USS Peleliu (LHA 5)

USS PELELIU was the final ship in the TARAWA class of amphibious assault ships. Initially named DA NANG but commissioned as PELELIU, she was the first ship to bear the name of the island and the second ship named in honor of the battles fought in the Palau Islands. During her almost 35 years of service, PELELIU conducted 17 deployments, 178,051 aircraft movements on her flight deck, served 57,983 personnel and steamed approximately 1,011,946 nautical miles since being commissioned on May 3, 1980, in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

After decommissioning, the PELELIU was towed to Pearl Harbor, Hi., to join the reserve fleet. On July 17, 2026, she was sunk as a target approx. 50 nautical miles north of Kauai as part of RIMPAC 2026.

Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS PELELIU. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Date	Where	Events
June 9, 1989	Naval Station Long Beach, Calif.	While PELELIU is at Naval Station Long Beach, a fire breaks out in an electrical circuit-breaker area associated with the ship's shore-power connection. Fourteen sailors suffer smoke inhalation and receive medical treatment. The fire is extinguished within approximately twenty minutes, and damage to the ship was relatively minor. The injured personnel is treated and released, while the ship's crew carries out the necessary repairs and investigated the incident.
September 14, 1991	40 miles north of Bahrain, Persian Gulf	A Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 crashes into the Persian Gulf shortly after taking off from PELELIU. The aircraft was carrying cargo and mail on a routine flight to Bahrain when it went down at approximately 9:05 p.m. local time, about 40 miles north of Bahrain. All six Navy personnel aboard are killed. Ships and aircraft in the area began a search and recovery operation, including assistance from helicopters operating from USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). The bodies of the six crew members are recovered on September 16.
October 7, 1993	8 miles west of Camp Pendleton, California	A Marine Corps UH-1N Huey helicopter crashes into the Pacific Ocean shortly after departing PELELIU during a medical evacuation flight. The helicopter, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 163, was transporting a sailor suspected of suffering from appendicitis to medical facilities ashore. Navy physician Lieutenant Joel Todd Martinique, who was accompanying the patient, is killed in the accident. Five other personnel are rescued from the water and transported to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton with injuries.

Date

Where

Events

June 9, 1989

Naval Station Long Beach, Calif.

While PELELIU is at Naval Station Long Beach, a fire breaks out in an electrical circuit-breaker area associated with the ship's shore-power connection. Fourteen sailors suffer smoke inhalation and receive medical treatment. The fire is extinguished within approximately twenty minutes, and damage to the ship was relatively minor. The injured personnel is treated and released, while the ship's crew carries out the necessary repairs and investigated the incident.

September 14, 1991

40 miles north of Bahrain, Persian Gulf

A Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 crashes into the Persian Gulf shortly after taking off from PELELIU. The aircraft was carrying cargo and mail on a routine flight to Bahrain when it went down at approximately 9:05 p.m. local time, about 40 miles north of Bahrain. All six Navy personnel aboard are killed. Ships and aircraft in the area began a search and recovery operation, including assistance from helicopters operating from USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). The bodies of the six crew members are recovered on September 16.

October 7, 1993

8 miles west of Camp Pendleton, California

A Marine Corps UH-1N Huey helicopter crashes into the Pacific Ocean shortly after departing PELELIU during a medical evacuation flight. The helicopter, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 163, was transporting a sailor suspected of suffering from appendicitis to medical facilities ashore. Navy physician Lieutenant Joel Todd Martinique, who was accompanying the patient, is killed in the accident. Five other personnel are rescued from the water and transported to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton with injuries.

About the Ship's Name, about the Assault and Capture of the Island of Peleliu:

USS PELELIU was named in commemoration of the Battle of Peleliu, one of the most costly and prolonged amphibious operations of the Pacific War. Peleliu is a small island in the Palau archipelago of the western Pacific Ocean, approximately 500 miles east of the Philippines. Originally designated DA NANG, the amphibious assault ship was renamed PELELIU on February 15, 1978, while under construction.

The Battle of Peleliu began on September 15, 1944, as part of Operation Stalemate II, the American campaign to capture Japanese-held islands in the Palau group. The operation was intended to secure the eastern flank of General Douglas MacArthur's planned return to the Philippines and to eliminate the potential threat posed by Japanese aircraft operating from Peleliu's airfield. The assault was assigned primarily to the 1st Marine Division under Major General William H. Rupertus, supported by naval gunfire, carrier-based aircraft, and elements of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division.

Following several days of naval bombardment and aerial attacks, the first waves of Marines landed on Peleliu's southwestern beaches on September 15. Although American forces captured the strategically important airfield during the opening days of the invasion, the Japanese defenders had established an extensive network of fortified caves, tunnels, and bunkers throughout the island's rugged limestone ridges. Rather than concentrating their resistance along the shoreline, the Japanese troops used these prepared positions to conduct a prolonged defense that severely limited the effectiveness of American artillery and air support.

The heaviest fighting occurred in the Umurbrogol Mountains, particularly around the area known to American troops as Bloody Nose Ridge. Progress was exceptionally slow as Marines and, later, Army soldiers fought to eliminate individual Japanese defensive positions. Extreme heat, difficult terrain, shortages of drinking water, and the defenders' extensive underground fortifications added to the hardships experienced by the American forces. After suffering substantial losses, the 1st Marine Division was relieved by the 81st Infantry Division in October. Fighting continued until November 27, 1944, when the island was officially declared secure.

