USS Peleliu (LHA-5)
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 USS Peleliu in October 2007 |
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | USS Peleliu |
| Namesake: | Battle of Peleliu |
| Ordered: | 6 November 1970 |
| Builder: | Ingalls Shipbuilding |
| Laid down: | 12 November 1976 |
| Launched: | 25 November 1978 |
| Commissioned: | 3 May 1980 |
| Homeport: | Naval Base San Diego |
| Motto: | "Pax per Potens" ("Peace through power") |
| Status: | in active service, as of 2012[update] |
| Badge: |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship |
| Displacement: | 39,438 tons full, 25,982 tons light, 13,456 tons dead |
| Length: | 820 ft (250 m) |
| Beam: | 106.6 ft (32.5 m) |
| Draft: | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Propulsion: | Steam Turbine |
| Speed: | 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) |
| Complement: | 262 officers, 2,543 enlisted |
| Armament: | 2 × RAM launchers, 4 × 25 mm Mk 38 Bushmaster gun mounts, 2 × Phalanx CIWS, 5 × 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) mounts. Originally armed with three 5-inch (130 mm) rapid-fire guns and two (Sea Sparrow) launchers. |
| Aircraft carried: | (typical) 6 × AV-8B Harrier attack planes, 4 × AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters, 12 × CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters, 9 × CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, 4 × UH-1N Huey helicopters |
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. Entering service in 1980, the ship has been deployed to the Persian Gulf on several occasions, performed an evacuation of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo, operated with the INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce, participated in Pacific Partnership deployments, and provided assistance following the 2010 Pakistan floods.
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[edit] Design and construction
Originally to be named the Khe Sanh and then Da Nang, Peleliu's keel was laid down in 1976 at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was 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.
[edit] Operational history
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.
In June 1991, while coming back from the Persian Gulf after Operation Desert Storm, Peleliu participated in the evacuation of U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay personnel following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines; among the world's largest in the past 100 years, the eruption covered a large region in volcanic ash, and resulted in the destruction of much of the US naval base. The evacuation included several patients from the maternity ward, resulting in multiple births aboard ship.
Peleliu was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 26 October to 27 November 1999.[1]
Peleliu departed from San Diego in August 2001 with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard for a routine 6-month WESTPAC deployment, and was in Darwin, Australia during the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks. Following the attacks, the Peleliu responded to the North Arabian Sea and, on 26 November 2001, delivered the first U.S. Marines to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. After American Taliban John Walker Lindh was captured in Afghanistan, he was flown to Peleliu on 14 December 2001, where he was interrogated by U.S. Marine Corps intelligence personnel. While aboard the Peleliu, he signed confession documents and informed his interrogators that he was not merely Taliban but al-Qaeda. Lindh was then operated on by the Peleliu’s senior surgeon to remove a bullet lodged in his leg, and treated for frostbite to his toes.[2]
On 2 January 2004 a vessel was intercepted and fifteen individuals were detained and an estimated 2,800 pounds (1,300 kg) of hashish (approximately $11 million street value) were seized by U.S. and coalition maritime forces following the interception of a dhow on 1 January in the North Arabian Sea.[3]
Peleliu deployed in support of the Pacific Partnership mission 23 May – 20 September 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 Peleliu included medical teams from the U.S. Navy and 10 partner nations, and three Non-Governmental Organizations, including "Project Handclasp".
In 2008 she was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. On 10 August 2008 she responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel, the Gem of Kilakari, which was being attacked by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden north of Somalia. The attack was successfully halted with no injuries.[4]
In August 2010, Peleliu was sent to Port of Karachi to enlist its 19 helicopters for the rescue effort during the 2010 Pakistan floods, the worst in Pakistan's history.[5][6] During the deployment Captain David Schnell, the ship's commanding officer, was relieved of command and reassigned for being "unduly familiar" with several crewmembers. Captain Mark E. Cedrun, chief of staff for Expeditionary Strike Group 3, replaced Schnell as commander of the ship.[7]
On 24 November 2010, Peleliu returned full circle and berthed in Subic Bay Freeport Zone on its first visit since the evacuation of the Navy Station in 1991. The current deployment also had port visits in Phuket and Mo'Obs[citation needed], Thailand. She returned home in December 2010.
[edit] References
- ^ Stevens, David (2007). Strength Through Diversity: The combined naval role in Operation Stabilise. Working Papers. 20. Canberra: Sea Power Centre - Australia. p. 14. ISBN 978064296764. ISSN 1834-7231. http://www.navy.gov.au/w/images/Working_Paper_20.pdf. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ^ PAUL J. McNULTY UNITED STATES ATTORNEY (April 2, 2002). "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA vs JOHN PHILLIP WALKER LINDH – CRIMINAL NO. 02-37-A" (PDF). UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT. http://news.findlaw.com/cnn/docs/terrorism/us032902opp2licmot.pdf. Retrieved August 1, 2007. "On December 14, 2001, Lindh was flown from Camp Rhino to the USS Peleliu where he received the following treatment: 12 days after his US capture in Afghanistan, he was operated on by the Peleliu’s senior surgeon to remove the bullet lodged in his leg; he received daily medical treatment for the bullet wound as well as mild frostbite on his toes; he received various forms of medication including Motrin and Keflex (an antibiotic). He and his fellow detainees were advised five times per day as to the time for prayer and the brig supervisor called up to the deck to ascertain the location of Mecca so that he could advise the detainees in which direction to pray. He and his fellow detainees were provided Quorans to facilitate their prayers. He was permitted to shower twice a week and to wash his feet every day. He was given meals and unlimited water, was permitted to talk with his fellow detainees; and he was repeatedly queried by Peleliu personnel whether there was anything else he needed."
- ^ "Interrogation of Suspected al Qaeda Affiliates Lead U.S., Australian Navies to Seize More Drugs". U.S. 5th Fleet Public Affairs. January 2, 2004. http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=11265. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ "Navy: Amphib repels pirates". Associated Press. August 8, 2008. http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/ap_pirateattack_080808/. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ Garamone, Jim (August 11, 2010). "USS Peleliu to Provide Helos for Pakistan Relief". American Forces Press Service. http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=60396. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ Shanker, Thom (August 11, 2010). "U.S. Provides Additional Helicopters to the Relief Effort". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/world/asia/12pstan.html. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
- ^ Steele, Jeanette, "Navy Commander In Charge Of Peleliu Is Fired", San Diego Union-Tribune, August 15, 2010.
On February 7, 2012 the Peleliu was spotted off the coast of San Clemente, California performing drills with what appeared to be AV-8B Harrier "jump jets."
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: USS Peleliu (LHA-5) |
[edit] Photos
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Peleliu returning home to San Diego, summer 2001
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Marines and Sailors having some downtime at a 'steel beach' party in 2003
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