USS CHARLESTON was the first of five CHARLESTON - class amphibious cargo ships. Initially laid down as AKA 113 but redesignated LKA 113 on January 1, 1969, the USS CHARLESTON was transfered to the Naval Reserve Force in the early 1980s, but returned to the active fleet shortly afterwards because of the need for additional sealift capacity. Decommissioned on April 14, 1968, the CHARLESTON is now berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, Penn., where she is held in reserve to make her available in the case of a military emergency.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: June 11, 1965 |
| Keel laid: December 5, 1966 |
| Launched: December 2, 1967 |
| Commissioned: December 14, 1968 |
| Decommissioned: April 27, 1992 |
| Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va. |
| Propulsion system: two boilers, one geared turbine, one propeller shaft, 22,000 shaft horsepower |
| Propellers: one |
| Length: 575.5 feet (175.4 meters) |
| Beam: 82 feet (25 meters) |
| Draft: 25.6 feet (7.8 meters) |
| Displacement: approx. 18,700 tons full load |
| Speed: 20+ knots |
| Aircraft: helicopter platform only |
| Boats: 4 LCM-8, 4 LCM-6, 2 LCVP and 2 LCP |
| Armament: two 20mm Phalanx CIWS |
| Crew: Ship: 22 officers and 334 enlisted USMC: 15 officers and 211 enlisted |
The photos below were taken by me on November 7, 2008, and show the CHARLESTON laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
General Characteristics 
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