The battle resulted in approximately 1,544 American personnel killed in action and 6,843 wounded. Japanese losses approached 11,000 killed, while only a small number of defenders were taken prisoner. Eight Marines received the Medal of Honor for their actions during the battle. Although Peleliu's airfield was captured and subsequently used by American aircraft, the strategic necessity of the invasion has remained a subject of historical debate, particularly in view of the heavy casualties and the island's limited contribution to subsequent operations.

The name PELELIU commemorated the American sailors, Marines, and soldiers who participated in the campaign and reflected the close cooperation between naval and ground forces during the amphibious operations of World War II.

USS PELELIU History:

Construction of USS PELELIU began at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in November 1976. Following her launch in November 1978 and christening on January 6, 1979, by Mrs. Peggy Hayward, wife of Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, the future Chief of Naval Operations, PELELIU underwent fitting out, machinery testing, and acceptance trials. She was commissioned at Pascagoula on May 3, 1980, with Captain Thomas P. Scott in command.

Following commissioning, PELELIU departed Pascagoula for her initial voyage to the Pacific Fleet. On May 17, 1980, she arrived at Col�n, Panama, where preparations began for her passage through the Panama Canal. Her aircraft handling equipment and other structures were secured for the transit, and the ship departed Colon on May 20. Approximately twelve hours later, she reached Balboa on the Pacific side of the canal. After five days of preparations to restore the ship to her normal operating configuration, PELELIU continued into the eastern Pacific. On the night of May 27, she crossed the equator, less than one month after commissioning, and conducted the traditional crossing-the-line ceremonies. Flight operations continued during the passage, and the ship recorded her 500th aircraft landing on May 30.

After crossing the equator, PELELIU proceeded north along the Pacific coast of Central America and Mexico. She visited Mazatl�n, Mexico, before departing on June 7, 1980, for California. On June 8, she conducted her first underway replenishment with USNS TALUGA (T-AO 62). PELELIU arrived at San Diego on June 10 for a short visit and subsequently continued to Long Beach, California, which became her first homeport. During the remainder of 1980, the ship conducted shakedown training, aviation qualifications, amphibious operations, and evaluations of her propulsion, communications, and combat systems in preparation for operational service with the Pacific Fleet.

Throughout 1981, PELELIU completed her Post-Shakedown Availability and underwent additional maintenance and equipment modifications. The ship's crew carried out refresher training, damage control exercises, landing craft operations, flight deck qualifications, and engineering inspections. During her Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, the engineering department completed the required evaluation in approximately 42 hours rather than the normally allotted 72 hours. Refresher training was completed before the end of the year, and the ship continued preparations for her first extended deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

In January 1982, PELELIU served as flagship during an unannounced noncombatant evacuation exercise near San Clemente Island, California. The exercise tested the ability of an amphibious force to embark civilians, establish evacuation control procedures, coordinate helicopter movements, and respond to a developing contingency without extensive advance preparation. Further training followed during February and March, including aviation operations and integration with Marine Corps units scheduled to deploy.

On March 28, 1982, PELELIU departed Long Beach for her first western Pacific and Indian Ocean deployment. Operating with embarked Marine forces, the ship crossed the Pacific and entered Seventh Fleet waters, where she conducted amphibious training, flight operations, and exercises intended to maintain the readiness of the deployed naval and Marine Corps forces. During the deployment, PELELIU operated with elements of the 31st Marine Amphibious Unit, whose aviation component included transport, attack, and heavy-lift helicopters as well as AV-8 Harrier aircraft. The ship supported Marine amphibious training and contingency readiness throughout the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, alternating underway operations with replenishment and port periods. PELELIU returned to Long Beach on October 4, 1982, completing her first deployment.

Following post-deployment maintenance and leave, PELELIU returned to sea for additional Pacific Fleet operations. In November 1982, she participated in an exercise in the northern Pacific near Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands. Operating in the colder waters of the North Pacific provided different environmental conditions from those encountered during the preceding deployment. During this exercise, the ship recorded her 10,000th accident-free aircraft landing. The remainder of the year was devoted to inspections, upkeep, and preparations for the next operational cycle.

During 1983, PELELIU underwent maintenance and conducted amphibious readiness training off southern California. These preparations included flight operations with embarked Marine aviation units, landing craft exercises, and coordination between the ship's command facilities and the landing force. In September 1983, she departed on another western Pacific deployment with elements of the 17th Marine Amphibious Unit embarked. The deployment involved operations across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including exercises with Marine ground and aviation elements and scheduled periods for logistics and maintenance. On November 12, 1983, PELELIU crossed the equator and conducted another traditional Shellback initiation for personnel who had not previously crossed the line.

PELELIU continued her deployment into 1984, operating with Seventh Fleet amphibious forces and conducting training in the western Pacific. Her activities included helicopter assault exercises, ship-to-shore movements, aviation support, and the maintenance of a forward-deployed amphibious contingency capability. After returning to the West Coast, she entered a period of post-deployment maintenance and training. During the following months, PELELIU conducted local operations to maintain the readiness of her crew, engineering plant, embarked aviation facilities, and amphibious equipment.

In April 1985, PELELIU departed for another deployment to the western Pacific. She again served as a platform for an embarked Marine Amphibious Unit and operated in support of Seventh Fleet amphibious training and regional contingency requirements. Her aviation facilities supported helicopters and AV-8 Harriers, while the well deck was used for landing craft and amphibious vehicle operations. During the deployment, the crew conducted the recurring training, inspections, replenishments, and maintenance required to sustain extended operations away from the United States. PELELIU returned to the West Coast in September 1985 and entered a period of post-deployment leave and upkeep.

