USS MOBILE was the third CHARLESTON - class amphibious cargo ship and the fourth ship in the Navy named after the city in Alabama. Initially laid down as AKA 115, the MOBILE was redesignated as LKA 115 on January 1, 1969. Decommissioned on February 4, 1994, the MOBILE is now berthed at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility at Philadelphia, 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: January 15, 1968 |
| Launched: October 19, 1968 |
| Commissioned: September 29, 1969 |
| Decommissioned: February 4, 1994 |
| 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 MOBILE laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
General Characteristics 
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