RIMPAC 2026 SINKEX Sinks Two Retired Warships Off Hawaii
During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise, U.S. and allied forces sank two decommissioned warships—USS Peleliu and USS Mobile Bay—in a sinking exercise (SINKEX) off Hawaii. The event showcased expanding allied anti-ship capabilities, including U.S. Army HIMARS, Japanese Type 12 missiles, Navy LRASM, submarine-launched Harpoons, and drone strikes. Involving 30,000 personnel from 30 nations, the drills emphasized integrated maritime strike systems aimed at countering Chinese naval expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
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American assault ship hit by missiles, sinks in Pacific exercise
The US Navy sank the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) in the Pacific on 17 July 2026, as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026. The Tarawa-class vessel was targeted by unmanned surface vessels and two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles fired from the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Columbia. The exercise, conducted in waters at least 6,000 feet deep and 50 nautical miles from land, also involved units from Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and the US. The Peleliu, decommissioned in 2015 after 35 years of service, was the second ship sunk in this year's RIMPAC, following the cruiser USS Mobile Bay on 12 July. RIMPAC 2026 includes 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, and over 30,000 personnel, running from 24 June to 31 July near Hawaii.
US Navy Releases Footage of SINKEX Event Showing USS Peleliu Being Hit by Missiles
The US Navy released unique footage from its latest SINKEX (live sinking exercise) event off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. Two former warships, the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu and the cruiser USS Mobile Bay, were sunk. On July 29, the Navy released b-roll footage from cameras placed inside and around the Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles fired from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia. The video shows the warship shuddering from the powerful blasts. This was the third SINKEX event in recent weeks, following the sinking of the former USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise in June. The article also provides historical context for the Peleliu, noting its commissioning in 1980, its role in deploying Marines to Afghanistan after 9/11, and its decommissioning in 2015 after 35 years of service.
Navy Releases Footage From Inside USS Peleliu During SINKEX Missile Strike
The U.S. Navy released unique footage from inside the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles during a live sinking exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. The missiles were fired from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia. Cameras placed inside and around the vessel captured the warship shuddering from the powerful blasts. The Peleliu and the cruiser USS Mobile Bay were both sunk in the exercise, which was the third SINKEX event in recent weeks, following the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise in late June. The article also provides historical context for the Peleliu, noting its commissioning in 1980, its role in deploying Marines to Afghanistan after 9/11, and its decommissioning in 2015 after 35 years of service.
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Navy releases footage from inside USS Peleliu during live missile sinking exercise
The U.S. Navy provided a unique perspective on its latest SINKEX (live sinking exercise) by placing cameras inside and around the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles fired from the USS Columbia submarine. The event, which also involved sinking the cruiser USS Mobile Bay, took place off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. Footage released on July 29 shows the warship shuddering from the powerful blasts. This was the third SINKEX in recent weeks, following the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise in June. The article also provides historical context for the Peleliu, noting its service from 1980 to 2015, including deploying Marines to Afghanistan after 9/11 and its role in capturing American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh.
Navy Releases Footage from Inside USS Peleliu During SINKEX Missile Strike
The U.S. Navy released unique footage from inside the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles during a live sinking exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. The missiles were fired from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia. Cameras placed inside and around the vessel captured the warship shuddering from the powerful blasts. The Peleliu, commissioned in 1980, served for 35 years, including deploying Marines to Afghanistan after 9/11 and hosting the capture of John Walker Lindh. It was decommissioned in March 2015. The sinking was part of the third SINKEX event in recent weeks, following the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise.
Navy Releases Footage From Inside USS Peleliu During SINKEX Missile Strike
The U.S. Navy released unique footage from inside the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles during a live sinking exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. The missiles were fired from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia. Cameras placed inside and around the vessel captured the warship shuddering as the blasts tore through its structure. The Peleliu and the cruiser USS Mobile Bay were both sunk in the exercise, which was the third SINKEX in recent weeks, following the sinking of the USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise in late June. The Peleliu, commissioned in 1980, served for 35 years, steaming over a million miles, and was the first ship to deploy Marines to Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, carrying then-Brig. Gen. James Mattis and later holding John Walker Lindh.
Navy releases footage from inside USS Peleliu during live missile sinking exercise
The U.S. Navy released unique footage from inside the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu as it was struck by two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles during a live sinking exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. The missiles were fired from the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Columbia. Cameras placed inside and around the vessel captured the warship shuddering as the blasts tore through its structure. The Peleliu and the cruiser USS Mobile Bay were both sunk in the exercise, which was the third SINKEX event in recent weeks, following the sinking of the former USS Juneau during the Valiant Shield exercise in late June. The Peleliu, commissioned in 1980, served for 35 years, deployed Marines to Afghanistan after 9/11, and steamed over a million miles before decommissioning in 2015.
