USS Denver ( LPD - 9 ) USS " Denver " ( LPD - 9 ) , an " Austin " - class amphibious transport dock , is the third ship of United States Navy to bear this name . " Denver " ’ s keel was laid 7 July 1964 at Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company , Seattle , Washington . She was launched 23 January 1965 , christened by Mrs . John A . Love , wife of the Governor of Colorado , and commissioned 26 October 1968 . " Denver " is currently the oldest active ship in US service , following the deactivation of " Enterprise " on Dec 1 , 2012 . History . Role in the SS " Columbia Eagle " mutiny . In 1970 , the USS " Denver " played a key role in the SS " Columbia Eagle " incident . When the SS " Columbia Eagle " was commandeered by two mutinous crew members on 14 March 1970 , " Denver " was immediately dispatched to intercept and recapture " Columbia Eagle " . Vietnam War , 1975 . In April 1975 , " Denver " participated in Operation Frequent Wind , the evacuation of Saigon , Vietnam . 1984 . " Denver " took part in Westpac 84 and took part in several operations including Operation Beach Guard , Operation Cobra Gold , & Operation Valiant Usher . On her return trip in December 1984 , " Denver " participated in a tiger cruise . It was during this time that she collided with in a refueling exercise , " New Orleans " who had her elevator out and smashed into the " Denver " several times . Collision with USNS " Yukon " . On 13 July 2000 , the ship was participating in a refueling exercise near the end of a deployment . " Denver " , off the coast of Oahu , collided with its refueling vessel , . " Denver " s bow was seriously damaged . It remained in port at Pearl Harbor undergoing repairs for two weeks . Typhoon Morakot . Beginning on 17 August 2009 " Denver " started rendering humanitarian assistance to Taiwan due to the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot . " Denver " was tasked independently to render aid , along with two embarked squadrons , HM - 14 and HSC - 25 . They were supporting efforts by airlifting food , medical supplies , and providing heavy lift support for earth moving equipment to assist with recovery efforts . Due to the sensitive nature surrounding Taiwan , especially with the One China policy , the Department of Defense did not publicly announce relief efforts . " Denver " wa planned to be in the vicinity of Taiwan until 22 August 2009 to render aid to the people of Taiwan . " Denver " had just completed Talisman Saber 2009 and was on her way to her homeport when she was directly tasked with this humanitarian mission . 2009 Sumatra earthquakes . The " Denver " was sent to Sumatra to assist in the recovery efforts following the earthquakes there in September 2009 . 2010 . During the 2010 Fall Patrol , from 1 September to 25 November 2010 , " Denver " accompanied the USS " Essex " and the USS " Harper ' s Ferry " on a tour of Southeast Asia . During the patrol , " Denver " took part in the 60th anniversary of the invasion of Incheon , Korea and assisted the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Megi . On 17 November , " Denver " , " Essex " and " Harper ' s Ferry " became the first U . S . warships to visit Hong Kong ' s Victoria Harbor in more than two years . 2011 . The ship departed Sasebo in September 2011 for a patrol of the western Pacific . Accompanying the ship were the USS Germantown ( LSD - 42 ) and USS Essex ( LHD - 2 ) . Decommissioning . USS " Denver " is scheduled to be decommissioned and mothballed on 30 September 2014 .