Peleliu (LHA 5) - Naval Cruise Book

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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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THE BATTLE GF PELELIU Peleliu is a small lush green jungle, about seven square miles in area enclosed by a coral reef, just like hundreds of other islands sprinkled across the blue Pacific leading to Japan. This island and others like it are relatively unimportant today. However, rn the Fall of 1944, 1,252 gallant young Marines gave their lives to wrest Pelelru out of the hands of the Japanese. Thus completing one more step in America's march across the Pacific. It is entirely fitting that USS PELELIU bear the name of this volcanic coral island honoring the brave men that fought and died there. The plan for assaulting and capturing the island base was simple and direct. First, soften the island defenses with naval gunfire and aerial bombardment. Then before the enemy can recover send in the Marines to storm the beaches and dig in. The next task rs the hardest, inch by bloody inch, dislodge an enemy that is battle-hardened, well entrenched, and cannot retreat because there is no place to retreat. Major General Roy S. Geiger, USMC, was no stranger to this type of warfare and lead the First Marine Division and the 81st Infantry Division with confidence and dread. He knew the Marines would win, he also knew the price of that win. To do the softening up, Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf commanded five battleships, eight cruisers, and 14 destroyers. The moming of Sept. 15, 1944 was classic in its beauty and serenity. The island the Marines assaulted gave no hint of the death and hardships that lay ahead. The softening up began and soon the island was lost in the haze and smoke of the explosions. Circling overhead, like so many buzzards, were 50 planes from nearby carriers. They dropped tons of explosives on the unresisting island. While the bombard- ment continued the small landing craft in orderly rows swam for the shore through holes opened in the surrounding reef. The bombardment lifted, and for a short time an expectant hush fell over Peleliu. The bow ramps fell in shallow water and the Marines charged. The peace of the beautiful day was shattered once again and it would not stop until November when many lives on both sides were over. Costly experience had taught the attacking Marines that tanks would be essential. Scant minutes after the first wave had landed, tanks ran through shallow water and rumbled ashore. One of the first objectives was the airfield. On Sept. 16 it fell to the Americans. Immedi- ately repairs began to make it operational. Two days later a Navy torpedo bomber made a successful emergency landing, and the next day artillery spotting planes commenced regular operations from the strip. 4 BATTLE OF PELELIU I l 3 Fx 'sg' A '59 ' .:' Y H3 vi rj, if T 9 I 1 i I 5 i 1

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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