USS El Paso (LKA-117)

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USSElPaso.jpg USS El Paso (AKA-117/LKA-117)
History
Laid down: 22 October 1968
Launched: 17 May 1969
Commissioned: 17 January 1970
Decommissioned: 21 April 1994
Fate: In reserve at Philadelphia, PA (as of 5/07).
General Characteristics
Displacement: 10,216 tons light,
18,589 tons full
Length: 575 ft 6 in
Beam: 82 ft
Draft: 25 ft 5 in
Propulsion: Automated steam turbine, 1 propeller, 22,000 SHP
Speed: 20 knots
Complement: 34 officers, 375 enlisted
Armament: 4 × twin 3"/50 rapid fire gun mounts
Boats: 4 × LCM-8, 4 × LCM-6,
2 × LCVP, 2 × LCPL

USS El Paso (AKA-117/LKA-117) was a Charleston class amphibious cargo ship named after the city of El Paso, Texas. She served as a commissioned ship for 24 years and 3 months.

History

She was laid down as AKA-117 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA on October 22, 1968, and redesignated LKA-117 on 1 January 1969. She was launched on 17 May 1969, and commissioned on 17 January 1970.

El Paso was not involved in the Vietnam War.

In 1993 El Paso deployed to the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, and participated in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia.

She was decommissioned on 21 April 1994. As of 25 April 2003, she was berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.

The ship earned several awards and campaign ribbons for her service.

There is no DANFS entry for the ship.

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