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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

Contributed by Mike Smolinski

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS St Louis (LKA-116)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Hotel - November - Tango
NHNT

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (24MAY72)
Second Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award (2) - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (6) - Navy Expeditionary Medal (1-Iran Indian Ocean)
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal (2) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 3 April 1968, as AKA-116, at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA.

Redesignated LKA-116, 1 January 1969

Launched, 4 January 1969

Commissioned USS St Louis (LKA-116), 22 November 1969, CAPT. John W. Klinefelter USN in command

During the Vietnam War USS St. Louis (LKA-116) participated in the following campaigns:

Campaigns and Dates	Campaigns and Dates
Vietnam War Campaigns
Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase II 20 to 29 August 1970 10 to 14 October 1970 28 December 1970 to 3 January 1971 30 January to 3 February 1971 23 to 25 February 1971 8 to 12 March 1971	Vietnam Ceasefire 27 April to 28 May 1972 9 June to 2 July 1972 10 July to 24 August 1972 16 to 20 September 1972 29 September to 1 October 1972 6 to 20 October 1972

Decommissioned, 2 November 1992

Laid up at the Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility (NISMF) in Maintenance Category B, as of 30 March 2000

Struck from the Naval Register, 15 August 2015

USS St. Louis earned two campaign stars for service during the Vietnam War

Final Disposition, to be sunk as a target in September 2018 off Guam

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

five LCM-6s

two LCVPs

two LCPLs

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
	87k	Invitation to the launching ceremony for *USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
100211524	424k	Mobile (AKA-115) and St. Louis (AKA-116) under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Co., Newport News, VA. in 1968. U.S. National Archives and Recordes Administration, College Park, Identifier: 6932182	Robert Hurst
	149k	The official party, dignitaries and guests gathered on the platform prior to launching St. Louis (LKA-116) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	112k	The ship's sponsor, the Honorable Leonor K. Sullivan, member of the House of Representatives from Missouri breaking the traditional bottle of champagne over the ships bow during the launching ceremony of St. Louis (LKA-116) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	169k	Launch of St. Louis (LKA-116) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	185k	Launch of St. Louis (LKA-116) at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	Photos by S. Dale Hargrave
	169k		Photos by S. Dale Hargrave
	100k	St. Louis (LKA-116) enters the water for the first time at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA., 4 January 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	107k	St. Louis (LKA-116) underway, probably during sea trials, near Hampton Roads, VA., circa November 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	137k	St. Louis (LKA-116) underway, probably during sea trials, near Hampton Roads, VA., circa November 1969. Photos courtesy Newport News SB & DD Co.	Robert Hurst
	54k
	40k
	132k	Cover of the Commissioning Program Ceremony for the commissioning of *USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** Naval Station Norfolk, VA., 22 December 1969.	S. Dale Hargrave
	99k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** underway, date and location unknown.	Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	94k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** standing out of San Diego, date unknown.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	22k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)**, starboard bow view early in her career. She mounts two twin 3"/50 guns at the bow.	.
	70k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** mount 33 twin 3"/50 gun mount, close-up view. circa 1972.	Photo by Patrick Doyle, 9th Motor Transport Bn, 4th Marines
	78k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116) and USS Tawakoni (ATF-114)** moored pierside at Naval Station Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, circa 1972.	Photo by Patrick Doyle, 9th Motor Transport Bn, 4th Marines
	112k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116) at Subic Bay, Philippine Islands, January 1974, after accidentally bumping USS Mount Vernon (LSD-39)** causing some light damage. No injuries were reported.	Photo by M. J. "Doc" Sanchez HM2 (FMF) USN Ret.
100211643	793k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** underway off the Southern California coast, 19 August 1976. Photo by PHAN Trombecky, U.S. Navy. This image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6392025/font>	Robert Hurst
	733k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** underway in the Pacific Ocean, 20 July 1976. US Navy Photographic Center photo # K-114558 by PH1 A. E. Legare, USN.	DCC(SS/SW) David Johnston, USN
	121k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** underway in San Diego Bay off NAS North Island, circa late-1978-early-1979.	Richard Stiles
	129k
	138k
	148k
	116k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** at anchor off White Beach, Okinawa, April 1979.	Photo by Ken Moss EN3 CTF67 Staff.
100211642	205k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** at anchor off the Silver Strand at San Diego, CA., date unknown.	Nicholas Triberio
100211644	1029k	*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** lying at anchor off Okinawa, Japan, 27 February 1990, as equipment is loaded prior to the combined South Korean/U.S. exercise Team Spirit '90. Photo by JO1 Joe Lancaster, U.S. Navy. This image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the National Archives Identifier (NAID) 6454047.	Robert Hurst
09034211	72k	Ships laid up at NISMF Pearl Harbor from top to bottom, ex-*USS Duluth* (LPD-6), ex-USS Acadia (AD-42), ex-USS Durham LKA-114) and ex-USS St. Louis (LKA-116)**, 26 July 2006.	Photo by Yu Chu
100705102	167k	U.S. Navy ships laid up in reserve in Middle Loch, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, as of 1 July 2016. Identifiable ships are (front to back): Amphibious Assault Ship *USS Peleliu* (LHA-5), Guided Missile Frigate USS McClusky (FFG-41), Guided Missile Frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG-48), Amphibious Assault Ship USS Tarawa (LHA-1), Guided Missile Frigate USS Crommelin (FFG-37), Guided Missile Frigate USS Curts (FFG-38), Guided Missile Frigate USS Thach (FFG-43), Guided Missile Frigate USS Rentz (FFG-46), Landing Ship Tank USS Racine (LST-1191), Dock Landing Ship USS Cleveland (LPD-7), USS Racine (LST-1191), Dock Landing Ship USS Denver (LPD-9), Dock Landing Ship USS Juneau (LPD-10); Amphibious Cargo Ship USS Durham (LKA-114) and Amphibious Cargo Ship USS St. Louis (LKA-116)*. US Navy photo # 160701-N-SI773-264 Pearl Harbor, July 16, 2001* by MC1 Ace Rheaume, USN.	Robert Hurst
	180k	Ex-*USS St. Louis* (LKA-116)** leaves Pearl Harbor for the last time as she is towed out to sea to be sunk as a target off Guam in September 2018.	Photos by CAPT. Wade Armstrong Pearl Harbor Pilots
	193k
	144k

