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USS Camden (AOE-2)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Camden (AOE-2)

USS Camden (AOE-2) was commissioned on 1 April 1967 as the second of four vessels in its class. It was also the 542nd and final contract in the 68-year history of New York Shipbuilding, and the last vessel completed and launched at the shipyard. It was assigned to the Pacific Fleet in September 1967 and was initially homeported in Long Beach, CA.

In August 1974, USS Camden (AOE-2) moved to its new homeport of Bremerton, Washington. The ship operated extensively up and down the West Coast of the United States and deployed frequently to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans to support units of the Seventh Fleet. On 17 May 1987 USS Camden (AOE-2) was redirected to assist USS Stark after it was attacked by unfriendly fire. USS Camden (AOE-2)'s job was to unload all of the weapons on board USS Stark in case of further attack. USS Camden (AOE-2) was deployed to resupply the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and support ships, which were returning to the U.S. from duty in the Persian Gulf after taking part in Operation Desert Storm.

In October 2000, USS Camden (AOE-2) participated in Operation Determined Response, providing rescue assistance and hospitality services in support of USS Cole in the Yemeni port of Aden damaged in a terrorist attack. In January 2005, USS Camden (AOE-2) left on its final deployment, an eight-month world tour with USS Carl Vinson escorting that carrier to its new homeport in Norflok, Virginia. USS Camden (AOE-2) was decommissioned 14 October 2005 at Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington.