USS Peleliu (LHA-5)

The USS "Peleliu" (LHA-5) is a "Tarawa"-class amphibious assault ship of the United States Navy, named after the Battle of Peleliu during World War II.

History

Originally to be named the "Khe Sanh" and then "Da Nang", the "Peleliu" was laid in 1976 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched on 25 November 1978, sponsored by Peggy Hayward (wife of then-CNO Thomas B. Hayward), and commissioned 3 May 1980, with Captain T. P. Scott in command.

The "Peleliu" immediately headed south, transited the Panama Canal, and then crossing the Equator on 27 May, setting a new record for time between commissioning and entrance into the Southern Hemisphere. Next, she proceeded to the port of Long Beach, California.

After Operation Desert Storm In June 1991, while going back to the Persian Gulf, the "Peleliu" participated in the evacuation of Subic Bay personnel in the aftermath of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. The evacuation included several patients from the maternity ward, resulting in multiple births aboard ship. The eruption was among the world's largest in the past 100 years. It covered a large region in heavy volcanic ash and resulting in the destruction of much of the US naval base.

In November 2001, the "Peleliu" delivered the first U.S. Marines to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

On January 2, 2004 a vessel was intercepted and Fifteen individuals were detained and an estimated 2,800 pounds of hashish (approximately $11 million street value) were seized by U.S. and coalition maritime forces following the interception of a dhow Jan 1st in the North Arabian Sea. [ [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11265 "Interrogation of Suspected al Qaeda Affiliates Lead U.S., Australian Navies to Seize More Drugs"] ]

The "Peleliu" deployed in support of the Pacific Partnership mission 23 May – 20 Sep 2007. The mission included medical, dental, construction, and other humanitarian assistance programs ashore and afloat in the Philippines, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Islands. Medical personnel onboard the "Peleliu" included medical teams from the U.S. Navy and ten partner nations, and three Non-Governmental Organizations, including "Project Handclasp".

She is currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. On august 10, 2008 she responded to a distress call from the merchant vessel the Gem of Kilakari, who was being attacked by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden north of Somalia. The attack was successfully halted with no injuries. [ [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_pirateattack_080808/ "Navy: Amphib repels pirates"] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.peleliu.navy.mil/ "Peleliu" homepage]
*WikiMapia|32.678134|-117.126011|18|"Peleilu" moored in San Diego
* [http://www.uscarriers.net/lha5history.htm USS Peleliu history at U.S. Carriers]

Photos