US Navy Sinks Decommissioned Assault Ship USS Peleliu in RIMPAC Drone and Missile Exercise
The US Navy conducted a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, sinking the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in the Pacific Ocean on July 17. The 40,000-ton Tarawa-class vessel was targeted by unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles fired from the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Columbia. The exercise, held 50 nautical miles off Kauai in waters over 15,000 feet deep, involved units from Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and the US. This was the second SINKEX of RIMPAC 2026, following the sinking of the cruiser USS Mobile Bay on July 12. The Peleliu served for over 35 years before decommissioning in 2015. RIMPAC 2026 includes 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, and over 30,000 personnel, running from June 24 to July 31.
Naval drones attack and sink American assault ship in exercise
The US Navy sank the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 on July 17. The 40,000-ton Tarawa-class vessel was targeted by unmanned surface vessels and two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles fired from the submarine USS Columbia. The sinking, conducted in waters at least 6,000 feet deep and 50 nautical miles off Kauai, was the second SINKEX of the exercise, following the sinking of the cruiser USS Mobile Bay on July 12. RIMPAC 2026 involves 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, and over 30,000 personnel. Coalition units from Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, and South Korea participated alongside US forces. The exercise aims to test weapons, dispose of decommissioned hulls, and strengthen international maritime cooperation.
Naval drones sink decommissioned US assault ship USS Peleliu in RIMPAC 2026 exercise
The US Navy sank the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) during a live-fire sinking exercise (SINKEX) as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 on July 17. Unmanned surface vessels (USVs) and two UGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles fired from the submarine USS Columbia targeted the 40,000-ton Tarawa-class ship. The exercise took place in waters at least 6,000 feet deep and 50 nautical miles off Kauai, Hawaii. RIMPAC 2026 involves 30 nations, 30 ships, five submarines, and over 30,000 personnel. The Peleliu sinking was the second SINKEX of the exercise, following the sinking of the USS Mobile Bay on July 12. Units from Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, and Spain participated alongside US forces. The exercise aims to test weapons, dispose of decommissioned hulls, and strengthen coalition interoperability.
Army helicopters and Navy drones sink two retired US Navy ships at RIMPAC 2026
During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational exercise, U.S. and allied forces sank two decommissioned U.S. Navy ships—the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay—on July 11 and 17, respectively. The sinking exercise (SINKEX) involved units from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Italy, and Japan. U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters fired Spike Non-Line of Sight missiles at the Mobile Bay, while the Navy used multiple one-way attack surface drones against the Peleliu, a type of maritime drone recently used by Ukraine and by the U.S. against Iran. The exercise, conducted more than 50 nautical miles off Kauai, Hawaii, aimed to improve proficiency in tactics, targeting, and live-firing against surface ships. The SINKEX also provided an opportunity to test new equipment, following a similar event during the Valiant Shield exercise where a B-2 bomber fired a LRASM missile. RIMPAC 2026 involves over 30,000 personnel from 30 nations and concludes on July 31.
Army helicopters, Navy drones sink two retired ships at RIMPAC
During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational exercise, U.S. and allied forces sank two decommissioned Navy ships, the USS Peleliu and USS Mobile Bay, on July 11 and 17 respectively. The sinking exercise (SINKEX) involved units from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Italy, and Japan. U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopters fired Spike Non-Line of Sight missiles at the Mobile Bay, while the Navy used one-way attack surface drones against the Peleliu. The exercise, conducted over 50 nautical miles from Kauai, Hawaii, aimed to improve proficiency in tactics, targeting, and live-fire operations. The USS Peleliu, a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship (1980-2015), and the USS Mobile Bay, a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser (1987-2023), were both veterans of multiple deployments. This SINKEX follows a similar event during the Valiant Shield exercise and is part of RIMPAC 2026, which involves over 30,000 personnel from 30 nations and concludes on July 31.
RIMPAC 2026 SINKEX Highlights Expanding Allied Anti-Ship Capabilities
During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise, U.S. and allied forces conducted a sinking exercise (SINKEX) off Hawaii, sinking two decommissioned warships: the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu and the guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay. The event showcased a range of advanced anti-ship capabilities, including U.S. Army HIMARS, Japanese Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, U.S. Navy LRASM fired from Super Hornets, submarine-launched Harpoon missiles from a Los Angeles-class submarine, and Spanish Navy Harpoon strikes. The exercise involved 30,000 personnel, 30 vessels, five submarines, and 15 ground force components. The SINKEX highlighted growing allied focus on ground-based maritime strike and long-range anti-ship systems, particularly aimed at countering Chinese naval expansion in the Indo-Pacific region.
RIMPAC 2026 SINKEX Highlights Expanding Allied Anti-Ship Capabilities
The U.S. and allied forces sank two decommissioned warships, USS Peleliu and USS Mobile Bay, off Hawaii during the RIMPAC 2026 sinking exercise (SINKEX). The exercise showcased a range of expanding allied anti-ship capabilities, including U.S. Army HIMARS, Japanese Type 12 surface-to-ship missiles, U.S. Navy LRASM fired from Super Hornets, and submarine-launched Harpoon missiles from a U.S. Los Angeles-class submarine and a Spanish frigate. The event involved 30,000 personnel from 30 vessels, five submarines, and 15 ground force components. The drills highlight a focus on countering China through integrated joint and allied maritime strike systems, with Japan and the U.S. investing in ground-based anti-ship missiles for potential island chain conflicts.