The USS Peleliu is returning Wednesday to Naval Base San Diego from its final deployment before decommissioning, the Navy announced Monday.
The 820-foot-long, 25-ton-plus amphibious assault ship will be decommissioned in March after 34 years of service, during which it deployed 17 times and covered millions of miles, according to Naval Surface Forces’ public affairs office.
The 820-foot-long, 25-ton-plus amphibious assault ship will be decommissioned in March after 34 years of service, during which it deployed 17 times and covered millions of miles, according to Naval Surface Forces’ public affairs office.
The Peleliu is the last of the Navy’s five Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship to be in service. The Navy began decommissioning that class of warship in 2005.
Starting next year, the Navy is expected to replace them with America-class amphibious assault ships, which are designed to carry helicopters and other small aircraft that can help transport troops from ship to shore more easily.
During its final deployment, the Peleliu conducted exercises throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region and made port visits in Guam, Japan, the Philippines and Singapore. The deployment lasted about six months.
“Peleliu and her crew performed superbly throughout the deployment. … I am proud to have served with such outstanding sailors and Marines during the ship’s final deployment,” said Commodore Heidi Agle, commander of Amphibious Squadron 11.
The Peleliu was named for the World War II Battle of Peleliu, during which 1,256 Marines died while fighting to gain control of the small island nation.
—City News Service
