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General Characteristics Crew List Memorabilia Image Gallery to end of page |  |
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, the CHARLESTON is now berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, Penn., where she is held in reserve to make her available in the case of a military emergency.
| 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 | |
| Crew: Ship: 22 officers and 334 enlisted USMC: 15 officers and 211 enlisted |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew 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.
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageUSS CHARLESTON Image Gallery:
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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.
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The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the CHARLESTON laid up at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on October 7, 2018.
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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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