During 1986 and 1987, PELELIU continued operations with the Pacific Fleet, alternating maintenance availabilities with underway training and amphibious exercises. The ship conducted aviation qualifications, landing craft operations, engineering evaluations, and joint exercises with Marine Corps units preparing for subsequent deployments. Preparations for her next western Pacific cruise included the integration of embarked Marine aviation and ground elements, communications training, and certification of the ship's ability to support extended operations.

PELELIU departed again in January 1988 for a western Pacific deployment, operating with elements of the 11th Marine Amphibious Unit during the period in which Marine expeditionary formations were adopting the Marine Expeditionary Unit designation. The deployment included amphibious and aviation exercises in Seventh Fleet waters, along with routine logistical support and port visits. The ship's helicopter and fixed-wing aviation detachments practiced coordinated assault operations, troop movements, reconnaissance support, and aviation maintenance under deployed conditions. PELELIU returned to the West Coast during the summer of 1988 and subsequently resumed maintenance and training operations.

On June 9, 1989, while PELELIU was at Naval Station Long Beach, a fire broke out in an electrical circuit-breaker area associated with the ship's shore-power connection. Fourteen sailors suffered smoke inhalation and received medical treatment. The fire was extinguished within approximately twenty minutes, and damage to the ship was relatively minor. The injured personnel were treated and released, while the ship's crew carried out the necessary repairs and investigated the incident. PELELIU subsequently resumed normal operations and preparations for further Pacific Fleet assignments.

Following the Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco Bay area on October 17, 1989, PELELIU participated in the naval response to the emergency. The earthquake caused extensive damage to buildings, roads, bridges, and public utilities in northern California, prompting the use of available military resources to assist civilian authorities. The ship provided emergency support as part of the wider Navy and Military Sealift Command response, using the transport, accommodation, communications, and aviation capabilities available aboard an amphibious assault ship.

In January 1990, PELELIU departed on another western Pacific deployment. During the cruise, she participated in Exercise Team Spirit with the Republic of Korea and Exercise Cobra Gold in Thailand. These exercises involved combined operations with allied armed forces and included amphibious training, aviation support, communications procedures, and coordination between naval and ground forces. PELELIU also conducted routine Seventh Fleet operations and port visits during the deployment. She returned to Long Beach in July 1990, shortly before Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2 triggered the deployment of additional American forces to the Middle East under Operation Desert Shield. PELELIU remained in the Pacific Fleet's operational cycle during the subsequent buildup and the opening months of Operation Desert Storm.

In May 1991, PELELIU departed the West Coast for another western Pacific and Middle Eastern deployment. Her original schedule was substantially altered when volcanic activity at Mount Pinatubo on the Philippine island of Luzon threatened Clark Air Base and Naval Base Subic Bay. Following the major eruption of June 15, 1991, PELELIU was assigned to Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of American military personnel, dependents, and other designated civilians from the affected installations. The ship operated as part of an amphibious force that included USS CLEVELAND (LPD 7), USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45), and USS BRISTOL COUNTY (LST 1198). Aircraft carriers and other Pacific Fleet ships also participated in the evacuation.

During Operation Fiery Vigil, PELELIU helped transport evacuees away from the affected area as the Navy coordinated the movement of personnel from Subic Bay to safer locations, including Cebu. Heavy volcanic ash, damaged infrastructure, interrupted transportation routes, and the effects of a tropical storm complicated the operation. The ship's flight deck, accommodation spaces, medical facilities, and internal communications systems were available to support the evacuation effort. After completing her assigned tasks, PELELIU resumed her deployment toward the Middle East.

During the following months, PELELIU operated in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters as part of the continued American naval presence after Operation Desert Storm. The cease-fire ending the main combat phase of the Gulf War had taken effect in February, but naval forces remained in the region to enforce international restrictions, support maritime security, and respond to regional contingencies. PELELIU supported these operations while continuing flight training, landing craft evolutions, and replenishment operations.

On September 14, 1991, a Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 crashed into the Persian Gulf shortly after taking off from PELELIU. The aircraft was carrying cargo and mail on a routine flight to Bahrain when it went down at approximately 9:05 p.m. local time, about 40 miles north of Bahrain. All six Navy personnel aboard were killed. Ships and aircraft in the area began a search and recovery operation, including assistance from helicopters operating from USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). The bodies of the six crew members were recovered on September 16. An investigation followed to determine the circumstances of the accident.

After completing her Middle Eastern assignment, PELELIU returned to the Pacific and subsequently entered an extended maintenance period. During 1992 and early 1993, she underwent a complex overhaul at Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The work included maintenance and modernization of shipboard systems and equipment required for continued amphibious operations. After completion of the overhaul, PELELIU conducted sea trials, flight deck qualifications, engineering checks, and refresher training. With the closure of the Long Beach naval facilities approaching, the ship's homeport was transferred to San Diego in 1993.

On October 7, 1993, a Marine Corps UH-1N Huey helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after departing PELELIU during a medical evacuation flight approximately eight miles west of Camp Pendleton, California. The helicopter, assigned to Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 163, was transporting a sailor suspected of suffering from appendicitis to medical facilities ashore. Navy physician Lieutenant Joel Todd Martinique, who was accompanying the patient, was killed in the accident. Five other personnel were rescued from the water and transported to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton with injuries. The incident occurred during the ship's preparations for her next operational deployment.

