Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship
{{Short description|United States Navy ships (1968–1994)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
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{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:USS Charleston (LKA-113) underway 1988.JPEG |Ship caption=USS Charleston (LKA-113) in 1988 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name= |Builders=Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. |Operators= |Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1966–1969 |In service range= |In commission range=1968–1994 |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=5 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up=1 |Total ships=1 |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship type= Amphibious cargo ship |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement=*~9,000 tons (light)
|Ship length= {{convert|576|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|82|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draft={{convert|26|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship depth= |Ship hold depth= |Ship decks= |Ship deck clearance= |Ship ramps= |Ship propulsion=Steam Turbine |Ship speed= {{convert|20|kn|km/h|0}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship boats= Up to 18 landing craft |Ship capacity= |Ship troops= |Ship complement=50 officers, 592 men |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament= 4 × twin 3"/50 caliber guns |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities=Helicopter landing platform |Ship notes= }} |
The Charleston-class amphibious cargo ships were a class of amphibious cargo ships in service with the United States Navy. These ships served in Amphibious Readiness Groups between 1968 and 1994. The ships were the last amphibious cargo ships built for the U.S. Navy, their role having been taken over by the San Antonio-class of amphibious transport dock.
Service
Built in the late 1960s, these ships participated in the Vietnam War. Four of the five ships in the class had been transferred to the reserve fleet in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The need for additional sealift capacity resulted in all four being returned to the active fleet in 1982. They were among the first Navy ships to have a fully automated main propulsion plant (600-pound pressure with superheat, known as a "Super Six."). The lead ship of the class, {{USS|Charleston|LKA-113|2}} was decommissioned in 1992, and was joined by {{USS|St. Louis|LKA-116|2}} in November 1992. The remaining ships were decommissioned in 1994. All ships were mothballed for possible activation in the future.Stefan Terzibaschitsch 50 Jahre Amphibische Schiffe der U.S. Navy. Leonberg (Germany), p.65
Design
{{stack|File:USS El Paso (LKA-117) from above 1983.JPEG}}
The assigned mission of the amphibious cargo ship was to transport and land combat equipment and material with attendant personnel in an amphibious assault. To optimize their capability for combat loading, they provided considerable flexibility in cargo stowage methods. The cargo elevators servicing holds 1, 3, and 4 made all categories of supplies and all levels available simultaneously to either the main deck or the helicopter platform. Use of the ship's forklifts and pallet transporters sped the maneuvering of cargo in the holds and enabled delivery to various debarkation stations via the main deck passageways, which ran the length of the ship. The arrangement and quantity of booms and cargo elevators made it possible to simultaneously embark/debark vehicles and cargo.
Vehicles in upper stowage spaces could be embarked/debarked through the hatches with cargo booms, while pallets were embarked/debarked in lower stowage spaces by elevators. The main deck hatch of hold 2 was unobstructed and could be opened for embarking/debarking of vehicles without the delay of unloading landing craft stowed on the hatch. Hold 4 was well suited for high priority cargo because of its direct access to the flight deck or main deck via elevator number 5.Stefan Terzibaschitsch Seemacht USA. Bechtermuenz, Augsburg (Germany), p. 602. {{ISBN|3-86047-576-2}}
Ships
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| Ship | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{USS|Charleston|LKA-113}} | 2 December 1967 | 14 December 1968 | 27 April 1992 | {{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02113.htm|title = Amphibious Cargo Ship LKA-113 Charleston}} | |
| {{USS|Durham|LKA-114}} | 29 March 1968 | 24 May 1969 | 25 February 1994 | Sunk as a target 30 August 2020 | {{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02114.htm|title = Amphibious Cargo Ship LKA-114 Durham}} |
| {{USS|Mobile|LKA-115}} | 19 October 1968 | 29 September 1969 | 25 February 1994 | Arrived for scrapping at Brownsville, Texas 12 October 2023 | {{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02115.htm|title = Amphibious Cargo Ship LKA-115 Mobile}} |
| {{USS|St. Louis|LKA-116}} | 4 January 1969 | 22 November 1969 | 2 November 1992 | Sunk as a target 21 September 2018 | {{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02116.htm|title = Amphibious Cargo Ship LKA-116 St. Louis}} |
| {{USS|El Paso|LKA-117}} | 17 May 1969 | 17 January 1970 | 21 April 1994 | Arrived for scrapping at Brownsville, Texas 12 October 2023 | {{Cite web|url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/10/02/02117.htm|title = Amphibious Cargo Ship LKA-117 El Paso}} |
References
{{reflist}}
See also
- {{sclass|Andromeda|attack cargo ship}}
- {{sclass|Arcturus|attack cargo ship}}
- {{sclass|Artemis|attack cargo ship}}
- {{sclass|Tolland|attack cargo ship}}
- List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships
{{Charleston class amphibious cargo ship}}