US Navy sinks decommissioned assault ship USS Peleliu in RIMPAC SINKEX

Published Aug 4, 09:17 AM UTC

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.