USS Camden (AOE-2) was the second ship of the United States Navy named after the city of Camden, New Jersey that lies on the Delaware River across from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was a , combining the functions of three logistic support ships in one hull - fleet oiler (AO), ammunition ship (AE), and refrigerated stores ship (AF). History Camden 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, California. For their accomplishments during her first deployment to WestPac in 1968–1969, her crew was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. In August 1974, Camden 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. In 1980, Camden moved again to the homeport of Bremerton, Washington for an overhaul. On 20 July 1983 The New York Times reported that Camden along with seven other vessels in the Ranger Carrier Battle Group left San Diego on Friday 15 July 1983 and were headed for the western Pacific when they were rerouted and ordered to steam for Central America to conduct training and flight operations in areas off the coasts of Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras as part of major military exercises planned for that summer. The battle group comprised the carrier , the cruiser , the guided missile destroyer Lynde McCormick, the destroyers and , the frigate , the oiler and the support ship Camden. On 17 May 1987 USS Camden was redirected to assist after it was attacked by unfriendly fire. USS Camdens job was to unload all of the weapons on board Stark in case of further attack. On 15 August 1991 four airmen from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 11 (HC-11 "Gunbearers") were missing and presumed dead after their helicopter crashed while resupplying ships in the Pacific Ocean east Wake Island. Search efforts were abandoned about 24 hours later for the Sea Knight, which had been operating from Camden. Two ships were close by when the aircraft dropped into the water. Two helicopters were