Peleliu (LHA 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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PELELIU S keel was laid on November 12 1976 and the ship was launched two years later on November 11 1978 She was christened on January 6 1980 by Mrs Margaret Hayward wife of then Chief of Naval Oper ations Admiral Thomas B Hayward On May 5 1980 PELELIU was commlssloned at Ingalls Shipyard Pasca goula Mississippi USS PELELIU translted the Panama Canal on May 20 1980 and arnved at her homeport Naval Station Long Beach Callfomla ln June 1980 She was underway for her first deployment by March 27 1982 and made her second deployment on September 12 1985 Almost two years later PELELIU deployed on her third deploy ment visiting the Westem Pacific and Indian Ocean on January 14 1988 she departed for her fourth deploy ment again to the Western Pacific WESTPAC 90 was launched on January 12 and her most recent deploy ment CIULFPAC 91 was accompllshed dunng the pen od of May 29 to November 27 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm in the Persian Gulf PELELIU S m1ss1on IS to embark deploy and land ele ments of a landmg force in an assault by helicopters landmg craft amphibious vehicles or a combination of all three methods It may operate independently or ln conjunction with a large force conducting a1r and sur face operations USS PELELIU was designed to main tam what the Marine Corps calls Tactical Integnty getting a balanced force to the same point at the same U time. She can carrya complete Marine Battalion Land- ing Team CBLTJ, along with the supplies and equipment needed in an assault, and land them ashore by helicop- ter and for amphibious craft. This dual capability, with emphasis on vertical launch and landing of troops and equipment, aids the Navy-Marine Corps Team in carry- ing out its present-day amphibious mission. PELELIU'S survivability is enhanced by two Close-In Weapons Sys- tems CCIWSD and two automatic five-inch guns. A secondary mission of the PELELIU is evacuation and disaster relief- was put to test during the Mt. Pinatubo volcanic eruption in the Philippines in June of 1991. Hundreds of tons of medical supplies and foodstuffs can be carried in her cargo holds and delivered to disaster victims within minutes of PELELlU'S arrival on 6 PELELIU HISTORY the scene. Fresh water and electricity could be pro- vided from the ship's engineering plant until domestic services are restored. PELELlU'S medical facilities can accommodate as many as 500 patients and provide out-patient treat- ment for hundreds of additional sick or injured. Two thousand evacuees could be brought aboard by heli- copter or landing craft and transported to safe areas. Most recently, PELELIU served as flagship for Com-- mander, Amphibious Squadron Three during CIULFPAC '91. In the past she has served as flagship for Com- mander, Amphibious Squadron One and Amphibious Squadron Seven. PELELIU has participated in numer- ous exercises, including her first appearance in TEAM

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PELELIU ISLAND Two weeks after the bat- tle began, almost the en- tire island was in Ameri- can hands. As the last of the gunfire died away the island retumed to its qui- et ways. lt would take na- ture some time to repair the ravages of war and the airport would remain busy until the war's end. History had once again been written by the brav- ery and courage of the Marines. The Devil Dogs, as the Japanese called them, had won yet an- other battle. To over- come the 10,158 Japa- nese defenders the Ma- rines lost 6,526 men. Of these 1,256 were killed in action. It is to these gallant war- riors that this great ship has been dedicated. The Peleliu stands ready to deliver and support its cargo of heroes to wher- ever they may be need- ed, by sea, by land or by air. HQNGKONG N .PALAU The island of Peleliu is part of the Palau lslands. BATTLE OF PELELIU 5

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Eight stars across top of shield - sym- bolizes eight Medal of Honor awardees from the assault on Peleliu Large Roman HV in center of shield - LHA-5 Ring in lower left of shield - by tradition of heraldry, a ring or annulet symbol- izes the fifth born SPIRIT '88. Some other exercises were VALIANT USI'I- ER, KERNEL USI-IER, COBRA GOLD, RIMPAC and REA- DEX. While on GULFPAC '91, in addition to some of the previously mentioned exercises, PELELIU participated in AL HAMRA I and II, and SEA SOLDIER V during de- ployment in the Persian Gulf. PELELIU has visited many fascinating ports of call, in- cluding: Colon, Panama, Balboa, Panama, Vancouver, B.C, Canada, Pearl I-Iarbor, I-Iawaii, Subic Bay, Philip- pines, Pattaya Beach, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Pusan, South Korea, Pohang, South Korea, Sasebo Japan, Yokosuka, Japan, Okinawa, Diego Garcia, Pele- liu Island, Guam, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. 712 7 -1 Four-pointed star in center oflarge HV - symbolizes four functions of the Ll'lA it at ' X Emblem of lst Marine Division - Con- stellation Southern Cross, with numer- al superimposed T Motto - PAX PER POTEHS: Latin for I 'Peace Through Power S E I 9 pk flilll E PELELIU HISTORY 7