Lake Champlain was laid down 3 March 1986 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 3 April 1987 and commissioned 12 August 1988 at Intrepid Pier at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, Captain Ralph K. Martin commanding. She then steamed to her homeport of San Diego, via Cape Horn, South America, losing part of her Hurricane Bow in heavy seas. She has been to the Persian Gulf many times, first as a part of Operation Desert Shield, then later following Desert Storm. She aided in the evacuation of the Philippines during the Mount Pinatubo eruption while transiting to the Persian Gulf.