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 atLong Beach, California. She alternated amphibioustraining 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.
She was decommissioned in 1994 and transferred to Brazilwere she serves as Mattoso Maia (G-28).