USS Acadia (AD-42) is a Yellowstone-class destroyer tender. She was commissioned on 6 June 1981.
In 1991, when the ship returned to San Diego from the deployment, thirty-six women were missing from the ship, the result of medical transfers for pregnancy. Nevertheless, the tender nicknamed the "Love Boat" received the Navy Unit Commendation for her exemplary service during the Gulf War.
USS Acadia (AD-42) a.k.a 'The Love Boat'

Anonymous
@ 2010-10-26 12:25:35
The Gompers was known as the "Love Boat" when the Acadia was being built, early 80's. How times change... ;o)

Anonymous
@ 2011-12-09 11:16:03
I was apart of that deployment, however when the USS Cape Code relieved us in Jebel Ali, I crossed decked to the signal bridge and stayed in the Gulf a little longer. But our ship did live up to is it's nickname the love boat.

Anonymous
@ 2016-07-06 18:51:35
what is not mentionedhere is that many of those women we married and it was discovered that they were pregnant by their husbands soon after departing the home port. It was not a big sex orgy as the "love boat" name would imply

Anonymous
@ 2016-10-04 16:23:16
We all worked so hard on an 8 month deployment. We were the first ship heading to the Gulf knowing we were headed to a "conflict". Those 36 women did not define our time spent repairing and supplying other ships during the Gulf War. We all worked our asses off thankyouverymuch!

Anonymous
@ 2023-09-14 21:16:35
I always thought the Acadia was called the Love boat because the keel was laid on February 14, 1978. DS3 Laura Ortiz

Anonymous
@ 2023-10-21 15:36:39
USS Acadia was my first ship after boot camp. My CC said “You Lucky MF I’m going to that ship too and I’m going to make it Hell for You” I was so scared???? He actually became a buddy. After this boat no other boat was good enough to stay in???? I wanted OUT!!! So I cruised my 3 years left on USS Rushmore and Coronado Base.