USS DUBUQUE, At Sea (NNS) - USS Dubuque (LPD 8) completed its operations in the 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) Nov. 6.

Deployed to 5th Fleet for nearly four months, Dubuque completed a range of missions including military-to-military training with partner nations, support to humanitarian assistance operations in Pakistan, counter-piracy operations and maritime security operations.

"The U.S. is a fortunate nation in so many ways," said Capt. Christopher Bolt, USS Dubuque commanding officer. "I am proud that we had the resources to provide relief to the Pakistani people as they weathered the flooding in their nation."

While conducting counterpiracy operations a month later, as part of Combined Task Force 151, Dubuque responded to a distress call from Motor Vessel (M/V) Magellan Star reporting that it was under attack by pirates Sept 9.

Within 24 hours of the distress call and after close coordination with combined maritime forces, Dubuque deployed an embarked maritime raid force of specially trained marine expeditionary unit (MEU) Marines to regain control of the German-flagged vessel.

"The crew barricaded themselves in the engine room until friendly forces arrived," Bolt said. "This allowed elements of the MEU and Peleliu ARG embarked on Dubuque to capture nine suspected pirates and coordinate the safe rescue of the Magellan Star's 11 crew members. The joint effort of all involved, demonstrated the teamwork-oriented environment in which we trained, and the result is a deployment filled with successful missions."

Dubuque trained often with partner nations, sharpening their skills in search and rescue operations, engineering and electronic repairs, leadership, shipboard helicopter landings, and combat medical procedures.

"Every Sailor and Marine who has served aboard Dubuque has played a part in her successful deployment," said Bolt. "Each of them will forever be affected by the time they spent on 'The Mighty Eight.'"

Dubuque is part of Peleliu Amphibious Ready Group which spent approximately four months supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

For more news from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/cusnc/.