On January 21, 1994, PELELIU departed San Diego with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked for a deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The amphibious ready group was assigned to support operations off Somalia, where American forces were preparing to withdraw from the United Nations humanitarian and peacekeeping mission. The deployment followed the deterioration of the security situation in Mogadishu during 1993 and the American decision to remove most combat forces by the end of March 1994.

PELELIU arrived off the Somali coast in early March 1994 and operated as a command and aviation platform for the 11th MEU. During Operation Continue Hope and the associated withdrawal activities under Operation Quick Draw, the amphibious force provided an offshore reserve capable of reinforcing or evacuating personnel if required. The ship supported planning, communications, helicopter operations, and medical readiness while Marine elements coordinated with forces remaining ashore. USS ANCHORAGE (LSD 36) and USS DULUTH (LPD 6) also operated in support of the mission, while USS FREDERICK (LST 1184) was detached for other assignments in the region.

On March 14, 1994, a U.S. Air Force AC-130 aircraft crashed near Malindi, Kenya, prompting a search and recovery mission involving PELELIU and the embarked Marines. The ship altered course toward the Kenyan coast, and Marine CH-53 helicopters were launched from a considerable distance to reach the crash area. The helicopters received aerial refueling from Marine KC-130 aircraft operating in the region. The recovery force reached the wreckage and recovered the remains of the American airmen on March 15. PELELIU subsequently resumed her assigned responsibilities in the waters off Somalia.

The amphibious ready group was redirected again in April 1994 as violence escalated in Rwanda following the deaths of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira in an aircraft crash at Kigali on April 6. The subsequent mass killings and deteriorating security conditions threatened American citizens and other foreign nationals in Rwanda and neighboring Burundi. On April 8, elements of the PELELIU amphibious ready group were ordered to prepare a noncombatant evacuation operation designated Operation Distant Runner.

PELELIU proceeded south along the East African coast toward Mombasa, Kenya, arriving in the area on April 9, 1994. Approximately 330 Marines from Battalion Landing Team 2/5 were transported toward the interior using Marine helicopters and supporting aircraft. The force established security at Bujumbura International Airport in Burundi and helped assemble approximately 230 civilians, including 142 American citizens, for evacuation by U.S. Air Force transport aircraft. Marine personnel remained ashore to secure the operation and coordinate the movement of evacuees until April 12, when the force withdrew and returned to the amphibious ships. PELELIU then continued operations in the Indian Ocean and off East Africa before departing the region. During the return passage, the ship visited Perth, Australia, and subsequently returned to San Diego.

Following the 1994 deployment, PELELIU entered a period of maintenance and training at San Diego. The ship conducted amphibious integration exercises, helicopter and Harrier qualifications, and preparations for renewed operations in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean. Her next deployment began in November 1995 with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked. Operating in the Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf, PELELIU supported the continued American military presence associated with Operation Southern Watch, which enforced restrictions on Iraqi military aviation over southern Iraq. The ship also supported maritime security operations and exercises with regional partners. PELELIU returned to San Diego in May 1996.

After post-deployment upkeep and a further training cycle, PELELIU departed again on August 29, 1997, with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). During the deployment, the ship operated in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean before entering the Persian Gulf. The embarked Marines participated in Exercise Eager Mace 98 in Kuwait, while the amphibious force supported regional contingency requirements and Operation Southern Watch. PELELIU also participated in Fleet Battle Experiment activities associated with Silent Fury, conducted in conjunction with forces of the USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) Battle Group. These activities examined coordination between carrier aviation, amphibious forces, and other naval units during complex operations. PELELIU completed the deployment and returned to San Diego in February 1998.

During the remainder of 1998 and the first half of 1999, PELELIU conducted maintenance, inspections, aviation qualifications, and amphibious exercises off southern California. These operations prepared the ship and her embarked Marine forces for another western Pacific deployment. In June 1999, PELELIU departed San Diego with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), beginning a cruise that would eventually include a major peacekeeping support mission in East Timor.

In the autumn of 1999, East Timor experienced widespread violence following a United Nations-sponsored referendum in which the population voted for independence from Indonesia. An Australian-led multinational force, the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), entered the territory to restore security and support humanitarian operations. PELELIU was ordered to the area and arrived off East Timor on October 26, 1999, relieving USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) as the principal American amphibious support ship assigned to the operation.

Operating off Dili, PELELIU provided aviation, communications, command-and-control, and logistical support to the international force during Operation Stabilize. Her embarked helicopters transported personnel, equipment, and supplies in support of troops operating ashore. Helicopter operations were particularly important because of damaged infrastructure and limitations affecting local transportation facilities. The ship also supported humanitarian movements and coordination between American and multinational forces. PELELIU completed her assigned mission off East Timor on November 29, 1999, and subsequently continued her return passage to the United States, arriving at San Diego in December.

Following maintenance and training during 2000 and the first half of 2001, PELELIU prepared for another deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable). On August 13, 2001, the PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group departed the West Coast with USS DUBUQUE (LPD 8) and USS COMSTOCK, carrying the embarked Marine expeditionary force. The ships crossed the Pacific for scheduled operations in Seventh Fleet waters and conducted amphibious training and port visits during the opening phase of the deployment.

PELELIU was visiting Darwin, Australia, when the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, took place in the United States. The amphibious ready group subsequently continued operations in the region and provided humanitarian assistance in East Timor from September 15 to September 17. On September 19, the group received orders to proceed toward the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility as American military preparations intensified in response to the attacks. Initial contingency planning included the possible evacuation of American civilians from Pakistan. The ships entered the Central Command area on September 28, and the embarked Marines prepared for potential operations ashore.

