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USS Charleston (LKA 113)

- formerly AKA 113 -
- decommissioned -



USS CHARLESTON was the first of five CHARLESTON - class amphibious cargo ships. Initially laid down as AKA 113 but redesignated LKA 113 on January 1, 1969, the USS CHARLESTON was transfered to the Naval Reserve Force in the early 1980s, but returned to the active fleet shortly afterwards because of the need for additional sealift capacity. Decommissioned on April 14, 1968, CHARLESTON was subsequently berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, Penn., where she was held in reserve to make her available in the case of a military emergency. The ship was stricken from the Navy list on August 15, 2015.

General Characteristics:Awarded: June 11, 1965
Keel laid: December 5, 1966
Launched: December 2, 1967
Commissioned: December 14, 1968
Decommissioned: April 27, 1992
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.
Propulsion system: two boilers, one geared turbine, one propeller shaft, 22,000 shaft horsepower
Propellers: one
Length: 575.5 feet (175.4 meters)
Beam: 82 feet (25 meters)
Draft: 25.6 feet (7.8 meters)
Displacement: approx. 18,700 tons full load
Speed: 20+ knots
Aircraft: helicopter platform only
Boats: 4 LCM-8, 4 LCM-6, 2 LCVP and 2 LCP
Armament: two 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Crew: Ship: 22 officers and 334 enlisted     USMC: 15 officers and 211 enlisted


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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS CHARLESTON. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.


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USS CHARLESTON Cruise Books:


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Ship's History:

Commissioned on December 14, 1968, USS CHARLESTON has since seen service in a host of exercises in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as the Caribbean, North Atlantic and off the US East Coast. In the spring of 1971, in company with units of the SEVENTH Fleet, CHARLESTON completed an around-the-world cruise during which she carried building materials and supplies for establishment of Naval Communications Facility at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. When assigned to the Fleet's Atlantic Amphibious Ready Group (LARG), CHARLESTON has landed Marines and equipment on Caribbean beaches and has conducted training for foreign Marine and Naval Forces. CHARLESTON also participated in the first evacuation of civilians from Lebanon in June of 1976.

In February 1979, CHARLESTON completed an extensive overhaul in the shipyard and began her second decade of service in the US Navy. In September 1979, CHARLESTON deployed to the Mediterranean to participate in the NATO Amphibious exercise "Display Determination 79". In November 1979, CHARLESTON transferred to the Naval Reserve Force and gained the additional responsibility of training Naval Reservists. She entered the Brooklyn Naval Shipyard in July 1982 for an extensive six month overhaul.

USS CHARLESTON reentered the Active Fleet on 14 February 1983. Shortly thereafter, CHARLESTON completed AHUAS TARA II, a major amphibious exercise in Honduras. In February 1984, CHARLESTON participated in exercise UNITED EFFORT-TEAMWORK 84, which consisted of an amphibious landing in Norway and port visits to Belgium, England, Ireland and Spain. August 1984 found CHARLESTON off Florida to conduct shock tests on USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) and USS YORKTOWN (CG 48). CHARLESTON deployed to the Mediterranean April to November 1986, and participated in exercises SOLID SHIELD in April and SOLAR FLARE in July 1987.

After completing a brief shipyard period from August to November 1987, CHARLESTON resumed normal amphibious operations. In April 1988, CHARLESTON participated in exercise OCEAN VENTURE 88. Following this exercise, CHARLESTON deployed to the Mediterranean from August 1988 to February 1989 and participated in exercises "DISPLAY DETERMINATION 88" and "AFRICAN EAGLE 88" while there. In May 1989, CHARLESTON participated in exercise "SOLID SHIELD 89" and made a port visit to the Bahamas.

Having completed an extended shipyard maintenance period from September 1989 until March 1990, in which a NIXIE Anti-Torpedo System, six Titanium Fire Pumps and a Cargo Magazine were installed as well as major work on the ship's propulsion and auxiliary systems, CHARLESTON began preparations for her final deployment. She left her homeport in January 1991 in company with USS GUADALCANAL (LPH 7) and USS AUSTIN (LPD 4) heading for the Mediterranean. The Amphibious Ready Group returned home again in August 1991.

USS CHARLESTON was decommissioned on April 27, 1992.


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The photos below were taken by me on November 7, 2008, and show the CHARLESTON laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.



The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the CHARLESTON laid up at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on October 7, 2018.



The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHARLESTON laid up at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on May 27, 2022.



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