USS Comstock (LSD 45) is the second ship to be named after the Comstock Lode, an early American pioneer mining site near Virginia City, Nevada. The Comstock Lode, founded in 1859, has become indelible in the history of our American West; it produced more than $500,000,000 in gold and silver.

August 13, 2001 USS Comstock departed homeport for the Persian Gulf with Peleliu ARG, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The dock landing ship returned to Naval Station San Diego March 4, 2002.

January 17, 2003 LSD 45 departed San Diego, as part of Amphibious Task Force West (ATF-W), for a surge deployment in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 3, USS Comstock returned to homeport after nearly a six-month underway period in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. During her deployment she made port visits to Guam, Bahrain, and Hawaii.

October 23, Cmdr. John J. Braunschweig relieved Cmdr. Jonathan M. Padfield as commanding officer of USS Comstock during a change-of-command ceremony held aboard the ship.

May 27, 2004 USS Comstock departed San Diego, along with USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) and the 11th MEU, to the western Pacific Ocean and the Central Command AoR in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

July 20, The dock landing ship assumed duties as Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB) in the northern Arabian Gulf. In its first week on station, it successfully demonstrated the ability to conduct multiple missions simultaneously in support of Operation Iraqi freedom. Comstock’s role as AFSB is to support the Sailors providing security for Al Basrah Oil Terminal (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya Oil Terminal (KAAOT) in the Persian Gulf.

October 24, LSD 45 returned to homeport after a surge deployment in support of the global war on terrorism.

December 6, 2005 The Comstock is currently conducting operations in the Pacific Ocean, off the southern California coast in preparation of an upcoming scheduled deployment.

December 9, Sailors aboard USS Comstock, commanded by Cmdr. Paul J. Shock, successfully loaded a 270 ft. section of the Navy Lighter System (NLS) into the ship’s well deck, making it the first ship on the west coast to do so. NLS was developed during World War II as a method of moving equipment from ship to shore but was never loaded onto a ship until recently in support of Hurricane Katrina. NLS is a floating dock system designed to reach locations where conventional port facilities may be damaged, inadequate or non-existent. The system assembles at sea and connects together like building blocks to form ferries, causeway piers, or ships’ ramp roll-off discharge platforms.

June 24, 2006 LSD 45 is currently in Port Hueneme, Calif., as part of of Seabee Days. This year's celebration will mark the 20th annual Seabee Days where the community is invited aboard for a first-hand look at the Navy's construction engineers.

September 13, USS Comstock departed Naval Station San Diego for a scheduled deployment, with the Boxer (LHD 4) ESG-5 and the 15th MEU, in support of the Global War on Terrorism in western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

October 12, The dock landing ship pulled to Changi Naval Base, Singapore, for a scheduled port visit.

November 8, The Comstock entered the 5th Fleet's area of operation during a deployment in support of maritime security operations (MSO).

March 13, 2007 Sailors from USS Comstock arrived in Legaspi, Philippines, in support of Operation Goodwill III. The San Diego-based ship carried Marines and Seabees from the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

May 31, LSD 45 returned to homeport after nearly a nine-month extended underway period.

July 12, USS Comstock is currently off the coast of Hawaii participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2008.

December 8, 2008 The dock landing ship is currently conducting final training, off the West Coast, in preparation for an upcoming deployment with USS Boxer (LHD 4) ESG and the 13th MEU.

January 9, 2009 USS Comstock departed San Diego for a scheduled Middle East deployment.

February 24, LSD 45 departed the Maldives after participating in a five-day exercise Coconut Grove.

July 8, The Comstock recently anchored off the coast of Guam for a scheduled port visit.

August 1, USS Comstock returned to homeport after a seven-month underway period in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations.