USS INCHON (MCS-12) was named in honor of the highly successful amphibious landing at Inchon, Korea on September 15, 1950 conducted by General Douglas MacAuthur. One of a series of seven Helicopter Carriers built by Ingalls Shipbuilding of Pascagoula, MS, she is the first ship to ever bear the name. INCHON's keel was laid on April 8, 1968 and the ship was launched May24, 1969. She was commissioned in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on June 20, 1970.
Inchon is designed to conduct amphibious force landings by providing helicopter support to transport troops and assist in establishing air superiority in the designated landing area. Helicopter detachments that embarked aboard INCHON included the CH-53E Super Stallions, CH-46 Sea Knights, UH-1 Hueys and AH-1 Cobras. Additionally, a U. S. Marine Corps Battalion Landing Team (BLT) consisting of 2,000 troops and their equipment, embarked for INCHON's deployments. INCHON's weapon systems include .50 caliber guns, MK-38 25mm Chain Guns, two Vulcan Phalanx, Close-in Weapon's Systems, providing anti-ship cruise missile defense.
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