During October 2001, PELELIU operated in the North Arabian Sea as the United States began Operation Enduring Freedom against al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The ship supported extensive helicopter operations and preparations for the employment of Marine forces ashore. Her aviation facilities accommodated transport and attack helicopters, while the ship's command spaces supported the coordination of operations involving naval, Marine Corps, and special operations forces. Between November 9 and November 13, elements of the amphibious force also supported security requirements associated with the World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Doha, Qatar.

On November 20, 2001, the command staff of Task Force 58 embarked aboard PELELIU as preparations continued for the insertion of Marine forces into southern Afghanistan. The task force, commanded by Brigadier General James N. Mattis, combined elements of the 15th and 26th Marine Expeditionary Units and was tasked with establishing a forward operating position near Kandahar. The operation required extensive planning for long-range helicopter movements from ships operating in the North Arabian Sea, supported by aerial refueling and coordination with other American forces in the region.

On November 25, 2001, Marine helicopters operating from the amphibious force launched the assault that established the forward operating base known as Camp Rhino in southern Afghanistan. PELELIU served as one of the principal aviation and command platforms for the operation. The movement of Marines inland from the Arabian Sea required a long overwater and overland helicopter flight, supported by additional transport and attack aircraft. The landing force secured the objective and established a base from which American and coalition forces could continue operations against Taliban positions. PELELIU continued to support the Marines ashore through helicopter transport, logistics, communications, and aviation operations.

On December 14, 2001, John Walker Lindh, an American citizen captured while fighting alongside Taliban forces in Afghanistan, was brought aboard PELELIU. He received medical treatment while in American military custody before being transferred for further detention and legal proceedings. During the remainder of December, PELELIU continued operations in support of the campaign in Afghanistan, providing aviation and logistical support to forces ashore.

On January 4, 2002, the U.S. Fifth Fleet resumed tactical control of the PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group. On January 18, control was transferred to the Seventh Fleet as the ships began their return passage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. PELELIU continued routine aviation, training, and replenishment operations during the transit. The amphibious ready group returned to Naval Station San Diego on March 4, 2002. Following the homecoming, the ship entered post-deployment maintenance and began preparations for another operational cycle.

During 2002 and the first half of 2003, PELELIU underwent maintenance, inspections, and a compressed program of training and certification exercises. The Navy was developing the Expeditionary Strike Group concept, combining the traditional amphibious ready group with surface combatants and submarine support to provide an integrated force capable of conducting amphibious, maritime security, and other expeditionary operations. PELELIU was selected as the flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group One, the first numbered Expeditionary Strike Group to deploy.

On August 22, 2003, PELELIU departed San Diego for a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked. The strike group included USS OGDEN (LPD 5), USS GERMANTOWN (LSD 42), USS JARRETT (FFG 33), USS DECATUR (DDG 73), USS PORT ROYAL (CG 73), and the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772). The force represented an expansion of the amphibious ready group concept by integrating additional surface warfare, air defense, and antisubmarine capabilities.

PELELIU arrived at Pearl Harbor on August 29, 2003, for a scheduled port visit and logistical support before continuing westward. The strike group subsequently crossed the Pacific, conducted further training, and entered the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in September. While DECATUR and JARRETT received separate Fifth Fleet assignments, PELELIU, PORT ROYAL, OGDEN, and GERMANTOWN continued toward the northern Persian Gulf. The amphibious force supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations, maintaining the ability to conduct Marine expeditionary missions while supporting coalition forces operating ashore.

During October and November 2003, PELELIU operated in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and North Arabian Sea. The embarked 13th MEU conducted training and contingency preparations, while the ship supported helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft operations. The strike group also participated in maritime interdiction and surveillance missions intended to detect illegal shipments and other activity threatening regional maritime security. PELELIU made a port visit to Manama, Bahrain, during the deployment and continued operations in the northern Arabian Sea during December.

On December 31, 2003, maritime forces from Expeditionary Strike Group One intercepted a suspicious fishing dhow in the North Arabian Sea. Boarding personnel operating with PORT ROYAL, supported by PELELIU and GERMANTOWN, discovered approximately 2,800 pounds of hashish concealed beneath ice and in compartments aboard the vessel. Fifteen personnel from the dhow were detained and subsequently transferred to coalition authorities. The seizure was part of an intensified maritime interdiction campaign in which coalition forces investigated the possible relationship between regional smuggling networks and the financing of extremist organizations.

In January 2004, PELELIU continued operations in the North Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden before beginning her return voyage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The strike group visited Darwin, Australia, on February 4, followed by Apra Harbor, Guam, on February 17, and Pearl Harbor on February 27. During the return transit, the ships continued training and routine operational requirements and returned to San Diego on March 9, 2004, following approximately six and a half months away from homeport. GREENEVILLE had returned to Pearl Harbor on February 27, while PORT ROYAL returned to her homeport separately.

Following the deployment, PELELIU entered a maintenance and training period. During April 2004, the ship conducted testing and preparations for an inspection by the Board of Inspection and Survey. Additional underway periods followed for engineering checks, aviation qualifications, and amphibious training. Throughout 2004 and 2005, PELELIU continued operations off southern California, preparing to serve as flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group Three during the next deployment cycle. These preparations included integration exercises with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, inspections, and combined training with the other ships assigned to the strike group.