For more photos and information about USS St Louis, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
Welcome Aboard pamphlet
USS St. Louis LKA-116
LKA-113 Charleston Class Specifications

Commanding Officers
01	CAPT. Klinefelter, John Winton, USN (USNA 1948-B)	22 November 1969 - June 1971
02	CAPT. Green, Norman Kenneth :RADM	June 1971 - 1 September 1972
03	CAPT. McKnight, Jesse Eddie	1 September 1972 - 20 March 1974
04	CAPT. Bruce Jr., George Wallace	20 March 1974 - 27 August 1975
05	CAPT. Smith, Alfred Anderson (Pete)	27 August 1975 - February1977
06	CAPT. Roach, Francis Leroy	February1977 - November 1978
07	CAPT. DeWeese, Everett Dale	November 1978 - April 1980
08	CAPT. Morris, David Roland (Snake), USN :RADM	April 1980 - 20 February 1982
09	CAPT. Dykes, Robert A.	20 February 1982 - 13 August 1983
10	CAPT. Gaines, William A.	13 August 1983 - 17 August 1985
11	CAPT. Tillotson, Frank Lee :RADM	17 August 1985 - January 1987
12	CAPT. Butler, Richard M.	January 1987 - April 1989
13	CAPT. McClelland, Thomas (T-Mac)	April 1989 - 18 June 1990
14	CAPT. Peterson, John W. (Swede)	18 June 1990 - January 1992
15	CAPT. Londot, Jack L.	January 1992 - 2 November 1992


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

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

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Last Updated 10 November 2023