The John P. Murtha (LPD 26) is the tenth San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship and is named in honor of Congressman John P. Murtha (1932-2010), a former United States Marine Corps officer, elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974.

June 6, 2012 The keel authentication ceremony for the LPD 26 was held at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Ingalls Operations shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

December 6, 2013 Huntington Ingalls Industries reached a construction milestone by lifting a record-breaking 787 tons deckhouse for the future USS John P. Murtha.

October 30, 2014 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John P. Murtha was launched from a floating dry-dock at Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and moored at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf.

March 21, 2015 PCU John P. Murtha was christened during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Ingalls West Bank in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mrs. Joyce Murtha, widow of the ship's namesake, served as sponsor of the ship. Capt. Kevin J. Parker is the prospective commanding officer.

March 1, 2016 The John P. Murtha departed Ingalls shipyard for the first time, for a three-day underway in the Gulf of Mexico, to conduct Builder's Trials; Underway for acceptance trials from April 13-15.

May 13, U.S. Navy took delivery of the LPD 26 during a pierside ceremony at Ingalls West Bank Yard East Wharf.

June 9, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair was awarded a $21,2 million contract for the Fitting Out Availability and the Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) of USS John P. Murtha. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $61,1 million. Work will be performed in San Diego, Calif., and is expected to be completed by September 2017.

August 11, PCU John P. Murtha departed Pascagoula, Miss., for the last time en route to Philadelphia, Pa.

August 17, The amphibious transport dock ship moored at Bravo Wharf on Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for an overnight port call to refuel; Inport Montego Bay, Jamaica, from Aug. 19-22.

August 30, The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) John P. Murtha pulled into Bridgetown, Barbados, for a three-day liberty port visit.

September 7, LPD 26 moored at Wharf B3 in Naval Station Mayport, Fla., for a five-day port call; Participated in first ever vertical replenishment (VERTREP) on Sept. 12.

September 16, The John P. Murtha moored at Pier 2N on Naval Station Newport, R.I., for a week-long port visit in conjunction with the 22nd Chief of Naval Operation's International Seapower Symposium, hosted by the Naval War College; Moored at Naval Station Norfolk from Sept. 26- Oct. 1.

October 3, PCU John P. Murtha moored at Penn's Landing waterfront in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a week-long port visit.

October 8, USS John P. Murtha was commissioned during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Penn's Landing.

October 14, The amphibious transport dock ship recently moored at Bravo 3 Wharf on Naval Station Mayport; Underway on Oct. 31.

November 5, The John P. Murtha moored at Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base for a routine port call after transiting Panama Canal.

November 18, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 1, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego in its homeport of San Diego, Calif., after an 18-day transit from Mayport, Florida.

March 8, LPD 26 moored at Bravo Pier, Naval Air Station North Island for a brief stop to offload ammunition before underway off the coast of southern California.

March 9, USS John P. Murtha conducted its first ever underway replenishment (UNREP), with the USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187).

March 17, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, B Street Pier in downtown San Diego; Held an "Open House" from March 17-19; Moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 after a brief underway off the coast of San Diego on March 21; Underway again on March 28.

March 30, The John P. Murtha moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to onload ammo; Returned home on April 5; Underway for Combat Systems Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) on April 10.

April 1?, The amphibious transport dock ship moored at Wharf 4 in Port Hueneme, Calif., for a brief port call; Brief stop at Bravo Pier before moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 on April 20; Underway again from May 3-5; Underway for Final Contract Trials (FCT) with the INSURV from May 22-24; Brief underway for CORTRAMID cruise on May 31; Underway again from June 7-8, June 12-13, July 5-7 and July 19-21.

July 24, USS John P. Murtha moored at Deperming Pier on Naval Base Point Loma for magnetic treatment (DEPERM); Underway for degaussing runs before moored at Berth 6, Pier 5 on Aug. 2.

January 19, 2018 Capt. Antony C. Roach relieved Capt. Kevin J. Parker as CO of the John P. Murtha during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

April 16, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 5, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego after a week-long underway for sea trials, following a seven-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA); Underway again from May 16-18, May 21-25 and May 29.

May 30, The John P. Murtha anchored at Coronado's Anchorage 171 for a one-day stop; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 12 on June 6; Underway in support of RIMPAC 2018 on June 18; Arrived off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, on June 25.

June 26, USS John P. Murtha moored at Pier M1/M2 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a three-day port visit; Moored at Pier M1/M2 again on June 30; Underway for at-sea phase of exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) on July 11; Moored at Pier M1/M2 again from July 31- Aug. 3.

August 9, The amphibious transport dock ship made a brief stop off Camp Pendleton, Calif., for offload; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 8 in Naval Base San Diego on Aug. 10; Underway again from Aug. 24-25 and Sept. 17.

September 18, USS John P. Murtha moored at Wharf 311 on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., for a three-day ammo onload; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 6 on Sept. 28.

October 30, The John P. Murtha departed Naval Base San Diego in support of Underway Recovery Test (URT) 7, for the NASA's Orion program, off the coast of southern California; Returned home on Nov. 5; Underway for a Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise from Dec. 10-19.

