Namesake Peoria, Illinois Laid down 24 February 1968 Commissioned 21 February 1970 Construction started 24 February 1968 | Ordered 15 July 1966 Acquired 1 January 1970 Decommissioned 28 January 1994 Launched 23 November 1968 | |
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Builder National Steel and Shipbuilding Company | ||
USS Peoria was a Newport-class tank landing ship in commission in the United States Navy from 1970 to 1994. She was affectionately called the "P Boat" by her crew members.
In April 1975, Peoria participated in Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam.
In October 1979 Peoria embarked on a cruise to the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, returning to San Diego, California, in June 1980. Shortly thereafter she went into overhaul at Todd Shipyard in Alameda, California. She departed San Diego again in October 1980 on another cruise in the western Pacific Ocean.Left San Diego, Ca December 1990 and returned August 1991 in support of Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm.
Peoria was sunk as a target on 12 July 2004 in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii during the RIMPAC 04 exercise.