Burks, Earl, Cpl

USS New Orleans (LPH-11) was an Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship in the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship to be so named, and is the first named for the Battle of New Orleans, which was the last major battle of The War of 1812.

New Orleans was laid down on 1 March 1966 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 3 February 1968 and sponsored by Mrs. Arthur A. De la Houssaye. She was commissioned on 16 November 1968 with Captain G.M. Even in command.

Iwo Jima Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter):
Laid down, 1 March 1966, at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA.
Launched, 3 February 1968
Commissioned USS New Orleans (LPH-11), 16 November 1968
Decommissioned, 1 October 1997
Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
Struck from the Naval Register, 23 October 1998
Final Disposition, to be used as a target.
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Specifications:
Displacement 11,000 tons (lt.), 18,474 t.(fl)
Length 592'
Beam 84', Flight Deck 105'
Draft 27'
Speed 22 kts.
Complement 667
Troop Accommodations 2,157
Aircraft 25 helicopters
Armament (as built) four 3"/50 AA guns, (modifications) two 3"/50s removed and replaced with eight cell Sea Sparrow BPDMS launchers, two Phalanx CIWS added, Sea Sparrows later replaced with two 25mm chain guns
Propulsion two 600 psi boilers, one geared steam turbine, one shaft, 22,000 shaft horsepower.      

LPH-11 Deployments - Major Events