January 28, 2019 USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 1, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego after a 13-day underway for Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 5/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT), with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), as part of the USS Boxer (LHD 4) ARG; Underway for ARG/MEUEX from Feb. 12-27; Underway for a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) on March 15.

April 1, LPD 26 moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to onload ammo before moored at Berth 2, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego.

April 3, Capt. Kevin A. Lane relieved Capt. Antony C. Roach as the 3rd CO of John P. Murtha during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

May 1, USS John P. Murtha departed San Diego for its maiden deployment, as part of the USS Boxer ARG.

May 14, The John P. Murtha moored at Pier H2 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for an extended six-day port call after participated in a sustainment training exercise off the coast of Oahu; Transited the Surigao Strait southbound on June 2; Transited the Singapore Strait westbound on June 6.

June 11, USS John P. Murtha moored at Ore Berth-1, Outer Harbour in Port of Visakhapatnam, India, for a three-day visit; Participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the INS Ranvijay (D55) on June 14.

June 30, The John P. Murtha conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) and USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14), while underway in the Gulf of Aden; Transited the Strait of Hormuz northbound on July 18; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Big Horn and USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199) on July 24.

August 2, USS John P. Murtha moored at Multi-Use Terminal in Hamad Port, Qatar, for an eight-day mid-deployment voyage repair availability (VRAV) and a liberty visit to Doha; Transited the Strait of Hormuz southbound on Aug. 12; Transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait northbound on Aug. 18.

August 26, LPD 26 moored at Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia, for a two-day visit; Transited the Strait of Tiran northbound, just before midnight, on Aug. 30; Transited southbound on Sept. ?; Transited the Bab el-Mandeb Strait southbound on Sept. 13; Transited the Malacca Strait southbound on Sept. 27; Transited the Singapore Strait eastbound, just after midnight, on Sept. 28.

October 5, The John P. Murtha moored at Alava Pier in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, for a three-day port visit before participating in amphibious training exercise KAMANDAG 3; Conducted backload on Oct. 18; Moored at Navy Pier on White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa from Oct. 25-28.

November 1, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 4, Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, for a three-day port call; Moored at Pier H2 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from Nov. 13-18; Anchored off Camp Pendleton for offload on Nov. 25.

November 27, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 1, Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego following a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

January 24, 2020 The John P. Murtha returned to homeport after a three-day underway off the coast of southern California; Underway again from Jan. 28-29 and Feb. 24-26; Moved to Berth 1, Pier 6 on March 4.

March 16, The John P. Murtha returned to homeport after a four-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway again on April 17; Moored at Wharf 311 on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach for ammo offload from April 20-24.

April 27, USS John P. Murtha arrived approximately 80 n.m. east of Guadalupe, to provide medical assistance to the USS Kidd (DDG 100) if required, following the outbreak of the coronavirus aboard the guided-missile destroyer; Moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 in Naval Base San Diego on April 28.

May 4, The John P. Murtha moved "dead-stick" from Naval Base San Diego to BAE Systems shipyard.

July 10, Capt. Gervy J. Alota relieved Capt. Kevin A. Lane as CO of the LPD 26 during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

December 14, USS John P. Murtha moved "dead-stick" from BAE Systems shipyard to Berth 5, Pier 7 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway for sea trials, following an eight-month Selected Restricted Availability (SRA), from Jan. 4-8; Underway again on Feb. 23.

February 25, 2021 The John P. Murtha moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel; Returned home on March 4; Underway for well deck certification on April 5; Anchored at Coronado's Anchorage A-172 for a brief stop on April 8; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 10 on April 9.

May 28, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 6, Pier 5 on Naval Base San Diego after an 11-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo before underway for Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) summer cruise on June 14; Brief stop at Bravo Pier again on June 15; Anchored at A-173 for an overnight stop on Tuesday evening; Returned home on June 18; Moved to Berth 1, Pier 8 on June 28.

July 8, USS John P. Murtha departed San Diego for a scheduled independent deployment.

July 15, The John P. Murtha moored at Wharf K10/11 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a four-day port call.

July 30, The John P. Murtha moored at Berth 5, Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, for a two-day port call to offload equipment in support of exercise Freedom Banner; Moored at Berth 2, Victor Wharf from Aug. ?-7; Moored at Romeo Wharf from Aug. 20-24; Moored at Pier M2 in Pearl Harbor from Sept. 2-3.

September 10, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego following a two-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AoR; Underway again on Sept. 16.

September 26, LPD 26 recently arrived off the coast of Lima, Peru, to participate in annual multinational exercise UNITAS LXII; Participated in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) on Sept. 28; Anchored off Salinas, Peru, for a joint amphibious landing demonstration from Sept. 30- Oct. 2; Anchored off the coast of Callao from Oct. 5-?; Returned home on Oct. 15.

November 8, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego after a six-day underway, off the coast of southern California, in support of NASA Underway Recovery Test (URT) 9.