On November 18, 2005, the PELELIU Expeditionary Strike Group completed an integration exercise off southern California with the embarked 11th MEU. The training involved amphibious operations, aviation support, communications, and coordination between the ships and Marine forces. A Composite Training Unit Exercise followed and was completed on December 16. On January 13, 2006, PELELIU departed San Diego for a Joint Task Force Exercise, the final major certification event before the scheduled deployment.

On February 15, 2006, PELELIU departed San Diego as flagship of Expeditionary Strike Group Three with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked. The group crossed the Pacific and conducted training in the Hawaiian operating areas before continuing toward the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. During the deployment, PELELIU supported maritime security operations, regional exercises, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (Reinforced) provided the aviation combat element, including transport helicopters, attack helicopters, and AV-8B Harrier aircraft.

In early April 2006, PELELIU relieved USS TARAWA (LHA 1) as the principal amphibious assault ship assigned to the Fifth Fleet mission. During the following months, the ship operated in the Persian Gulf and supported coalition operations in Iraq. Marine AV-8B Harriers launched from PELELIU to provide close air support for ground forces operating ashore, frequently requiring long-range flights over the region. By July, the ship had completed more than 5,337 flight deck evolutions during its Fifth Fleet assignment, including more than 585 hours of flight operations associated with Operation Iraqi Freedom. The embarked AV-8B detachment conducted 268 combat support missions into Iraq.

After completing her Persian Gulf assignment, PELELIU began the return passage across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. On August 4, 2006, PELELIU and PORT ROYAL diverted approximately 105 nautical miles from their planned route to assist the disabled fishing vessel PACIFIC LAUREL, which had sustained damage and was taking on water in heavy seas. Helicopters operating from PELELIU participated in the rescue of the vessel's crew under difficult weather conditions. PELELIU subsequently resumed her voyage and returned to Naval Station San Diego on August 16, 2006, completing the six-month deployment.

During the months following her return, PELELIU underwent maintenance and resumed local training. The ship was then selected as the principal platform for Pacific Partnership 2007, a humanitarian and civic-assistance mission involving American military personnel, allied nations, civilian medical specialists, engineers, and nongovernmental organizations. The mission was planned to provide medical and dental treatment, engineering assistance, veterinary services, and training to communities in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

On May 23, 2007, PELELIU departed San Diego for Pacific Partnership 2007. She arrived at Pearl Harbor on May 29 for logistical preparations before continuing westward. The mission included visits to the Philippines, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands, where the embarked medical and engineering teams worked with local authorities and partner organizations. PELELIU served as an afloat medical, logistical, and accommodation platform for the multinational mission, using her helicopters and landing craft to move personnel and supplies to locations where access from shore was limited.

During July 2007, PELELIU operated off Vietnam, including a visit to Da Nang, where she was anchored on July 17. Medical teams provided treatment to local civilians, while engineering detachments undertook construction and repair projects at schools, clinics, and community facilities. Other activities included dental examinations, veterinary services, public health programs, and training with local medical personnel. Across the Pacific Partnership mission, the participating teams treated more than 31,000 medical patients, provided dental care to more than 4,000 patients, conducted veterinary treatments, and completed numerous engineering projects. PELELIU returned to San Diego on September 20, 2007.

Following the humanitarian deployment, PELELIU entered a maintenance availability and began preparations for another deployment with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. During February and March 2008, the ship returned to sea for operational testing, flight qualifications, and amphibious integration training. The PELELIU Expeditionary Strike Group conducted additional training during April, including Marine Air-Ground Task Force exercises designed to prepare the ships and embarked personnel for Fifth Fleet operations.

On May 4, 2008, PELELIU departed San Diego for a deployment to the western Pacific and Middle East. The expeditionary strike group included DUBUQUE, USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52), USS CAPE ST. GEORGE (CG 71), USS HALSEY (DDG 97), and USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), together with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The ships visited Pearl Harbor during the first stage of the deployment, departing the naval base on May 12 before proceeding westward for operations under Seventh Fleet and subsequently Fifth Fleet control.

During the deployment, PELELIU conducted maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Gulf of Aden. The ship supported the embarked Marines and maintained aviation and landing craft readiness while operating with other American and coalition naval forces. The amphibious force also participated in theater security cooperation activities and exercises intended to improve coordination with partner nations. During late July, PELELIU received a visit from Rear Admiral Kendall L. Card, Commander, Task Force 158, while operating in the Fifth Fleet area.

On August 8, 2008, PELELIU received a distress call from the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel GEM OF KILAKARAI, which was being attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden near the Somali coast. The attackers were operating from two small boats and had reportedly used small arms and rifle-launched grenades against the merchant vessel. PELELIU, operating approximately ten nautical miles from the incident, launched three helicopters to respond. The helicopters approached the merchant vessel and drove off the attacking boats, allowing the ship to continue without reported casualties. The incident occurred during a period of increasing pirate attacks against commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.

Following the Gulf of Aden operations, PELELIU began her return passage across the Indian Ocean. In early October 2008, the ship visited Fremantle, Australia, where she was photographed in port on October 3 and October 4. The deployment also included additional training and logistical stops as the ships continued eastward across the Pacific. PELELIU, DUBUQUE, and PEARL HARBOR returned to San Diego on November 4, 2008, after six months of operations in Seventh and Fifth Fleet waters.

During 2009, PELELIU underwent a substantial docking and maintenance period at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company facilities in San Diego. Work included repairs, machinery maintenance, inspections, and modernization of equipment required for continued operational service. Following the availability, the ship conducted sea trials, operational testing, and training with embarked aviation units. Additional amphibious and aviation integration exercises followed in preparation for the next deployment.

