The United States and allied participants in Rim of the Pacific 2026 carried out a live-fire ship-sinking drill as part of the multinational exercise. During the operation, forces sank two retired U.S. Navy vessels: the former guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay on July 12 and the former amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu on July 17.
The event was conducted under the SINKEX portion of RIMPAC, a recurring exercise that brings together ships, aircraft and personnel from partner nations. The latest drill highlighted combined operations at sea, with multiple platforms taking part in the live-fire mission during the 2026 edition of the exercise.
Using decommissioned ships in this type of training allows participating forces to rehearse maritime strike and coordination procedures in a realistic setting. It also gives commanders and crews experience in integrating naval and air assets during a complex multinational scenario.
The sinking of USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu marked two notable moments in this year’s RIMPAC activities. The operation underscored the scale of the Pacific exercise and the continued focus on interoperability between the U.S. military and partner navies.
