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US warship in Dubai after 
Pak humanitarian mission

DUBAI — Returning from a flood-relief operation in Pakistan, USS Peleliu, an amphibious assault ship, docked for repairs at the Jebel Ali port last Friday. En route to US, the ship carries over 2,300 crew including sailors, airmen, senior officers and support staff.

According to details provided by Colonel Roy Osborne, USS Peleliu, working in close partnership with the Pakistan military, had transported over 4 million tonnes of food and relief supplies, and had rescued more than 10,000 people.

Flying over 700 miles into Pakistan, the 12 CH-46 Sea Knight and four CH-53E Sea Stallion helicopters onboard the USS Peleliu had been instrumental in delivering aid. Working alongside several hundred officers onboard the ship, 26 pilots provided a major chunk of US relief supplies to the 
affected areas.

“It was a major challenge to find landing spots as we were working in places without proper landing spots. Most of the times we had to set a ramp and hover around houses as the supplies were being off-loaded,” said Major Duffy, Operation Officer onboard USS Peleliu, who spearheaded the aerial rescue operations in Pakistan.

“Several places were cut off from land access as the only route for relief supplies was through air. Crop farms were washed away and there was little available to feed the people,” he added.

Hundreds of US military and civilian personnel are still working round the clock in Islamabad, in flood-affected areas and at Pakistani military bases in support of flood relief operations.

Commenting on the ship’s stopover at Dubai, Captain Mark Sakaguchi said: “We are here to make some minor repairs so that we can continue to undertake a wider range of humanitarian missions.”

Nicknamed ‘The Iron Nickel’, USS Peleliu is one of the largest, fastest and most versatile amphibious warfare ship. “The ship can self-deploy, self-sustain and refuel at sea. We enjoy great flexibility when it comes to supporting long-term requirements or taking part in short robust missions,” added Captain Mark. Serving the US Navy and Marines, the ship has previously taken part in combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fully equipped with modern facilities, the ship serves as an airport to support various missions.

“It runs like any regular airport and the ship is a floating city, larger than some of the smaller towns in the US,” said Col Roy Osborne.

muaz@khaleejtimes.com

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