USS El Paso (LKA-117)

USS El Paso (LKA-117) after the addition of Phalanx CIWS
Career
Name: USS El Paso
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid down: 22 October 1968
Launched: 17 May 1969
Commissioned: 17 January 1970
Decommissioned: 21 April 1994
Status: Inactive Reserve Fleet, Philadelphia, PA.
General characteristics
Class and type:Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship
Displacement:8,368 tons (deadweight)
18,600 tons (full load)
Length:575 ft 6 in (175.41 m)
Beam:82 ft (25 m)
Draft:25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
Boats and landing
craft carried:		9 × landing craft
Complement:36 officers, 375 men
Armament:4 × twin 3"/50 caliber guns
Service record
Operations: Operation Restore Hope
Gulf War
For other ships of the same name, see USS El Paso.

USS El Paso (AKA-117/LKA-117) is 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.

She was laid down as AKA-117 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA on 22 October 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. She is berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, PA.

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

Unofficial ship's motto (1977–1982): "You call, we haul – N-o-o-o problem!"

Roy Cash, nephew of singer Johnny Cash and father of Miss America 1987 winner Kellye Cash, served as her captain from August 1985 to March 1987.[1]

There is no known DANFS entry for the ship.

Reference list

  1. ↑ "Roy Cash Biography" (PDF). Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

External links