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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS Charleston (LKA-113)
ex
 USS Charleston (AKA-113) (1968 - 1969)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - November - Hotel - Uniform
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Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - National Defense Service Medal
Bottom Row - Vietnam Service Medal (1) - Humanitarian Service Medal (1-Beirut Lebanon Evacuation) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down (date unknown) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Launched, 2 December 1967
  • Commissioned USS Charleston (AKA-113), 14 December 1968
  • Redesignated (LKA-113), 1 January 1969
  • During the Vietnam War USS Charleston (LKA-113) participated in the following campaign:
    Vietnam Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII Campaign
    4 to 8 April 1971
  • Decommissioned, 27 April 1992
  • Laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), Portsmouth, VA. in maintenance category "B" reserve status
  • Towed, date unknown, to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, PA.
  • USS Charleston was the lead ship of a five vessel class of cargo ships, all equipped with a helicopter landing area on the stern
  • USS Charleston earned one campaign star for Vietnam War service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 8,368 t.(lt) 18,600 t.(fl)
    Length 575' 6"
    Beam 82'
    Draft 25' 5"
    Speed 20 kts.
    Armament four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Complement 50 Officers, 592 Enlisted
    Boats 18 landing craft
    Propulsion single shaft with geared turbine machinery, shp 22,000
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    USS Charleston (AKA-113)
    Charleston 92k Invitation to the launching ceremony of USS Charleston (AKA-113) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 2 December 1967. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 120k Mayor J. Palmer Gaillard, Jr. of Charleston, SC at the podium prior to the launching USS Charleston (AKA-113) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 2 December 1967. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 87k The ship's sponsor, Mrs. John H. Thatch, wife of ADM. John Thatch, breaking the traditional bottle of champagne over the ships bow during the launching ceremony of USS Charleston (AKA-113) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 2 December 1967. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 212k Launching of USS Charleston (AKA-113) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 2 December 1967. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 213k Launching of USS Charleston (AKA-113) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA. on 2 December 1967. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 15k USS Charleston (AKA-113) underway, date and location unknown. .
    USS Charleston (LKA-113)
    Charleston 95k USS Charleston (LKA-113) moored inboard of USS El Paso (LKA-117) at Naval Station Norfolk, 5 June 1974. Photos by S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 101k
    Charleston 12k USS Charleston (LKA-113) at anchor in the Mediterranean Sea, March 1976. © Richard Leonhardt
    Charleston 54k USS Charleston (LKA-113) underway in the Caribbean Sea, February 1977. © Richard Leonhardt
    Charleston 77k USS Charleston (LKA-113) arriving/departing, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, July1981.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Charleston 77k USS Charleston (LKA-113) moored pierside at Fort Lauderdale, FL. in September, 1984. Bill Fessenden
    Charleston 101k "Charlene" the USS Charleston (LKA-113) mascot, 1984. Charlene was a mutt the crew rescued from the pound's death row. She was "assigned" to the ship's Navigation Department. Photo by Bill Fessenden
    Charleston 170k "Charlene" the USS Charleston (LKA-113) mascot, 1984. Photo by Bill Fessenden
    Butte 78k USS Charleston (LKA-113) and USS Butte (AE-27) laid up at the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, PA., September 2004 Photo by Jon White STG-3, USS Luce, 1985-87
    Mobile 209k USS Mobile (LKA-115) (outboard), USS El Paso (LKA-117) (center) and USS Charleston (LKA-113) (inboard closest to the pier) laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF), 29 October 29, 2007. Photo by ©Marc Piché Vercheres, Quebec, Canada. TJ Tropea, Courtesy Marc Piché
    There is no DANFS history available for USS Charleston (AKA / LKA-113) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LKA-113 Charleston Class Specifications
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To The Amphibious Cargo Ship (AKA/LKA) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 8 January 2010