USS Puget Sound ( AD - 38 ) USS " Puget Sound " ( AD - 38 ) was a , the second ship of the United States Navy to bear the name " Puget Sound " . The building contract was awarded 29 December 1964 to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton , Washington . The keel was laid 15 February 1965 , and she was launched 16 September 1966 . Commissioned 27 April 1968 , she served almost 29 years until decommissioned on 27 January 1996 . She was berthed at Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility ( NISMF ) Philadelphia , Pennsylvania until April 2008 at which time she was sold to ESCO Marine , Brownsville , Texas for recycling and transferred under tow to that facility . The scrapping project was completed in February , 2009 . Service history . " Puget Sound " was designated to perform repairs and maintenance of the U . S . Navy ' s shore and seagoing equipment . Serving in the Atlantic Fleet for her life span , she was homeported in Newport , Rhode Island ; Gaeta , Italy ; and Norfolk , Virginia . She served a portion of her life as the flagship for the Admiral in charge of the Sixth Fleet while homeported in Gaeta . She served during several conflicts , including the latter portion of the Vietnam War ; the crisis in Lebanon ; and Operation Desert Storm , Operation Desert Shield , and Operation Restore Hope . Instrumental to keeping the Atlantic Fleet afloat and mobile , she has repaired and resupplied most ships stationed or serving in the Atlantic Ocean , Mediterranean Sea , Red Sea , and Persian Gulf . Additionally she could carry and support one SH - 3 Sea King helicopter ( or similar size aircraft ) from her flight deck and hangar and did so during her years as 6th Fleet Flagship in Gaeta , Italy . Capabilities . With a complete repair department on board , she could repair any surface ship that did not need a dry dock for hull repairs . A dive shop allowed for underwater repairs to be made , however such repairs were limited . Outfitted with two stationary center - mast main cranes , she could move heavy equipment to and from other ships or docks to be repaired and then reinstalled . Two smaller traveling cranes could move up and down each side of the aft portion of the ship ' s upper deck , which allowed equipment to be moved virtually anywhere needed . AD - 38 also had a full supply department that could provide any tended ships alongside with stores , such as food and drink , ammunition , fuel , water , and medical / dental services . Her administration department could serve as a floating Personnel Support Detachment ( PSD ) and a dispersing center for payroll . Her ship ' s store also served many personnel , both tended by and stationed aboard her , with personal items such as grooming supplies , snack foods , tobacco products , books , uniform articles , and more . All offensive armament was removed from the ship in 1979 as part of the modifications to allow women to serve in the ship ' s crew . U . S . law at the time did not allow women to serve on combatant ships . Hull markings . Displayed prominently on both sides of her bow , the " Puget Sound " bore a large white " D " followed by the numbers " 38 " . As with most ships in the US Navy , the first letter of the ship ' s hull number was dropped when painted on the side of the bow . In the " Puget Sound " ' s hull number " AD - 38 " , the ' A ' stands for ' Auxiliary ' . She was not a fighting ship , rather a support ship . The ' D ' stands for ' destroyer tender ' , as opposed to submarine tender s ( AS ) . Finally , the " 38 " is her designation number separating her from other ships that are of the same type . Painted across the stern on the third deck fantail , or the rear portion of the ship on the deck lowest to the water , was her name " Puget Sound " .