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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
 NHXX
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) - 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
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 cancelled, 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 8,368 t.(lt) 18,600 t.(fl)
    Length 575' 6"
    Beam 82'
    Draft 25' 5"
    Speed 20 kts.
    Armament
    four twin 3"/50 DP gun mounts
    Complement
    50 Officers
    592 Enlisted
    Boats 18 landing craft
    Propulsion single shaft with geared turbine machinery, 22,000 SHP
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    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, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret
    El Paso 63k USS El Paso (LKA-117) Med-moored at Barcelona, Spain, 6 April 1977. Photo by Fabio Peña
    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
    There is no DANFS history available for USS El Paso (AKA-117) 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 24 January 2008