LHA 5 is the first U.S. Navy ship to carry the name Peleliu, and the second ship named in honor of the World War II battles fought in the Palau Islands. The first ship was USS Palau (CVE 122), a Commencement Bay Class aircraft carrier, which served from 1946 until being decommissioned in 1954. The Peleliu is named in honor of the 3rd Amphibious Force's assault and capture of Peleliu Island in the fall of 1944.

The ship departed Ingalls Shipyard under command of Capt. T.P. Scott. Flight operations were frequently conducted and the ship logged its 500th landing on May 30, 1980.

On May 17th USS Peleliu arrived in Colon, Panama, to begin unrigging for the transit of the Panama Canal. She departed on May 20 and tied up in Balboa, Panama, (Pacific side of the canal) twelve hours later. After five days of rerigging in Balboa, the amphibious assault ship departed and entered her homewaters of the Pacific. She proceeded south from Panama and crossed the equator on the night of May 27th, which is the record for the shortest period between a ship's commissioning and "Crossing the Line."

On May 28 LHA 5 headed northerly enroute Mazatlan, Mexico, departing the Baja port on June 7th enroute San Diego, California. Most of the events the Peleliu and her crew participated in during this initial transit were "firsts" and the underway refueling with USNS Taluga was no exception, occurring on June 8th. She arrived at Naval Air Station, San Diego, on June 10th for a one-day stop prior to proceeding to Long Beach, Calif., her homeport.

In 1981 The amphibious assault ship completed its Post-Shakedown Availability and join the fleet as a fully operational unit of the Navy's Pacific Amphibious Force. The latter part of the year found the ship and her crew well trained having past numerous work up evaluations. The Engineering department passed their Operational Propulsion Plant Examination (OPPE) in 42--hours vice the normal 72 hours required, and REFTRA was successfully accomplished just prior to the holiday season. All efforts were directed toward preparing USS Peleliu for its first western Pacific/Indian Ocean deployment.

1982 marked Peleliu's first year as a fully operational unit of the Navy's Pacific Fleet Amphibious Force. In January, she was the flagship in a no-notice, non-combatant emergency evacuation exercise conducted off San Clemente Island, and on March 28 the ship got underway for its maiden deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

USS Peleliu completed its second deployment on October 4, 1984. One month later she ship deployed to the northern Pacific Ocean to participate in an exercise held off the coast of Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands. LHA 5 conducted its 10,000th accident free landing during this northern Pacific exercise.

The first fleet firing of the RIM 116 RAM (Rolling Airframe Missile) occurred in October 1995 from USS Peleliu.

As of February 1996 the Peleliu ARG, consisted of USS Denver (LPD 9) and USS Anchorage (LSD 36) with 15th MEU, was operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch enforcing U.N. sanctions against Iraq in conjunction with the USS Nimitz Battle Group.

By mid-1997 USS Nimitz Battle Group, USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group and the 13th MEU had completed Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise 97-2 (JTFEX 97-2) which certified each element as ready to deploy in the fall. USS Nimitz Battle Group and LHA 5 ARG replaced the USS Constellation Battle Group and USS Boxer ARG on a six-month deployment.

The amphibious assault ship deployed with USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Juneau (LPD 10) and Marines of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Persian Gulf in August 28, 1997 and participated in Exercise Eager Mace 98. In Sepember the ARG took part in Fleet Battle Experiment - Bravo's "Silent Fury" phase along with the Constellation Battle Group.

June 21, 1999 USS Peleliu ARG departed San Diego for a six-month deployment, with the 11th MEU, to the western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. During the deployment, the ships visited ports in Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and the Arabian Gulf. In July 1999 U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midget (WHEC 726) joined the LHA 5 Amphibious Ready Group for operations enroute to the Arabian Gulf. This was the first time since World War II that a Coast Guard cutter had joined a Navy amphibious group for real-world operations. During the deployment which concluded on December 21, COMPHIBRON One, as Commander of the USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group, participated in Operation Stabilise in East Timor, providing heavy lift and humanitarian assistance to an Australian-led coalition force. COMPHIBRON One also executed Exercises Iron Magic '99 and Red Reef 10 in the Arabian Gulf. As the Officer Conducting the Exercise for Red Reef, the Squadron directed the largest amphibious exercise in Saudi Arabia since the Gulf War including participation by 13 U.S. and Saudi ships, a submarine, helicopters and carrier airwing aircraft.

USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group was deployed to the western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Gulf from August 13, 2001 to March 4, 2002. Following the events of September 11th, LHA 5 ARG was a central support force for Operation Enduring Freedom. The amphibious assault ship was the first ship in the Global War on Terrorism to deploy Marines to the beach, and then fly over 200 miles to the desert country of Afghanistan.

Following its deployment she underwent a comprehensive overhaul at National Steel and Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in San Diego. Peleliu's first milestone since pulling out of dry dock was successfully passing the light-off assessment (LOA) administered by Afloat Training Group (ATG) Pacific. LOA is an important process for a ship. Before a ship can light off, its engineering plant must be inspected by ATG to ensure that it is in proper condition for light off.

