USS Savannah ( AOR - 4 ) USS " Savannah " ( AOR - 4 ) , was a of the United States Navy . The fifth " Savannah " was laid down on 22 January 1969 by the General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division at Quincy , Massachusetts , launched on 23 April 1970 , sponsored by Mrs . Ralph L . Shifley , wife of Vice Admiral R . L . Shifley , Deputy Chief of Naval Operations , and commissioned on 5 December 1970 , Capt . Bernard P . Williams , Jr . , in command . Service history . 1970 – 1974 . Following shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay , " Savannah " proceeded to her homeport at Norfolk , Virginia . Arriving on 12 May , she completed post - shakedown availability on 9 August , and prepared for deployment to the Mediterranean . " Savannah " departed Norfolk on 20 September . En route to Rota , Spain , she refueled ships participating in a Caribbean exercise . After reporting to the 6th Fleet on 8 October , " Savannah " operated in Task Group 60 . 1 . By the end of the year , she had replenished 178 ships . " Savannah " continued to operate with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean until early March 1972 . On 9 March , she headed west for Norfolk and arrived there eight days later . Her stay in the United States , however , was cut short by the exigencies of the Vietnam War . On 25 April , she exited the Chesapeake Bay and , four days later , transited the Panama Canal . " Savannah " arrived in Subic Bay , Philippines , on 20 May and began a five - month tour replenishing the fleet along the coast of Vietnam . She made six line swings to the Gulf of Tonkin during this time . Each swing was punctuated by a 4 - 6 day load out period in Subic Bay . " Savannah " departed Subic Bay on 5 November , bound for Norfolk . She transited the Panama Canal on 4 December and arrived at Norfolk on the 8th . " Savannah " operated out of Norfolk , along the Atlantic seaboard and in the Caribbean , for almost all of 1973 . On 3 December 1973 , she again headed eastward to join the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean . From 12 December until late May 1974 , she supported units of the 6th Fleet on - station in the Mediterranean . On 3 June 1974 , she re - entered Norfolk . 1974 – 1995 . From December 1976 through August 1977 ship the was laid up at the Brooklyn Navy Yard , for restructuring of her aft section . The 3 " 50 cal . dual mounts were removed for twin helo hangars for a pair of CH46D SeaKnight helicopters . The ship visited the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1980 - 1981 . Decommissioning and sale . " Savannah " was decommissioned on 28 July 1995 , at Norfolk , Virginia , moored at the former Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia for a few years and was finally laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet , James River , Fort Eustis , Virginia . The ship was struck from the Naval Register on 29 October 1998 , and transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal . On 27 January 2009 , the Department of Transportation signed a fee for service contract worth $ 515 , 726 with ESCO Marine of Brownsville , Texas , to scrap ex - " Savannah " . The scrapping of the " Savannah " was featured on the television show " Break It Down " which aired on 8 July 2010 on the National Geographic Channel . Extensive footage of the ship was featured , chronicling the struggles with removing toxic items like asbestos prior to salvaging and cut up . Awards . " Savannah " earned one battle star and a Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in the Vietnam War .