite web|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=102868 |title=USS Ponce Decommissioned after 46 Years of Service |work= SURFLANT Public Affairs |date=14 October 2017 |access-date=15 October 2017}}</ref>

==Decommissioning==
''Ponce'' was decommissioned at Naval Station Norfolk on 14 October 2017 and moved to the [[Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility]] in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], where it was laid up.

On 24 March 2022, ''Ponce'' was removed from the Philadelphia NIMSF and began its journey to [[Brownsville, Texas]], where it will be scrapped.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1icOmPx__g | title=USS Ponce (Decommissioned) under tow 03/24/2022 | website=[[YouTube]] | date=16 June 2022 }}</ref> It arrived in Brownsville on 12 April 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Welcome USS Ponce! |url=https://m.facebook.com/webuymetal/posts/5089328934453634/ |website=Facebook |publisher=All Star Metals & All Star Shredding |access-date=16 June 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Ponce (LPD-15)}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ponce.navy.mil/}}
*{{navsource|10/09/0915|USS Ponce}}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/archives/command-operations-reports/ships/p/ponce-lpd-15.html |title=Ponce (LPD-15) I |department=Command Histories |website=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]}}

{{Austin class landing platform dock}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ponce (LPD-15)}}
[[Category:Austin-class amphibious transport docks]]
[[Category:Cold War amphibious warfare vessels of the United States]]
[[Category:Experimental ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company]]
[[Category:1970 ships]]