In May 2010, PELELIU departed San Diego as flagship of the PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group with DUBUQUE and PEARL HARBOR, carrying the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. The group crossed the Pacific, conducted exercises and port visits, and entered the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility during July. It relieved the amphibious ready group led by USS NASSAU (LHA 4) and began maritime security and contingency operations in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The embarked aircraft also supported operations associated with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

In late July and early August 2010, exceptionally heavy monsoon rains caused extensive flooding across Pakistan, destroying infrastructure, displacing millions of civilians, and isolating communities from normal transportation routes. The United States organized military assistance under the broader international disaster relief effort. On August 9, PELELIU and her amphibious ready group arrived off Karachi, Pakistan, and began supporting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

PELELIU served as an afloat aviation and logistical support base for helicopters transporting relief supplies and evacuating civilians from flooded areas. The ship's aviation facilities supported Navy and Marine Corps helicopters, including CH-46 Sea Knights and heavy-lift aircraft, while additional U.S. military aviation units participated in the wider relief operation. Helicopters operating from the ship carried food, water, medical supplies, and other emergency equipment to locations where roads and bridges had been destroyed or rendered impassable. Return flights transported civilians requiring evacuation or medical assistance to safer locations.

During the following weeks, PELELIU remained involved in the Pakistan relief effort while maintaining the ability to conduct other Fifth Fleet assignments. Her aviation personnel flew repeated missions into affected areas, including communities in the Indus River basin and other regions where flooding had disrupted essential services. The ship also supported maintenance, refueling, and logistics for participating helicopters. During the deployment, PELELIU's commanding officer was relieved, and Captain Mark E. Cedrun subsequently assumed command.

On October 8, 2010, PELELIU arrived at Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, for a period of upkeep and logistical support. The ship subsequently continued operations associated with the regional humanitarian effort. On October 31, PELELIU completed her assigned Pakistan relief operations when the final Marine CH-46 helicopters returned to the flight deck. Over the course of the relief mission, the participating aviation units helped evacuate approximately 9,000 people and transported more than five million pounds of relief supplies.

After departing the Fifth Fleet area, PELELIU continued eastward through the Indian Ocean. From November 13 to November 16, 2010, the ship visited Phuket, Thailand, where sailors and Marines participated in community relations projects and recreational activities. PELELIU subsequently proceeded to the Philippines and arrived at Subic Bay on November 22. The visit was her first return to the former American naval base since the 1991 Mount Pinatubo evacuation. During the port visit, personnel participated in community activities and local engagements before continuing the voyage home.

On December 9, 2010, PELELIU and her amphibious ready group arrived at Pearl Harbor for a short logistical stop. The ship replenished supplies and embarked family members and guests for a Tiger Cruise during the final passage to California. PELELIU returned to Naval Base San Diego on December 18, 2010, concluding a deployment that had been substantially altered by the disaster relief operation in Pakistan.

Following the return, PELELIU underwent post-deployment maintenance and resumed local operations. During 2011, the ship entered a Phased Maintenance Availability at San Diego, where repairs and improvements were made to machinery, shipboard systems, and equipment. The maintenance period extended through the summer and into the autumn. PELELIU subsequently conducted sea trials, engineering checks, aviation qualifications, and refresher training to prepare for another deployment.

During the opening months of 2012, PELELIU participated in training exercises off southern California, including Exercise Iron Fist with COMSTOCK. The exercise involved American and Japanese amphibious forces and focused on landing operations, aviation integration, and coordination between naval and ground units. Additional training followed during the spring and summer as PELELIU prepared to deploy with Amphibious Squadron Three and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

On September 17, 2012, PELELIU departed San Diego for another western Pacific and Middle Eastern deployment. The amphibious ready group included USS GREEN BAY (LPD 20) and USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47), together with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. After crossing the Pacific, the group operated in Seventh Fleet waters and conducted training with regional partners. Activities included amphibious exercises near Timor-Leste and maritime security training before the ships continued toward the Indian Ocean and Middle East.

During October and November 2012, PELELIU conducted operational training and port visits in the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, including visits to Australia and Southeast Asia. The amphibious ready group entered the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility in November and began maritime security and theater cooperation assignments. The embarked Marines conducted amphibious readiness training, aviation operations, and exercises with partner forces while the ships supported American military operations in the region.

Throughout the first months of 2013, PELELIU remained deployed to the Fifth Fleet area, conducting maritime security operations and regional military cooperation activities. The amphibious ready group supported counter-proliferation missions, special operations requirements, and exercises involving forces from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Djibouti. PELELIU continued aviation and landing craft operations while supporting the embarked Marines and the command staff responsible for the amphibious force.

During the return passage, PELELIU, GREEN BAY, and RUSHMORE visited Hong Kong from April 15 to April 22, 2013. The ships subsequently continued across the Pacific toward the United States. The Marine aviation combat element, including aircraft of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (Reinforced), began flying off its aircraft in preparation for the homecoming. PELELIU and the other ships returned to Naval Base San Diego on May 14, 2013, following an eight-month deployment.

After the return, PELELIU underwent maintenance and preparations for continued operational service. In August 2013, she entered another maintenance availability at San Diego, during which repairs and equipment work were undertaken. The ship subsequently resumed training and certification activities in preparation for a deployment that would become her final operational cruise.

On June 17, 2014, PELELIU departed Naval Base San Diego for a deployment to the western Pacific. The initial portion of the cruise included participation in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2014, conducted in Hawaiian waters. PELELIU served as a command ship for an amphibious task force involving American and allied naval and Marine Corps units. The embarked forces included personnel from Amphibious Squadron Three, a Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, and additional military units from participating nations.

