Decommissioned USS Mobile Bay and USS Peleliu were sunk in sinking exercises as part of the Rim of the Pacific 2026 naval drill off the coast of Hawaii. The exercise took place from June 24 to July 31, 2026, in and around Hawaii. Both ships were sunk in waters about 15,000 feet deep, more than 50 nautical miles north of Kauai. Mobile Bay was sunk on July 11 and Peleliu on July 17 by forces from the United States and partner nations. The sinkings were conducted using surface‑to‑air missiles, anti‑ship cruise missiles, artillery rockets and helicopter‑launched missiles. An F‑18 Super Hornet carried an AGM‑158C Long Range Anti‑ship Missile, HIMARS units fired a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System round, and Japan Ground Self‑Defense Force missile units launched Type 12 surface‑to‑surface missiles. Army AH‑64 Apache helicopters fired Spike NLOS missiles. The U.S. Navy also loaded a UGM‑84 Harpoon missile onto the submarine USS Columbia in preparation for the exercise. Units from Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Spain took part. A Royal Australian Navy aviation detachment on USS Wayne E. Meyer launched an AGM‑114N Hellfire missile, while HMAS Sydney fired a Naval Strike Missile. Spanish frigate Álvaro de Bazán fired an RGM‑84 Harpoon missile in coordination with JS Kongo. New Zealand frigate HMNZS Te Mana launched a Penguin missile from its SH‑2G helicopter. Italy’s ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere deployed a Marte missile from its SH‑101 helicopter. U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Jeff Jablon said the exercise demonstrated the strength of partnerships and readiness created by combined operations. Republic of Korea Navy Rear Adm. Inho Kim said the SINKEX highlighted the coalition’s growing capability and commitment to regional stability. The RIMPAC 2026 exercise will conclude at the end of July, after which the participating nations plan to hold the next iteration in 2028.