In 2002 it was announced that the Navy intended to deploy LHA 5 as the center of an Expeditionary Strike Group that would consist of cruisers, destroyers, frigates and submarines in addition to the normal number of amphibious vessels. The Peleliu ESG will be commanded by a rear admiral in an experiment to determine which of the two options works out best.

In April 2003 the "Gunbearers" of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 11 put their newly acquired MH-60S Knighthawk helicopters through their paces while conducting daylight landing qualifications aboard USS Peleliu. This evolution marked the first time the Navy's newest helicopter landed on a Pacific Fleet naval ship.

In May 2003 USS Peleliu took part in a Expeditionary Strike Group Exercise in which members of the crew and the strike group participated in a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO). A NEO is the Navy and Marine Corps way of extracting civilians from a hostile environment.

August 22, USS Peleliu departed Naval Station San Diego on a western Pacific deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (it had been scheduled to deploy in November 2003 but Operation Iraqi Freedom caused USS Saipan to deploy ahead of its schedule preventing it from deploying as the first ESG).

January 2, 2004 Fifteen individuals were detained and an estimated 2,800 pounds of hashish (approximately $11 million street value) were seized by U.S. and coalition maritime forces following the interception of a dhow Jan. 1 in the North Arabian Sea. Peleliu, Port Royal (CG 73) and Germantown (LSD 42) conducted the interception. Boarding teams discovered the hashish underneath blocks of ice and in hidden compartments. This interception is the third in two weeks by coalition maritime forces.

March 9, USS Peleliu, commanded by Capt. Pamela A. Markiewicz, returned to homeport from a six-and-a-half month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

April 22, The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Pacific Ocean conducting a series of testing to prepare for an upcoming Inspection Survey (INSURV).

November 23, USS Peleliu is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean conducting a "Friends and Family" day cruise.

January 26, 2005 LHA 5 is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean conducting routine trainings.

February 17, The San Diego-based ship is currently underway off the coast of southern California for training evolutions. It returned to San Diego March 2.

June 15, The amphibious assault ship is currently off the coast of southern California conducting routine operations.

June 27, USS Peleliu is currently off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, conducting infantry and amphibious trainings at Marine Corps Training Area Bellows.

June 28, LHA 5 conducted amphibious training on the beaches of Pacific Missile Range Facility, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. The ship pulled to Naval Station Pearl Harbor June 30.

July 15, USS Peleliu embarked the 3rd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 1st Marine Divisione, to return to their home base after completing amphibious training on and off the coast of Hawaii July 12.

July 20, LHA 5 is off the West Coast transferring ammunition from the USS Bonhomme Richard in preparatoin for an upcoming western Pacific deployment.

August 4, The San Diego-based assault ship is currently underway in the Pacific Ocean conducting carrier qualifications.

September 8, USS Peleliu returned to Naval Station San Diego after a four-day underway period, conducting flight qualifications, off the coast of southern Calif.

September 14, LHA 5 is currently on a four-day underway period for landing practices of aircraft based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

November 4, The amphibious assault ship is in a maintenance period in San Diego in preparation for an upcoming scheduled deployment.

November 18, Four ships and about 3,500 Sailors and Marines of USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 3 successfully completed their ESG Integration Exercise (ESGINT) off the coast of southern California.

December 16, Expeditionary Strike Group Three successfully completed their Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

January 13, 2006 USS Peleliu departed for Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), the third of three at-sea training evolutions designed to prepare the strike group for its scheduled western Pacific deployment.

February 15, USS Peleliu ESG 3, along with 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), departed San Diego for a six-month deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

March 4, USS Pasadena (SSN 752) participated in an Undersea Warfare Exercise (USWEX) with the USS Peleliu ESG-3 near Hawaii Feb. 21-24. During pre-deployment training in January, USS Asheville (SSN 758) joined the ESG 3 ships for 13 days off the coast of southern California.

April 8, LHA 5 ESG arrived in the Persian Gulf to relieve USS Nassau (LHA 4) ESG, on the station, in the 5th Fleet AoR.

April 27, The amphibious assault ship departed Manama, Bahrain, after a four-day port visit.

July 9, USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group concluded operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations. COMPHIBRON 3's flagship completed more than 5,337 flight deck evolutions while in the region, with more than 585 hours in support of OIF. From Peleliu's deck, AV-8B Harriers assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 166 (Reinforced) also flew 268 missions into Iraq in support of ground units engaged in OIF - oftentimes flying more than 2,400 miles in one day.

August 5, The Peleliu arrived in Naval Station Pearl Harbor for the final port visit before returning to San Diego.

August 16, USS Peleliu, commanded by Capt. Ed Rhoades, returned to homeport after a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and Persian Gulf.

April 3, 2007 The amphibious assault ship is currently off the coast of southern California preparing for its upcoming humanitarian deployment in support of Pacific Partnership.

