USS Charleston (AKA/LKA 113) Class: Photographs

USS Charleston (AKA 113)

Fitting out at the Newport News Shipbuiding and Drydock Co. The "KA" letter prefix on her hull number was soon dropped when she was reclassified from an auxiliary (AKA) to a combatant (LKA). A less advanced sister is fitting out across the pier.

Photo No. BUSHIPS 153568, NAID 6931996
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-19-NN, negatives)

USS St. Louis (LKA 116)

Underway in October 1969. Key features in her design were the four LCM(8) landing craft, two forward and two aft, handled by two Stülcken heavy lift derricks assisted by two kingpost pairs, plus four 3"/50 gun mounts, two with shields forward and two without shields on top of the bridge house. Note also the two directors for the 3"/50 battery on top of the bridge house, one forward and one aft of the stack.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: Shipscribe

USS Mobile (LKA 115)

Underway in 1971 with a good view of the after Stülcken heavy lift derrick and the helicopter deck. Note that the gap in the crossbar in the derrick permitted the boom to serve the hatches both forward and aft of the derrick.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: Shipscribe

USS Durham (LKA 114)

Dead in the water on 5 April 1975 with all four LCM(8)s off the ship, one of which is passing her stern. Note the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter on her deck.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS St Louis (LKA 116)

Underway off the Southern California coast on 19 August 1976. She retains her original armament of four 3"/50 twin gun mounts.

Photo No. DN-SC-85-06060
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USS Charleston (LKA 113)

At Antwerp, Belgium in April 1984, in a photo by Leo Van Ginderen released by the U.S. Navy. The forward port 3"/50 mount appears to have been removed, the other three remain in place. The two 3"/50 directors on the bridge house also appear to have been removed.

Photo No. DN-SN-85-00994
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

USS Charleston (LKA 113)

Underway off the Virgina Capes on 9 July 1987. A CWIS mount now occupies the position of the former forward port 3"/50 mount. She retains 3"/50 mounts in the forward starboard and after port positions, By 12 August 1988 the after starboard position, not visible here, housed a CIWS mount.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USS Charleston (LKA 113)

Underway off the Virgina Capes on 9 July 1987 configured as above.

Photo No. DN-SC-88-01253
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USS El Paso (LKA 117)

Underway probably in the late 1980s. CIWS mounts now occupy the positions of the former forward port and after starboard 3"/50 mounts, and as in Charleston above the forward starboard 3"/50 mount has lost its shield.

Photo No. Unknown
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)

USS Durham (LKA 114)

Departing Subic Bay on 7 February 1992, apparently with no armament forward and the original two 3"/50 twin open mounts still on the bridge house. Durham and St Louis were Pacific Fleet units, the others were in the Atlantic Fleet.

Photo No. DN-ST-92-06230
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) and NARA (RG 330)

USS El Paso (LKA 117)

At anchor on 10 June 1992 off the Virginia Capes with CIWS mounts in the forward port and after starboard positions and a 3"/50 mount retained in at least the forward starboard postion. Note also that by this time the ships no longer had the tops of their stacks painted black.

Photo No. DN-SN-92-09349
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USS Mobile (LKA 115)

The former amphibious cargo ship USS Mobile (LKA-115) being converted for Military Sealift Command (MSC) use at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland, on 21 May 1996. Her armament and heavy lift booms appear to have been removed, the latter possibly temporarily. The conversions of this ship and of El Paso (LKA 117) were cancelled near the end of 1996 and the ships were laid up at Philadelphia.

Photo No. DN-SC-97-01121, taken by Don Montgomery
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)

USS Charleston (AKA 113) Fitting out at the Newport News Shipbuiding and Drydock Co. The "KA" letter prefix on her hull number was soon dropped when she was reclassified from an auxiliary (AKA) to a combatant (LKA). A less advanced sister is fitting out across the pier. Photo No. BUSHIPS 153568, NAID 6931996 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-19-NN, negatives)
USS St. Louis (LKA 116) Underway in October 1969. Key features in her design were the four LCM(8) landing craft, two forward and two aft, handled by two Stülcken heavy lift derricks assisted by two kingpost pairs, plus four 3"/50 gun mounts, two with shields forward and two without shields on top of the bridge house. Note also the two directors for the 3"/50 battery on top of the bridge house, one forward and one aft of the stack. Photo No. Unknown Source: Shipscribe
USS Mobile (LKA 115) Underway in 1971 with a good view of the after Stülcken heavy lift derrick and the helicopter deck. Note that the gap in the crossbar in the derrick permitted the boom to serve the hatches both forward and aft of the derrick. Photo No. Unknown Source: Shipscribe
USS Durham (LKA 114) Dead in the water on 5 April 1975 with all four LCM(8)s off the ship, one of which is passing her stern. Note the CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter on her deck. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS St Louis (LKA 116) Underway off the Southern California coast on 19 August 1976. She retains her original armament of four 3"/50 twin gun mounts. Photo No. DN-SC-85-06060 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USS Charleston (LKA 113) At Antwerp, Belgium in April 1984, in a photo by Leo Van Ginderen released by the U.S. Navy. The forward port 3"/50 mount appears to have been removed, the other three remain in place. The two 3"/50 directors on the bridge house also appear to have been removed. Photo No. DN-SN-85-00994 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
USS Charleston (LKA 113) Underway off the Virgina Capes on 9 July 1987. A CWIS mount now occupies the position of the former forward port 3"/50 mount. She retains 3"/50 mounts in the forward starboard and after port positions, By 12 August 1988 the after starboard position, not visible here, housed a CIWS mount. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USS Charleston (LKA 113) Underway off the Virgina Capes on 9 July 1987 configured as above. Photo No. DN-SC-88-01253 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USS El Paso (LKA 117) Underway probably in the late 1980s. CIWS mounts now occupy the positions of the former forward port and after starboard 3"/50 mounts, and as in Charleston above the forward starboard 3"/50 mount has lost its shield. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
USS Durham (LKA 114) Departing Subic Bay on 7 February 1992, apparently with no armament forward and the original two 3"/50 twin open mounts still on the bridge house. Durham and St Louis were Pacific Fleet units, the others were in the Atlantic Fleet. Photo No. DN-ST-92-06230 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) and NARA (RG 330)
USS El Paso (LKA 117) At anchor on 10 June 1992 off the Virginia Capes with CIWS mounts in the forward port and after starboard positions and a 3"/50 mount retained in at least the forward starboard postion. Note also that by this time the ships no longer had the tops of their stacks painted black. Photo No. DN-SN-92-09349 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)
USS Mobile (LKA 115) The former amphibious cargo ship USS Mobile (LKA-115) being converted for Military Sealift Command (MSC) use at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Shipyard, Sparrows Point, Maryland, on 21 May 1996. Her armament and heavy lift booms appear to have been removed, the latter possibly temporarily. The conversions of this ship and of El Paso (LKA 117) were cancelled near the end of 1996 and the ships were laid up at Philadelphia. Photo No. DN-SC-97-01121, taken by Don Montgomery Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330)