USS Charleston (LKA-113)

USS Charleston (LKA-113) in 1987
History
United States
Name	USS Charleston
Namesake	Charleston, South Carolina
Ordered	11 June 1965
Builder	Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid down	5 December 1966
Launched	2 December 1967
Commissioned	14 December 1968
Decommissioned	27 April 1992
Stricken	31 August 2015
Homeport	Norfolk, VA
Nickname(s)	"Chuckie" or "The Chuck"
Fate	Awaiting disposal
General characteristics
Class and type	Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship
Displacement	18,465 tons (full load)
Length	576 ft (176 m)
Beam	82 ft (25 m)
Draft	26 ft (7.9 m)
Propulsion	Steam Turbine
Boats & landing craft carried	LCM, LCVP, motor whale boat
Complement	50 officers, 592 men
Armament	As built 4 × twin 3-inch/50-caliber guns Later fitted 2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Service record
Operations:	Vietnam War, Desert Storm

USS Charleston (AKA-113/LKA-113) was an amphibious cargo ship, and was the lead ship of her class in the United States Navy. She was the fifth ship to be named Charleston for Charleston, South Carolina. She served as a commissioned ship for 23 years and 4 months.

She was laid down as AKA-113 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA, and was launched on 2 December 1967. She was commissioned on 14 December 1968, and was redesignated as LKA-113 on 1 January 1969.

Charleston was involved in the Vietnam War, and earned eight awards and campaign ribbons for her service.

Decommissioned 1992, she was mothballed at Portsmouth, Virginia. She is berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, PA awaiting disposal.

There is no DANFS entry for the ship.

In popular culture[]

The Charleston is sunk in the Tom Clancy novel Red Storm Rising.

External links[]

• Naval Vessel Register: USS Charleston LKA 113
• NavSource Online: AKA / LKA-113 Charleston
• Military.com: USS Charleston
• 51 Years of AKAs

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