Charleston Class Amphibious Cargo Ships (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

 military, ship, cargo, United States Navy

Three of the five members of the Charleston Class of Amphibious Cargo Ships, these vessels are the final examples of the Amphibious Cargo Ship (LKA) design built for the US Navy. Operational from 1968-1994, all but one of the Class were heavily involved in the Vietnam War and subsequent withdrawal of US Forces, and all five were active in the first Gulf War during their careers. Decommissioned from 1992 through 1994, the USS Charleston, USS Mobile & USS El Paso were maintained in Category B Reserve here at the Philadelphia NISMF through August of 2015, when all three vessels were downgraded to non-retention status. Following the removal of re-usable parts and materials, all three are slated for eventual disposal as targets or by scrapping.

These ships are the following:
USS Charleston (LKA-113)
www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02113.htm
navysite.de/lka/lka113philly.htm
www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_LKA_113_2397.H...
USS Mobile (LKA-115)
www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02115.htm
navysite.de/lka/lka115philly.htm
www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_LKA_115_2286.H...
USS El Paso (LKA-117)
www.navsource.org/archives/10/02/02117.htm
navysite.de/lka/lka117philly.htm
www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_LKA_117_2288.H...