May 23, USS Peleliu departed San Diego to assists in a humanitarian and civic-action mission to several nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania called "Pacific Partnership". The deployment is being coordinated with several nations and, like the recent hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) deployment, will carry out in cooperation with several non-government relief organizations.

May 29, The Peleliu pulled to Pearl Harbor for a brief port visit. LHA 5 arrived in Manila, Philippines, June 18.

July 21, USS Peleliu is currently in port of Da Nang, Vietnam, for a ten-days to render humanitarian assistance in support of Pacific Partnership 2007.

August 1, LHA 5 recently departed Singapore after a four-day port call.

August 9, The amphibious assault ship is currently anchored off the coast of Madang, Papua New Guinea.

September 6, USS Peleliu departed Majuro, Republic of the Marshall islands, completing a four-month humanitarian assistance mission to Southeast Asia and Oceania, consisting of a variety of medical, construction and engineering projects. The ship will pull to Pearl Harbor on 12th to drop off embarked partners and pick up friends and family members for a Tiger Cruise back to homeport.

September 20, USS Peleliu returned to Naval Base San Diego after a four-month underway period in support of Pacific Partnership.

October 30, LHA 5 is currently conducting routine operations off the coast of southern California.

February 20, 2008 USS Peleliu departed San Diego to complete a two-week underway period, after completing a three-month planned maintenance availability. Sailors and Marines aboard the "Iron Nickel" will conduct ammunition on load, engineering testing, combat systems and damage control training and flight operations in preparation for a deployment later this year. A three-day port visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is also scheduled for this underway period, where the ship will host distinguished visitors, Mexican military, and tourists.

March 13, The Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group is currently conducting Expedition Strike Group 3 integration training in preparation of its western Pacific deployment.

April 21, USS Peleliu completed Marine Air Ground Task Force training exercises with the 15th MEU and Amphibious Squadron (CPR) 3 from April 9-16.

May 4, USS Peleliu ESG departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

June 2, Six local mariners from the Philippines were rescued from a sinking vessel May 30 by U.S. Navy personnel as ships from the Peleliu ESG transited the Strait of Balabac.

June 25, LHA 5 is currently in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

August 27, The amphibious assault ship is currently in the Red Sea conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

October 10, The Peleliu, along with guided-missile destroyer Halsey (DDG 97), arrived in Sydney, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

October 25, LHA 5 pulled to Naval Station Pearl Harbor for a brief port call.

November 4, USS Peleliu returned to homeport after a six-month deployment.

January 27, 2009 The Peleliu became the first LHA-class amphibious assault ship to receive the new expeditionary fighting vehicle (EFV) in its welldeck during trials off the coast of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 22.

March 24, USS Peleliu entered the dry dock at NASSCO shipyards as part of her four-month dock planned maintenance availability (DPMA), that started March 4. The three main evolutions that will take place are the MV-22 modification, local area network upgrade to Fiber Optical Gigabit Ethernet LAN and hull preservation.

September 4, Capt. David A. Schnell relieved Capt. Marcus A. Hitchcock as CO of the Peleliu during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

October 10, LHA 5 returned to San Diego after a four-day sea trials off the coast of southern California.

October 29, USS Peleliu is currently assisting with recovery operations following the collision of a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1 Super Cobra helicopter and a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft, near San Clemente Island, at 0710 p.m. on Oct. 26.

November 6, The amphibious assault ship is currently onloading ammunition off the coast of Camp Pendlton, Calif.

November 19, The Peleliu is underway off the coast of San Diego conducting engineering certifications.

February 15, 2010 USS Peleliu is currently underway off the West Coast conducting AV-8B Harrier Deck Landing Qualifications. LHA 5 successfully completed the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) Feb. 5, concluding a five-day evaluation of the Iron Nickel's compartments and equipment.

February 22, The Peleliu ARG is currently participating in initial integration exercise, with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), off the coast of southern California.

March 19, The three ships are currently conducting Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) in preparation for an upcomig deployment.

April 17, USS Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group is currently underway off the West Coast for a Certification Exercise (CERTEX).

May 22, USS Peleliu departed homeport for a scheduled Middle East deployment after two-day delay because of a mechanical problem.

June 5, The amphibious assault ship arrived in Naval Base Guam for a routine port call.

June 20, USS Peleliu, along with USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), arrived off the coast of Dili, Timor-Leste, to participate in Exercise Crocodilo, a series of civil programs and training exercises with the Timor Leste and Australian militaries.

June 27, LHA 5 arrived in Darwin, Australia, for a scheduled port visit.

August 12, The first CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters were launched from the flight deck of the Peleliu, off the coast of Carachi, as part of the continued U.S. humanitarian assistance to Pakistan in support of flood relief from a recent monsoon.

August 15, Capt. David A. Schnell was relieved of command by Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Navy 5th Fleet, Vice Adm. Mark I. Fox, due to "loss of confidence" in his ability to command. The decision to relieve Schnell comes as a result of an investigation into allegations that he acted in an unprofessional manner toward several crew members that was inappropriate, improper and unduly familiar. Capt. Mark E. Cedrun assumed the temporary command of USS Peleliu.