The US Navy built twenty of these units, and the former USS San Bernardino (LST-1189), current LST. 93 Valdivia, was the eighth of her type. She was built by National Steel & Shipbuilding Yardships in San Diego, USA. Her keel was put on July 12, 1969, and was launched on March 28, 1970.

She was commissioned into the US Navy on March 27, 1971. In 1972, she participated in the final stage of Vietnam War; in 1980, She operated on the Indian Ocean area; and in 1983 she was assigned to the port of Sabebo in Japan, and carried out assistance tasks in Japan, Korea and The Philippines; in 1990, she participated in Operation Desert Storm; and subsequently came back to the Pacific Ocean area to carry out regional peace and development operations.

The Chilean Flag was raised on board this ship on September 30, 1995 in San Diego, California. This ship arrived in ValparaÃ*so on December 1, 1995.