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Page 5 text:
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Command History OSS EL PASO {LKA-117) is assigned to Amphibious Group Two as a member of the Naval Surface Fore, United States Atlantic Fleet. An LKA mphibious Cargo Ship) is designed to transport and land combat equipment and material, with attendant personnel, in an amphibious assault, imed with eleven assault boats and state-of-the-art cargo handling systems, the 576 foot, 20 knot EL PASO possesses a powerful capabiUty for ipporting amphibious assaults that is beyond the reach of all previous amphibious cargo ships. Her four Mike 8 boats, capable of landing 60 ton iiks, are the largest landing craft hoisted aboard a Navy ship. Her improved cargo elevators, enlarged helicopter platform and twelve booms (of iiich two can handle loads up to 70 tons) provide for rapid off-load of all types of cargo. Her automated engineering systems provide improved I lability to the ship ' s readiness posture. USS EL PASO was constructed by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company and was launched on 17 May 1969. The ship is named I- the city and county of El Paso, Texas. It is the second ship to bear this name; the first was PF-41, a patrol frigate commissioned in 1943, which !tv action in the Pacific during World War II. Since her commissioning on 17 January 1970, USS EL PASO ' s schedule has been a busy one. She has deployed to the Mediterranean eight times, linsited the Suez Canal both North and southbound and has been operational in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. She has visited numerous jrts in the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean Sea. uss EL PASO has undergone four major overhauls; one commencing in July 1974, the second in September 1978, the third in July 1984, and 1 3 fourth in June 1990. An overhaul involves extensive refurbishing of the ship from keel to mast and is usually done at intervals of three to four ' ars. USS EL PASO has earned numerous awards during her proud history. She has won four Battle Efficiency E Awards, in 1971, 1978, 1983 and 86. In 1989, USS EL PASO received nearly every Departmental award for which she competed; the Engineering E (6th), the Damage Control ' C (7th), the Amphibious Assault Award (7th), the Electronic Warfare Award (3rd), the AAW Award and the Navigation Award. In addition, the OMNAVSURFLANT Retention excellence Award was earned, which honors a ship for the best Retention Team within the Squadron. She has also un the Engineering E five times. Other awards include the Arleigh Burke Trophy for ships showing the greatest improvement in battle Effi- (!ncy, the NEY Award for food preparation, and the Golden Anchor which honors ships for excellence in Career Motivation and Career Retention ] ograms. In Oct. 1980, USS EL PASO was transferred to the Naval Reserve Force and served as a ready platform for both active and reserve personnel. Due I the demands of increased United States Naval Force utilization worldwide, EL PASO was recalled to the active duty fleet in Oct. 1982. USS EL IlSO completed a deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean in support of the Multi-National Peace-Keeping Force in Lebanon, for which she was i arded a Sea Service award, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation. Early in 1984, EL PASO deployed again to the : jrth Atlantic in support of United Effort Teamwork 1984. USS EL PASO again deployed to the Sixth Fleet in November 1985, returning in June 1986. From August through October, she participated in :iercise Northern Wedding 86 which involved operations in the fjords of Norway, in Esbjerg, Denmark and port visits to Kiel, Germany and iipenhagen, Denmark. After completing a successful Board of Inspection and Survey and Refresher Training in July and August 1987, USS EL PASO deployed for the iventh time to the Sixth Fleet in March 1988, returning to Norfolk in August 1988. While in the Mediterranean, she participated in NATO exer- Dragon Hammer 88 and completed a successful Operational Propulsion Plant Examination on the return voyage. In November 1988, USS EL ISO participated in Drug Interdiction Operations in the Caribbean. USS EL PASO deployed to the Sixth Fleet in October 1989, returning in April 1990. While deployed, USS EL PASO participated in numerous Tiphibious Operations in support of our NATO allies. After successfiilly conducting Refresher Training, USS EL PASO completed an Operational •opulsion Plant Examination receiving a two year certification. II
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Page 6 text:
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James K. Pernini, Captain, USN Commanding Officer, USS EL PASO (LKA-1 17)
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