January 31, 2022 The John P. Murtha moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo before underway for Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise, as part of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) ARG; Participated in a MISSILEX, at the Point Mugu Test Range, from Feb. 10-11; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 7 on Feb. 11.

March 9, USS John P. Murtha departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AoR; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo.

March 15, The John P. Murtha made a brief stop off the coast of Honolulu, Hawaii; Moored at Pier H2 in Pearl Harbor from March 16-18; Moored at Berth 5, Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, from March 28- April 1 and April 6-14.

April 24, The amphibious transport dock ship transited the Verde Island Passage eastbound; Transited the San Bernardino Strait northbound on April 25; Moored at Berth 5, Victor Wharf on Naval Base Guam from April 28-30; Arrived off the coast of Oahu on May 8; Moored at Pier H2 in Pearl Harbor from May 9-10; Moored at Berth 5, Pier 8 in Naval Base San Diego on May 16.

May 24, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego after a two-day underway, off the coast of Camp Pendleton, for training with Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) from the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion (AABN); Underway for Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 7/Marine Expeditionary Unit Integration Training (PMINT), with the 13th MEU, on July 6.

July 19, The John P. Murtha moored at Wharf 311 on Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach for a three-day ammo onload; Returned home on July 22; Underway again from July 25-26.

July 29, Cmdr. Douglas M. Langenberg relieved Capt. Gervy J. Alota as the 5th CO of Murtha during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

August 17, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego after a 16-day underway for ARG/MEU exercise; Underway for a Sustainment Exercise (SUSTEX) on Aug. 29; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 12 on Sept. 1?.

November 9, USS John P. Murtha departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment, as part of the USS Makin Island ARG; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 12, after suffered an engineering casualty, on Nov. 15; Underway again on Nov. 17.

November 23, The John P. Murtha moored at Pier H2 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a brief stop to refuel; Moored at Berth 4/5, Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, from Dec. 5-10; Moored at Navy Pier, White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa, Japan, for a brief stop on Dec. 21; Moored at Navy Pier again from Dec. 23-28; Anchored off White Beach for a brief stop on Dec. 30.

January 3, 2023 USS John P. Murtha transited the San Bernardino Strait southbound on Tuesday evening; Entered the Sulu Sea on Jan. 4; Moored at Berth 2, RSS Singapura, in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)/Marine Exercise (MAREX), from Jan. 8-12.

January 12, LPD 26 anchored at new southern islands live firing area, approximately 1 n.m. west of Sudong Island in Singapore, for a brief stop; Moored at Berth 5/6, Sembawang Terminal for upkeep from Jan. 16-31; Anchored off the coast of Dili, Timor-Leste, in support of CARAT exercise from Feb. 10-15.

February 26, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 4, Chuk Samet Port in Sattahip, Thailand, for the in-port phase of annual exercise Cobra Gold 23; Underway for at-sea phase on March 1; Participated in a PHOTOEX on March 3; Moored at Berth 1, C0 Terminal in Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, from March 7-10.

March 17, The John P. Murtha conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), while underway in the East China Sea; Transited the Korean Strait northbound on March 20; Participated in a PHOTOEX on March 21; Moored at Berth 6 in Busan Naval Base, ROK, from March 23-26.

April 3, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2 in Busan Naval Base for a one-day port call after participated in amphibious landing exercise Ssang Yong 2023, off the coast of Pohang; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199), while underway off the west coast of Luzon, Philippines, on April 10.

April 11, USS John P. Murtha moored at River Wharf East in Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, for a two-day port call before participating in annual exercise Balikatan; Participated in a PHOTOEX on April 19; Moored at Rivera Wharf South in Subic Bay on April 23; Moved to Pol Pier for a brief stop to refuel before underway on April 30; Moored at Berth 4/5, Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, from May ?-15; Moored at Wharf B25 in Pearl Harbor from May 24-28; Arrived off the coast of Camp Pendleton for offload on June 4; Embarked friends and family members for a Tiger Cruise on June 7.

June 8, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 1, Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego following a seven-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AoR; Moved to Berth 2, Pier 8 on July 11.

July 26, BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair was awarded a $37,7 million contract for the USS John P. Murtha's Selected Restricted Availability (SRA). Work is expected to be completed by September 2024.

August 1, USS John P. Murtha moored at Berth 2, Pier 8 on Naval Base San Diego after a week-long underway in support of NASA's Underway Recovery Test (URT) 10; Underway in support of Operation Polar Dagger, off the southwest coast of Alaska, from Aug. 10- Sept. 14; Underway again on Sept. 29.

October 1, The John P. Murtha moored at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, Calif., for an eight-day port visit to participate in annual Fleet Week celebration; Brief underway for Parade of Ships on Oct. 6.

October 12, LPD 26 moored at Berth 1, Pier 12 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway again on Oct. 15; Moored at Wharf 311, NWS Seal Beach for ammo offload from Oct. 16-20; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 12 on Oct. 20; Moved "dead-stick" to Pier 1S in BAE Systems shipyard on Nov. 13.