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General Characteristics Crew List About the Ship's Name Image Gallery to end of page | Sorry, no coat of arms available. |
USNS CHARLTON is the fifth WATSON - class large, medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off ship (LMSR) and the first ship in the Navy named after Army Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton.
| General Characteristics: | Awarded: November 26, 1996 |
| Keel laid: January 4, 1999 | |
| Launched: December 11, 1999 | |
| Delivered: May 23, 2000 | |
| Builder: National Steel and Shipbuilding, San Diego, CA | |
| Propulsion system: two GE Marine LM gas turbines | |
| Propellers: two | |
| Length: 951.4 feet (290 meters) | |
| Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters) | |
| Draft: 34.1 feet (10.4 meters) | |
| Displacement: approx. 62,970 tons full load | |
| Speed: 24 knots | |
| Aircraft: helicopter landing area only | |
| Armament: none | |
| Capacity: 393,000 sq. ft. (more than 900 vehicles including tanks and trucks) | |
| Crew: 26 civilian crew (up to 45); up to 50 active duty | |
| Homeport: Diego Garcia |
back to top go to the end of the pageback to top go to the end of the pageCrew List:
This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USNS CHARLTON. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.
back to top go to the end of the pageAbout the Ship's Name:
USNS CHARLTON is named in honor of Army Sgt. Cornelius H. Charlton, (1929-1951), who was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for bravery during an attack on a heavily defended position in Korea, June 2, 1951.
Citation:
Sgt. Charlton, a member of Company C, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. His platoon was attacking heavily defended hostile positions on commanding ground when the leader was wounded and evacuated. Sgt. Charlton assumed command, rallied the men, and spearheaded the assault against the hill. Personally eliminating 2 hostile positions and killing 6 of the enemy with his rifle fire and grenades, he continued up the slope until the unit suffered heavy casualties and became pinned down. Regrouping the men he led them forward only to be again hurled back by a shower of grenades. Despite a severe chest wound, Sgt. Charlton refused medical attention and led a third daring charge which carried to the crest of the ridge. Observing that the remaining emplacement which had retarded the advance was situated on the reverse slope, he charged it alone, was again hit by a grenade but raked the position with a devastating fire which eliminated it and routed the defenders. The wounds received during his daring exploits resulted in his death but his indomitable courage, superb leadership, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself the infantry, and the military service.
back to top go to the end of the pageUSNS CHARLTON Image Gallery:
The picture below was taken by Flor Van Otterdyk and shows the CHARLTON departing Antwerp, Belgium, on February 6, 2004. The ship is loaded with cargo for the US forces stationed in Iraq.
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