The decommissioned amphibious transport dock USS Juneau (LPD-10) was sunk on June 27, 2026, during a live-fire exercise in the Philippine Sea as part of the Valiant Shield 2026 multinational military drill. The ship was sent to the bottom more than 200 nautical miles off the coast in the Mariana Islands Range Complex, where U.S. Pacific Command joint forces, together with allied and partner forces, executed coordinated strikes using air, surface, and subsurface assets.
A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force submarine delivered the final blow with a torpedo, according to images released by U.S. Pacific Command. Earlier in the exercise, a JMSDF SH-60 helicopter had fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile at the target, and a JMSDF destroyer launched a Type 90 anti-ship missile, demonstrating the multi-domain coordination central to the exercise.
Valiant Shield is a biennial, multinational field training exercise focused on integrating interoperability training in a multi-domain environment. The 2026 iteration ran from June 22 to July 1 and took place in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Japan, and at sea around the Mariana Islands Range Complex. According to Rear Adm. Eric Anduze, commander of Carrier Strike Group 5 and Task Force 70, the exercise provided “an outstanding opportunity for our joint team to integrate capabilities across domains, honing the lethal precision and coordination essential for high-end maritime operations in the Pacific theater.”
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) and its strike group played a central role, with F-35C Lightning II and F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft participating in the strikes. The ship’s air wing, cruiser USS Robert Smalls (CG-62), and destroyers USS Benfold (DDG-65) and USS Shoup (DDG-86) all contributed to the coordinated operation. An anti-submarine warfare exercise conducted earlier during Valiant Shield involved the George Washington CSG, JMSDF destroyer carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184), destroyer JS Fuyuzuki (DD-118), Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown (FFH339), and aircraft from allied air forces.
A Ship with Decades of Service
USS Juneau entered service on July 12, 1969, and served in the U.S. Navy for nearly four decades. The Austin-class amphibious transport dock saw action in the Vietnam War, making multiple deployments to Southeast Asian waters and earning five battle stars for its service. In 1990, Juneau joined 12 ships of Amphibious Group Three during Operation Desert Storm, supporting coalition maritime operations in the Persian Gulf. The ship was decommissioned on October 31, 2008, after 39 years of active service.
Prior to the sinking exercise, the vessel underwent extensive environmental preparation in full compliance with federal regulations and international standards. All hazardous materials—including PCBs, petroleum residues, and other pollutants—were completely removed under Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. The selected exercise site was carefully surveyed to ensure the safety of marine life, vessels, and personnel, with full adherence to the National Environmental Policy Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The SINKEX concept allows military forces to conduct realistic training in weapons employment and target engagement under conditions no simulator can fully replicate. When Valiant Shield 2024 concluded in June of that year, U.S. and allied forces sank the decommissioned USS Cleveland (LPD-7) in a similar exercise, demonstrating the biennial nature of these high-stakes drills. The training sharpens critical skills in detecting, locating, tracking, and engaging units at sea, in the air, and across multiple domains—capabilities essential for maintaining Pacific deterrence in an increasingly contested environment.
Sources
- USNI News — Detailed reporting on the SINKEX, ship history, and participating forces
- U.S. Pacific Command (pacom.mil) — Official press release and photos of the exercise
- Naval History and Heritage Command (history.navy.mil) — USS Juneau decommissioning date and service record
- U.S. Navy official sources — Valiant Shield 2026 exercise dates and multinational participation details
