USS Cayuga (LST-1186)

The third USS Cayuga (LST-1186) was a Newport-class tank landing ship in the United States Navy. She was named after a county in New York.

Cayuga was laid down on 28 September 1968 at San Diego, California, by the National Steel & Shipbuilding Corporation; launched on 12 July 1969; sponsored by Mrs. Luther C. Heinz; and commissioned on 8 August 1970, Commander William T. Hollenbach in command.

Following commissioning, Cayuga was assigned to the Amphibious Force, Pacific Fleet, with her home port at Long Beach, California. She alternated amphibious training operations along the west coast of the United States with regular, extended deployments to the Far East. Cayuga earned two battle stars for Vietnam service.

Cayuga became part of Naval Battle Force, Somalia, under Rear Admiral Arthur K. Cebrowski, in October–November 1993. Other elements of the force included USS America, USS Simpson, USS New Orleans (LPH-11), USS Denver (LPD 9), USS Comstock (LSD 45), and the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

She was decommissioned in 1994 and transferred to Brazil were she serves as Mattoso Maia (G-28).

Cayuga is featured extensively as a rescue ship in the disaster films Airport '77 (1977) and Gray Lady Down (1978).