USS El Paso (LKA-117)

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 three months.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see USS El Paso.

USS El Paso
USS El Paso (LKA-117) after the addition of Phalanx CIWS
History
United States
NameUSS El Paso
NamesakeEl Paso, Texas
BuilderNewport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.
Laid downOct. 22, 1968
LaunchedMay 17, 1969
CommissionedJan. 17, 1970
DecommissionedApril 21, 1994
StrickenAug. 31, 2015
HomeportNorfolk, Virginia
Nickname(s)El Barco Magnifico
FateArrived for scrapping
StatusBeing scrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeCharleston-class amphibious cargo ship
Displacement
  • 8,368 tons (deadweight)
  • 18,600 tons (full load)
Length575 ft 6 in (175.41 m)
Beam82 ft (25 m)
Draft25 ft 5 in (7.75 m)
Boats & landing
craft carried		9 × landing craft
Complement36 officers, 375 men
ArmamentAs built

4 × twin 3-inch/50-caliber guns

Later fitted

2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
Service record
Operations:

History

She was laid down as AKA-117 at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on October 22, 1968. Redesignated LKA-117 on January 1, 1969, she was launched on May 17, 1969 and commissioned on January 17, 1970.

El Paso was not involved in the Vietnam War. She was home-ported at the Naval Operating Base, Norfolk, Virginia. Her operations included embarking a Marine Amphibious Ready Group and transporting the MARG to the Mediterranean Sea for a six month deployment. In 1979 she deployed to the Mediterranean and eventually redirected to the Indian Ocean and Diego Garcia during the Iran Hostage conflict. For that she was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal. In 1993 she again deployed to the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to participate in Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. She was decommissioned on April 21, 1994, and was berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On October 12, 2023 after nearly 3 decades after decommissioning El Paso arrived at All Star Metals in Brownsville, Texas for scrapping. The ship earned several additional awards and campaign ribbons for her service

She has had several noteworthy commanding officers.

Among them are CAPT Edward Clexton, Jr, from March 1979 thru August 1980.[2] During his command, the crew were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for the Iran Hostage Crisis. CAPT Clexton went to command USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69). VADM Clexton retired in 1993 as Deputy CINCUSNAVEUR.

Also noteworthy is 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.[3]

References
  1. Long, Trish. "El Paso has had two Navy ships named for her, both now decommissioned". El Paso Times. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. "Edward W. Clexton" (PDF). The Golden Eagles.
  3. "Roy Cash Biography" (PDF). Early and Pioneer Naval Aviators Association. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
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