USS Germantown (LSD 42) is the second dock landing ship of the Whidbey Island-class and is named after the historical Pennsylvania district of Germantown. Now a residential section of Philadelphia, Germantown was founded in 1683. It was the site of an important battle of the American War for Independence fought on 4 October 1777 between the forces of General George Washington and General Sir William Howe. On the morning of the battle amidst dense fog, the forces of Washington repelled 9000 of Howe's troops. The Americans, however, were forced to retreat when the British ranks reformed and were reinforced.

.LSD 42 was constructed by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company of Seattle, Washington and her keel was laid on August 5, 1982. She was commissioned on February 8, 1986.

The ship played a significant role during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The ship was in the Arabian Gulf for the entire operation and deployed for a total of nine months. USS Germantown departed San Diego en route to the Gulf on December 1, 1990 as part of the largest Amphibious Task Force (18 ships) to leave the West Coast since 1965. The ship participated in mock amphibious assaults in the United Arab Emirates after the start of the air war in preparation for a possible amphibious assault.

October 31, 2001 USS Essex ARG and 31st MEU, including USS Germantown and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), arrived off the coast of Dili, East Timor, recently to assist the U.S. Support Group East Timor with humanitarian and civic assistance projects. Approximately 1,000 Sailors and Marines will support community relations projects, including medical and dental assistance, general engineering and construction, and transport and delivery of sports equipment and infrastructure materials in Dili, Suai and Oecussi in the Southeast Asian country. The forces were scheduled to remain on station for approximately three days before continuing their current underway training period.

During the pre-dawn hours of April 20, 2002, USS Germantown, commanded by Cmdr. Bradley Martin, delivered over 300 U.S. Navy Seabees and Marine engineers from the Okinawa, Japan-based Naval Construction Task Group (NCTG) by landing craft to Basilan Island in Southern Philippines. These service members have begun working on infrastructure improvements for U.S. Special Forces troops assigned in the Philippines in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

September 1, USS Germantown was relieved by USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) as a forward deployed naval unit in Sasebo, Japan. LSD 42 returned to San Diego where she underwent a $20 million overhaul.

August 22, 2003 USS Germantown departed Naval Station San Diego for a scheduled deployment, with the USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group and the 13th MEU, in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

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. This interception is the third in two weeks by coalition maritime forces.

March 9, USS Germantown returned home after six-and-a-half month deployment. The Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group conducted humanitarian assistance and security and stabilization missions in Iraq, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom Maritime Interception Operations on land in southern Iraq and at sea in the Persian Gulf. They also patrolled international waters in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa to deter the transport of terrorist personnel and equipment. ESG 1’s most complex coalition mission came in January, when the group served as command and control for Exercise Sea Saber, a coalition maritime interdiction training exercise.

October 26, Cmdr. John D. Deehr relieved Cmdr. Henry D. Angelino Jr. as commanding officer of the amphibious ship USS Germantown (LSD 42).

February 15, 2006 USS Germantown departed San Diego for a six-month underway period, with the USS Peleliu ESG-3 and the 11th MEU, in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Before deploying, LSD 42 trained with the other ships in the ESG in their 14-day Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) off the coast of southern California, and its two other required exercises, ESG Integration Exercise (ESGINT) and Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), late last year.

May 7, Sailors from USS Germantown provided medical assistance to an injured Iranian fisherman in the Northern Persian Gulf. LSD 42 is part of Combined Task Force 152 and is deployed as part of a routine rotation of U.S. maritime forces in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, as well as conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the region.

July 9, Six ships and nearly 5,000 Sailors and Marines assigned to the USS Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group concluded operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet area of operations.

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

August 16, USS Germantown returned to homeport after a six-month deployment to the western Pacific and the Persian Gulf.

July 18, 2007 The Germantown provided emergency medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) assistance to a civilian boat off the coast of San Diego. LSD 42 is currently underway off the coast of Southern California conducting various training exercises.

September 17, USS Germantown is currently conducting a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPUTEX), with the USS Tarawa ESG and the 11th MEU, off the coast of southern California.

November 5, USS Germantown departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment.

December 27, The dock landing ship provided assistance to an Iranian fishing dhow in the Arabian Sea. The Germantown is currently conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

June 3, 2008 LSD 42 returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period, as part of USS Tarawa (LHA 1) Expeditionary Strike Group.

July 29, USS Germantown and USS Princeton (CG 59) depated Naval Station Everett to participate in 59th annual Seattle Seafair festivities.