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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Left 1967 patch contributed by Tommy Trampp, center patch contributed by Russ Moody, right patch by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Camden (AOE-2)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Sierra - Oscar NJSO

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Unit Commendation (4) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3) - Navy Battle "E: Ribbon (3)
Second Row - Navy Expeditionary Medal (Iran Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf) - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Bosnia, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Korea, Op. Restore Hope Somalia, Persian Gulf, Quemoy-Matsu)
Third Row - Vietnam Service Medal (7) - Southwest Asia Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Sacramento Class Fast Combat Support Ship:

Laid down, 17 February 1964, at New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.

Christened and launched, 29 May 1965

Commissioned USS Camden (AOE-2), 1 April 1967

USS Camden and her sister USS Sacramento (AOE-1), are unique in that their propulsion systems were originally installed in

the uncompleted sister to the two Iowa class battleships, Kentucky (BB-66). When it was decided to scrap

Kentucky, the Navy split the propulsion system and installed it in USS Sacramento and USS Camden

During the Vietnam War USS Camden (AOE-2) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase V 02 to 11 and 19 to 29 July 1968 12 August to 25 August 1968 2 to 18 and 21 to 23 September 1968 5 to 30 October 1968	Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VII 21 September to 7 October 1970 24 October to 8 November 1970 21 November to 7 December 1970 14 January to 9 February 1971 19 February to 1 March 1971
Vietnamese Counteroffensive-Phase VI 9 to 28 November 1968 30 December 1968 to 18 January 1969 28 January to 14 February 1969	Consolidation II 26 February to 8 March 1972 17 March 29 March 1972
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969 14 September to 4 October 1969 16 to 31 October 1969	Vietnam Ceasefire Campaign 30 March to 3 April 1972 10 April to 6 May 1972 16 to 28 May 1972 12 to 30 June 1972 7 to 28 July 1972 15 to 25 August 1972
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970 1 to 2 November 1969 17 November to 10 December 1969 13 to 25 January 1970 1 and 8 to 9 February 1970 14 February to 2 March 1970

Decommissioned, 29 September 2005, at Pier Delta at Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 29 September 2005

USS Camden earned seven campaign stars for Vietnam War service

Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 13 April 2007, to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., scrapping completed, 13 May 2008

Specifications:
Displacement 18,884 t.(lt) 53,000 t.(fl)
Length 796'
Beam 107'
Draft 38' (max.)
Speed 29 kts.

