USS El Paso (LKA 117)

- decommissioned -

USS EL PASO was the fifth and final CHARLESTON - class amphibious cargo ship. In the early 1980s, the EL PASO was transfered to the Naval Reserve Force, but returned to the active fleet shortly afterwards because of the need for additional sealift capacity. Decommissioned on April 21, 1994, the EL PASO was transfered to the Military Sealift Command in 1995 and moved to Bethlehem Steel, Sparrows Point, MD., for the Military Sealift Command conversion. However, this conversion was cancelled and the EL PASO was placed out of service on October 23, 1996. Since then, the EL PASO is berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, where she is held in reserve to make her available in the case of a military emergency.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: August 22, 1966
	Keel laid: October 22, 1968
	Launched: May 17, 1969
	Commissioned: January 17, 1970
	Decommissioned: April 21, 1994
	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 EL PASO. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS EL PASO memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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Accidents aboard USS EL PASO:

Date	Where	Events
June 6, 1977	Norfolk, Va.	USS EL PASO parts its moorings and suffers minor damage during high winds in the Norfolk, Va., area.
October 11, 1989	80 miles southeast of Norfolk, Va.	The USS EL PASO accidentally hits the USS IWO JIMA (LPH 2) with rounds from its Phalanx CIWS during gunnery practice. One sailor aboard IWO JIMA is killed and another is injured. Damage is slight.

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USS EL PASO Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by Thomas Zera and shows the EL PASO at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., in July 1986.

The photos below were taken by me on November 7, 2008, and show the EL PASO laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Note the Military Sealift Command markings.

The photos below were taken by me on October 26, 2010, and show the EL PASO still laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

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