During RIMPAC 2014, PELELIU conducted amphibious operations, landing craft movements, aviation training, and combined exercises with ships and aircraft from participating countries. The ship supported the launching and recovery of landing craft, helicopters, and other aircraft as the amphibious force practiced operations involving naval, Marine Corps, and allied units. On July 25, 2014, the ship also supported deck landing qualifications involving U.S. Army AH-64E Apache helicopters, demonstrating the compatibility of the aircraft with the ship's flight deck.

Following RIMPAC, PELELIU continued into Seventh Fleet waters to provide additional amphibious capability during a period of transition in the forward-deployed American amphibious forces in Japan. The deployment included visits to Guam, Sasebo, Okinawa, Singapore, and the Philippines. During late August, PELELIU embarked the command elements and Marines required to form an amphibious ready group with GERMANTOWN and the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

On August 29, 2014, PELELIU departed Sasebo, Japan, as flagship of the newly organized amphibious ready group for operations in the western Pacific. The ship operated under Amphibious Squadron Eleven and conducted amphibious integration training, certification exercises, and operational planning with the embarked 31st MEU. These activities included helicopter and landing craft operations, communications exercises, and the coordination of shipboard and Marine command elements. The amphibious force also maintained readiness to respond to regional contingencies while conducting scheduled exercises with allied forces.

On September 27, 2014, PELELIU and GERMANTOWN arrived at Subic Bay, Philippines, in preparation for the annual Philippines-U.S. Amphibious Landing Exercise. PHIBLEX 15 began on September 29 and involved the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and units of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The exercise included amphibious operations, command-and-control procedures, ship-to-shore movements, aviation support, and training designed to improve cooperation between American and Philippine forces.

During October and November 2014, PELELIU continued operations throughout the western Pacific. The ship conducted aviation qualifications, amphibious training, and multinational exercises while visiting regional ports for maintenance, logistics, and crew liberty. Activities included helicopter and MV-22B Osprey operations, landing craft evolutions, and the movement of Marine personnel and equipment between ship and shore. PELELIU also supported military-to-military engagements and community relations events during port visits.

Following completion of her Seventh Fleet assignments, PELELIU began the return passage across the Pacific. During the transit, the ship continued routine aviation, engineering, and seamanship operations while preparations began for her scheduled inactivation. On December 24, 2014, PELELIU returned to Naval Base San Diego after approximately six months away from homeport. The homecoming marked the completion of her seventeenth and final deployment. The ship had steamed more than 25,000 nautical miles during the cruise and supported numerous amphibious and aviation training events.

During the opening months of 2015, PELELIU completed the administrative, engineering, and material preparations required for decommissioning. Equipment and supplies were removed or transferred, and the crew prepared the ship for long-term inactive storage. On March 31, 2015, USS PELELIU was decommissioned during a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego. Captain Paul C. Spedero Jr. was the ship's final commanding officer. During her nearly 35 years in commission, PELELIU had completed 17 deployments, approximately 178,051 flight operations, and more than one million nautical miles of steaming.

Following decommissioning, the former PELELIU was prepared for towing to Hawaii. She was transferred to the Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at Pearl Harbor, where she was moored in reserve alongside other decommissioned amphibious ships, including the former USS TARAWA. During the following years, the ship remained inactive while the Navy considered her eventual disposal.

In 2026, the former PELELIU was selected for use as a target during Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026. The biennial multinational exercise included a series of live-fire events intended to test weapons systems, improve interoperability, and provide realistic training for participating naval and military forces. The decommissioned cruiser USS MOBILE BAY (CG 53) was sunk during a separate exercise on July 12, 2026, while PELELIU was prepared for a subsequent sinking exercise.

On July 15, 2026, tugboats escorted the hulk of the former PELELIU through Pearl Harbor in preparation for the exercise. The ship was subsequently positioned in the Pacific Ocean more than 50 nautical miles north of Kauai, Hawaii, in waters approximately 15,000 feet deep. On July 17, 2026, American and allied forces attacked the decommissioned amphibious assault ship during the scheduled sinking exercise. Among the weapons employed were two UGM-84 Harpoon antiship missiles launched by the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS COLUMBIA (SSN 771). Additional weapons were employed by participating surface ships, aircraft, and unmanned systems. The former PELELIU sank during the exercise on July 17, 2026.

The photos below were taken by William Chiu when USS PELELIU visited Hong Kong in 1992.

The photos below were taken by me and show USS PELELIU at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 10, 2008.

The photos below were taken by Ian Johnson and show USS PELELIU Fremantle, Australia, on October 3, 2008 (the first four photos), and October 4, 2008.

The photos below were taken by me and show the PELELIU undergoing a Phased Maintenance Availability (PMA) at Naval Base San Diego, Calif. The photos were taken on September 30, 2011, (the first two photos) and October 2, 2011.

The photos below were taken by me and show the PELELIU at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on March 15, 2012.

Period	Homeport
commissioned at Pascagoula, Miss.
1980 - 1993	Long Beach, Calif.
1993 - 2015	San Diego, Calif.

The photos below were taken by Shiu On Yee during USS PELELIU's port visit to Hong Kong April 15-22, 2013. The PELELIU, along with USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) and GREEN BAY (LPD 20), visited Hong Kong on their way home from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The three ships arrived in San Diego, Calif., on May 14 after being deployed for eight months.


			Click here for more Photos.