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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Contributed by Mike Smolinski

USS El Paso (LKA-117)

Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - Xray - Xray
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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
Second Row - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran/Indian Ocean, 1-Lebanon)
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (3-Lebanon, 2-Op. Restore Hope, Somalia) - Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon (2)
Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, 22 October 1968, as Attack Cargo Ship (AKA-117), at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA.
  • Redesignated Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA-117), 1 January 1969
  • Launched, 17 May 1969
  • Commissioned USS El Paso (LKA-117), 17 January 1970
  • Decommissioned, 21 April 1994
  • Assigned to the Military Sealift Command (MSC) in 1995
  • Moved to Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Sparrows Pt., MD. for conversion to mixed civilian/Naval Reservist manning
  • Conversion canceled, moved to Philadelphia and placed out of service 23 October1996
  • Laid up at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) Philadelphia PA., in maintenance category B
    Specifications:
    Displacement 10,216.(lt) 18,589 t.(fl)
    Length 575' 6"
    Beam 82'
    Draft 26'
    Speed 20 kts.
    Armament
    As Built - four twin 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    Updated - two 20mm Phalanx CIWS
    Complement
    Officers 34
    Enlisted 375
    Troop Accommodations
    Officers 15
    Enlisted 211
    Boats
    four LCM-8s
    four LCM-6s
    two LCVP
    two LCP
    Aircraft landing platform
    Propulsion
    one geared turbine
    two boilers
    one propeller, 22,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    El Paso 101k The newly completed El Paso (LKA-117) underway, 25 November 1969, off Hampton Roads.
    Photo Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. Photo and text from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft: An Illustrated Design History" by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    El Paso 252k El Paso (LKA-117) underway off Hampton Roads during sea trials in December 1969. S. Dale Hargrave
    Charleston 95k USS El Paso (LKA-117) moored outboard of USS Charleston (LKA-113) at Naval Station Norfolk, 5 June 1974. Photos by S. Dale Hargrave
    El Paso 504k USS El Paso (LKA-117) anchored off Fort Story at Virginia Beach, VA., 10 January 1976, while conducting amphibious training. Photo by ©Richard Leonhardt
    El Paso 63k USS El Paso (LKA-117) Med-moored at Barcelona, Spain, 6 April 1977. Photo by Fabio Peña
    El Paso 37k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 .
    El Paso 42k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, circa late 1980s or early 1990s (after the addition of Phalanx CIWS) location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    El Paso 656k USS El Paso (LKA-117) moored at Marseille, France, date unknown. Photo by Philippe Gonzales
    El Paso 292k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway at Genoa, IT., 3 July 1991. Photo by Carlo Martinelli
    El Paso 27k USS El Paso (LKA-117) moored pierside at Naval Operating Base Norfolk, VA., summer 1992. Just visible at lower left is the bow of USS Emery S. Land (AS-39). Photo by Adam Robison
    El Paso 44k USS El Paso (LKA-117) moored pierside at Naval Station Rota Spain, date unknown. Photo by Manolo Budiño
    El Paso 103k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Federation of American Scientists web site
    El Paso 103k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Federation of American Scientists web site
    El Paso 53k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Federation of American Scientists
    El Paso 78k USS El Paso (LKA-117) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr.
    Butte 77k USS El Paso (LKA-117), USS Moosbrugger (DD 980) and USS John Hancock (DD 981) in the background with USS Butte (AE-27) in the foreground, all 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
    Ticonderoga 194k From outboard to inboard; ex-USS Yorktown (CG-47), ex-USS Mobile (LKA-115), ex-USS El Paso (LKA-117) and ex-USS Charleston (LKA-113) moored at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, date unknown. Ron Reeves
    There is no DANFS history available for USS El Paso (LKA-117) at NavSource

    For more photos and information about USS El Paso, see;
  • LKA-113 Charleston Class Specifications
  • USS El Paso (LKA-117)
  • Commanding Officers
    • Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 15 March 2013