By
- Lawrence Specker | lspecker@al.com
A decommissioned U.S. Navy warship named for Mobile Bay recently was sunk during a multinational naval exercise
According to the Navy, the former USS Mobile Bay was sunk July 12 during a live-fire exercise. The live-fire sinking exercise, or SINKEX, was part of a larger operation called RIMPAC 26, for Rim of the Pacific. Another decommissioned ship, the former USS Peleliu, was sunk on July 17
A Navy video shows the demolition of both ships, though it doesn’t provide detail about who exactly hit them, or with what
The Mobile Bay is seen listing to starboard before sinking. Defense news site armyrecognition.com reported that “multinational coalition forces fired a combination of M142 HIMARS rockets, Type 12 anti-ship missiles, AGM-158C LRASMs, Spike NLOS missiles, and heavyweight torpedoes against the decommissioned hull.”
According to the site, the Canadian submarine HMCS Corner Brook delivered the “decisive strike” with a Mk 48 Mod 7AT heavyweight torpedo
The Navy video follows the sinkings with the words, “After decades of distinguished service, the decommissioned USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu sank to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean during RIMPAC 2026, completing their final mission. Their legacy lives on through the Sailors who served aboard and the readiness they built.”
The USS Mobile Bay, designated CG-53, was built and christened in coastal Mississippi, then commissioned in Mobile on Feb. 21, 1987. The ship was a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser
According to the Navy, the ship “supported Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, and delivered humanitarian assistance following the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines.” The vessel was decommissioned in 2023
The Peleliu was a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship commissioned in 1990 and decommissioned in 2015
According to the Navy, “Thirty nations, 30 surface ships, five submarines, 15 national land forces, more than 190 aircraft and 30,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 24 to July 31.”
Nations participating in the SINKEX included Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Spain. A report in the U.S. Naval Institute News offered some detail about the multinational units involved and the weapons they used
“Watching our Sailors work side-by-side with partners from around the world, executing complex maritime events together, is the strongest reminder of why these relationships matter,” said U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Jeff Jablon, the RIMPAC 2026 commander, combined task force. ”SINKEXs are a prime example of the strength and readiness our partnerships create.”
“The successful execution of multiple SINKEXs highlights the unbreakable bond and growing capability of our coalition,” said Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm. Inho Kim, RIMPAC 2026 combined force maritime component commander. “Together, we are demonstrating a shared commitment to regional stability by developing tactics and skills in maritime operations.”
The ships reportedly were sunk in waters 15,000 feet deep