Complement

27 Officers

587 Enlisted

Aircraft two CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters

Armament

NATO Sparrow missiles

two Phalanx CIWS

Propulsion

four V2M 600psi boilers,

two geared steam turbines

two 23' diameter propellers, 100,000shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
0959079	19k	*Namesake* Camden is a city in and the county seat of Camden County, N.J. Camden is located directly across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, PA. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828. The city derives its name from Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. (Wikipedia)	Tommy Trampp
09590277	117k	Mrs. Benedict J. Semmes, wife of the Chief of Naval Personnel. ADM. Semmes, christens Camden (AOE-2) during the ship's launching, 29 May 1965, at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. New York Shipbuilding Corp. photo.	Dale Hargrave
	584k	Camden (AOE-2) launching, 29 May 1965, at New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. New York Shipbuilding Corp. photo.	Dale Hargrave
09590278	83k	Camden (AOE-2) builders identification photo, 14 November 1966, off New York Shipbuilding Co., Camden, N.J. New York Shipbuilding Corp. photo # 542-89-66.	Tommy Trampp
09590281	258k	Camden (AOE-2) underway off San Diego, CA., date unknown ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
	74k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown, US Navy photo.
	359k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) departs after being alongside USS America (CVA-66) during a replenishment at sea in WESTPAC during 1968. Photo taken from USS England (DLG-22)**	John Spivey
	158k	Line handlers on board *USS Boston* (CA-69) bring across a fuel hose from USS Camden (AOE-2)** during underway replenishment operations in the Gulf of Tonkin, July 1968. US Navy photo # USN 1134232 by PH2 Gardner, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.	US Naval History and Heritage Command
09590280	171k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Gurke (DD-783) off the coast of Vietnam, May 1972. photo taken by Bruce Hevner from USS Mispillion> (AO-105)**	Bob Canchola
	86k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) under way alongside the guided missile cruiser USS Chicago (CG-11) during the Vietnam war. The image shows Camden's refueling hose being hauled across to Chicago**. Photo taken by Thewellman (name unknown).	Robert Hurst
	153k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** en route to Vietnam, South China Sea	Photo by William P Jones, MD Medical Officer USS Niagara Falls (AFS-3)
	111k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** outbound to sea from San Diego, CA., date unknown	Richard Miller3 BMCS USNR Ret.
	197k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown. US Navy photo.	Dennis Stephenson SMC USN Ret
	79k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) conducting an underway replenishment with USS Intrepid (CVS-11)**, WESTPAC, second half of 1968.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
NS0243bha	385k	Soviet AGI (intelligence gathering auxiliary) Gidrofon (Гидрофон) shadows *USS Coral Sea* (CVA-43) and other US warships in the Gulf of Tonkin, 28 October 1969. According to their deck logs, USS Camden (AOE-2) conducted an UNREP with Coral Sea, USS Blue (DD-744), and USS Collett (DD-730), 27-28 October 1969. USS Coral Sea** CVB-43 CVA-43 CV-43 Tribute Site	Bob Canchola, BT, USN (Ret.)
09590263	37k	Views from *USS Hancock* (CVA-19) as the carrier approaches and steams alongside USS Camden (AOE-2)'s port side, 26 November 1968 on Yankee Station off the coast of South Vietnam to conduct a routine underway replenishment. At 1424 two aircraft, An F-8 Crusader belonging to VF-24 Renegades and an the ships Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft (COD) C-1 Trader parked on the the No. 3 elevator with their tails hanging over the edge of the elevator became entangled in the hoses and guy wires stretched between the ships to transfer fuel from Camden to Hancock. Both aircraft ended up on the main deck of Camden*. These photos show some of result of the collision and wreckage. Photos contributed by Michael Gordon USS Hancock* USS Camden Deck Log for 26 November 1968	Bob Canchola
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	77k	A couple of aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 21 involuntarily "transferred" from *USS Hancock* (CVA-19) to USS Camden (AOE-2)** as a result of a collision in the Tonkin Gulf, 26 November 1968. See USS Hancock Oral History website for more details.	Facebook, via Bob Canchola, BT, USS Oriskany (CVA-34)
	82k		Facebook, via Bob Canchola, BT, USS Oriskany (CVA-34)
	111k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** conducting an underway replenishment with an unidentified destroyer and aircraft carrier, circa 1968, location unknown.	Robert Hurst
	568k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) alongside the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) while conducting an underway replenishment on Yankee Station off the coast of Vietnam in December 1968. In addition to delivering food, fuel and cargo Camden also on this occasion delivered Martha Raye to Coral Sea** for a USO Christmas Show.	Hank Cenkner, former CTR2
091914527	108k	U.S. Navy stores ship *USS Pictor* (AF-54), highlines cargo to the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE-2), center, while the fleet oiler USS Hassayampa (AO-145) replenishes Camden*'s fuel oil tanks, circa February 1969. 091914527 - U.S Navy photo* 091914543 - U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # XFC-02171-2-69 by PH2 Kenneth L. Barrett	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret. Robert Hurst
091914543 USNHC XFC-02171-2-69	196k		Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret. Robert Hurst
	104k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2), with USS Hollister (DD-788)** alongside during Vertrep and refueling operations off the coast of South Vietnam in 1969. Photo taken from Iwo Jima (LPH-2) by H.R. Adams CSC USN	Larry Lee
	63k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** at anchor at Subic Bay, P.I., in February 1969. US Navy photo.	Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
09590286	313k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) conducting and UNREP/VERTREP with USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63)** in Tonkin Gulf, circa 1972. The Sea Knight helicopter appears to be CH-46D BuNo 154031 assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 3 (HC-3/HSC-3).	Mike Dunlap
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09590288	301k
	158k	*USS John R. Craig* (DD-885) comes alongside USS Camden (AOE-2) off the coast of Vietnam during an underway replenishment, circa 2 April 1972. Photo taken from USS Waddell (DDG-24)**, by GMG2 Bill Liesch.	Photos courtesy GMG2 Bill Liesch, contributed by Bob Canchola
	153k
	101k	*USS Waddell* (DDG-24) comes alongside USS Camden (AOE-2) in WestPac during an underway replenishment, circa 1971-72. Photo taken from USS Waddell (DDG-24)**, by GMG2 Bill Liesch.	Photos courtesy GMG2 Bill Liesch, contributed by Bob Canchola
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	3327k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** in the harbor at Wellington, New Zealand, 14 August 1979.	Photo from the Chris Howell collection with copyright
	84k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** mooring at Pier 38 San Francisco Service Engineering Co., 2 October 1981 to begin an extensive overhaul. The overhaul was scheduled to be completed by Todd Shipbuilding, Oakland, CA. by November 1982.	Tommy Trampp
	98k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2), bows on view in port San Diego, at NAS North Island, circa February 1987. Photo taken from the USS Coronado (AGF-11)**.	Lacy L Lee Jr, RM1 USN Ret
	95k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	347k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown.	Tommy Trampp
	94k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
09590282	1188k	Camden (AOE-2) underway outbound to sea from San Diego, CA., date unknown ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
09590283	209k	Camden (AOE-2) underway San Diego, CA., date unknown ©George Barber	Nicholas Tiberio
09590284	260k	Camden (AOE-2) underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
09590285	187k	Camden (AOE-2) underway, date and location unknown.	Nicholas Tiberio
	61k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way off the coast of California, 24 February 1989. Photo by Karsten Petersen	Robert Hurst
	188k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) with USS Cook (FF-1083)** alongside, 1 June 1990, at Diego Garcia. US Navy photo DVID # DN-SC-93-01106	Defense Imagery.mil
	387k	An aerial view of Battle Group 94 under way near Australia, circa July 1994. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier *USS Carl Vinson* (CVN-70) is shown with some of the accompanying ships of the Battle Group. Clockwise from the left: the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Asheville (SSN-758), the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS Arkansas (CGN-41), the fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE-2), the guided missile frigate USS Reuben James (FFG-57), and the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG-54)**. A US Navy photo by PH2 David Lloyd. Available from DefenseImagery.mil (# DN-SC-95-00476).	Robert Hurst
	127k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, photo signed by CAPT. Moe Joyce, dated 8 December 1997	Tom Armstrong
	434k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** is assisted by tugs into the Port of Valdez, Alaska city terminal in support of the Alaskan Command exercise "Northern Edge 2002. US Air Force photo # 220424-F-5789F-001 PORT OF VALDEZ, (24 April 2002) by TSGT. Steve Faulisi, USAF	Defense Imagery.mil
	61k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** moored pierside at NAS North Island, San Diego, CA., July 2004.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	52k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) under way during a replenishment at sea with USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70)*, 24 January 2005. US Navy photo # 050124-N-8623G-017* from the Navy NewsStand web site	Jack Treutle
	30k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) holds her station as an unidentified DDG breaks away and USS Mustin (DDG-89)** prepares to come alongside for replenishment at sea. Week of 13 February 2005.	Photo by Ens. Brandon M. Booher USS Mustin, submitted by John VanGiesen USS Camden
	45k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) holds her course as USS Mustin (DDG-89)** comes alongside for replenishment at sea. Week of 13 February 2005. Good close-up view of USS Camden's stern area.	Photo by Ens. Brandon M. Booher USS Mustin, submitted by John VanGiesen USS Camden
	55k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) and USS Mustin (DDG-89)** about to begin a replenishment at sea. Week of 13 February 2005.	Photo by Ens. Brandon M. Booher USS Mustin, submitted by John VanGiesen USS Camden
	36k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)**'s greeting to ships that come alongside for replenishment at sea. Week of 13 February 2005.	Photo by Ens. Brandon M. Booher USS Mustin, submitted by John VanGiesen USS Camden
	125k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) separates from her position alongside the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in the Philippine Sea, 17 February 2005. The AOE has the speed and armament to keep up with the Carrier Strike Groups and has the capability to carry more than 177,000 barrels of oil, 2,150 tons of ammunition, 500 tons of dry stores and 250 tons of refrigerated stores. Lincoln** and embarked Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2) are currently deployed to the Western Pacific Ocean. US Navy photo # 050217-N-6074Y-108, by PH3 M. Jeremie Yoder.	Robert Hurst
09590289	185k	Crew members assigned to the guided missile frigate *USS Thach* (FFG-43), stand ready for their line handling duties as the ship makes her approach to USS Camden (AOE-2) and the amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD-6)*, 24 March 2005. U.S. Navy photo # 050324-N-6932B-022* by PH1 Richard J. Brunson.	Robert Hurst
09590290	123k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) pulled alongside amphibious transport dock ship USS Duluth (LPD-6)** for a night time replenishment at sea (RAS), 17 April 2005. Extreme safety measures are taken at all times for the ships and their crew members during operations where fuel and stores are taken onboard. U.S. Navy photo # 050417-N-4309A-049 by PH1 Aaron Ansarov.	Robert Hurst
	129k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2) transits through the Suez Canal, while operating with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group*, deployed to the 6th Fleet area of operations (AOR), 8 July 2005. . US Navy photo # 050708-N-5275P-005* by PHAN Sherry Louise Peck.	Jack Treutle
	62k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	86k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** under way, date and location unknown.	Tom Armstrong
	43k	*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** returns to her homeport at Bremerton, WA. after completing an overseas deployment, date unknown. She is being nudged into her berth by Large Harbor Tug Canonchet (YTB-834).	Tom Armstrong
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	204k	Ex-*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** in the Panama Canal, 14 August 2007, while enroute to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., for scrapping.	Photo by Capt. Peter, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico
	218k	Ex-*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** in the Panama Canal, 14 August 2007, while enroute to ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., for scrapping.	Photo by Capt. Peter, Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico
	222k	Ex-*USS Camden* (AOE-2)** moored at ESCO Marine, Brownsville, TX., while being dismantled.	Photo by Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.
	1086k	Ex-*USS Camden* (AOE-02) moored forward of ex-USS Sacramento (AOE-01) at ESCO Marine during scrapping operations. USS Camden (AOE-2)** has a fire on board while being cut up by the scrappers torches. Photo by © Michael Martin, Brownsville, TX.	TJ Tropea

USS Camden (AOE-2) Memorabilia
Three Welcome Aboard pamphlet covers Contributed by Tom Armstrong	Change of Command, 4 April 1986 Contributed by Tom Armstrong	Change of Command invitation, 7 April 1988 Contributed by Tom Armstrong	Change of Command invitation, 24 October 1989 Contributed by Tom Armstrong	Change of Command program cover, 21 August 1992 Contributed by Tom Armstrong	Change of Command program cover, 23 May 2003 Contributed by Tom Armstrong

USS Camden
History from a Change of Command program

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Rozier, Charles Preston, USN (USNA 1944)	1 April 1967 - 29 April 1968
02	CAPT. Moorer Jr., Joseph Park (Joe),USN (USNA 1945) :VADM	29 April 1968 - 15 May 1969
03	CAPT. Young, Randall Wayne	15 May 1969 - 19 August 1970
04	CAPT. Russell, William Mason (Bill)	19 August 1970 - 6 November 1971
05	CAPT. Stringfellow, Reid	6 November 1971 - 30 March 1973
06	CAPT. Thomas, Richard Terry	30 March 1973 - 7 November 1974
07	CAPT. Felt, Donald Linn :RADM	7 November 1974 - 1 March 1976
08	CAPT. Campbell Jr., Donald Stiles	1 March 1976 - 21 November 1977
09	CAPT. Grafius, Guy Albert Boyer, USN (USNA 1955)	21 November 1977 - 19 April 1980
10	CAPT. Taylor Jr., Robert Charles, USNR (USNA 1956)	19 April 1980 - 10 August 1981
11	CAPT. Macke, Richard Chester, USN (USNA 1960) :ADM	10 August 1981 - 26 May 1983
12	CAPT. Waples, John Michael	26 May 1983 - 31 October 1984
13	CAPT. Wilson, Richard Alexander, USN (USNA 1963) :RADM	31 October 1984 - 4 April 1986
14	CAPT. Wileen, Gordon Charles	4 April 1986 - 7 April 1988
15	CAPT. Nelson, Barron Craig	7 April 1988 - 5 July 1989
16	CAPT. Millis Jr., Archibald Edward, USN (temporary)	5 July 1989 - 24 October 1989
17	CAPT. White, Douglas Alan, USN	24 October 1989 - 24 April 1991
18	CAPT. Sprigg, Robert Gary, USN (USNA 1969) :RADM	24 April 1991 - 21 August 1992
19	CAPT. Kaczmarek, Michael Herbert, USN	21 August 1992 - 20 March 1994
20	CAPT. Zimmerman, Kenneth Ron	20 March 1994 - 20 October 1995
21	CAPT. Chanik Jr., Evan Marthy, USN (USNA 1973) :VADM	20 October 1995 - 30 May 1997
22	CAPT. Joyce, Maurice Stephen (Moe)	30 May 1997 - 7 December 1998
23	CAPT. Loewer, Deborah Ann :RADM	7 December 1998 - 14 July 2000
24	CAPT. Green, Johnny Lee (Turk), USN	14 July 2000 - 3 December 2001
25	CAPT. Mobley, Arthur Scott	3 December 2001 - 23 May 2003
26	CAPT. Carter Jr., Walter Edward (Ted), USN (USNA 1981) :VADM	23 May 2003 - 14 October 2004
27	CAPT. Norton, Kenneth Joseph, USN :RADM	14 October 2004 - 14 October 2005


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
Underway Replenishment with USS Constellation CV-64 during the 1985 Constellation Battle Group Western Pacific deployment
USS Camden (AOE-2) Postal Covers

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Last Updated 1 March 2024