USS Ashland completes Ship Wartime Repair and Maintenance Exercise in Philippines

04 April 2026

From USS Ashland (LSD 48) Public Affairs

CEBU, Philippines -- Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) completed a ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX), April 5, as part of its scheduled port visit to Cebu.

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Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Christian Deang, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, welds a fan unit bracket aboard Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin)

These exercises are routinely conducted to maintain readiness and proficiency. This iteration follows Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91) in Singapore in February 2026, demonstrating Ashland’s ability to conduct maintenance and repair while forward deployed and away from homeport.

“This exercise allowed us to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our Philippine allies to conduct complex repairs while keeping USS Ashland ready to respond to any contingency in the region,” said Cmdr. Adam Peeples, Ashland’s commanding officer. “We cannot thank the Philippines enough for their gracious hospitality, and our visit signifies the unwavering resolve our two nations share in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) [right], speaks to Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, about ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) during a visit to the ship in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)

Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) [right], speaks to Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, during a visit to the ship as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)

Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) [right], speaks to Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, about well deck operations during a visit to the ship, as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)

Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, boards Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)

Cmdr. Adam Peeples, commanding officer of Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) [left], walks with Philippine Navy Rear Adm. Juario C. Marayag, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command [center], during a visit as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class John B. Hetherington)

Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class Christian Deang, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, grinds a fan unit bracket aboard Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin)

Engineman 2nd Class Walid Ventayen, left, and Engineman 1st Class Michael Carantes, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, replace an engine component in the main engine room while Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) is in port in Cebu, Philippines, as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX), March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin)

A Philippine Navy contractor works with Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Chase Bohan, left, assigned to Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, and Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Wyatt Rimmer, assigned to Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), as they perform maintenance on valves as part of ship wartime repair and maintenance exercise (SWARMEX) in Cebu, Philippines, March 25, 2026. SWARMEX is designed to rehearse coordination and execution of ship damage repair from forward locations within the Indo-Pacific region, strengthening ties with the skilled workforce within allied and partner countries. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Maliq J. Martin)

SWARMEX consisted of three distinct, concurrent elements: expeditionary repair availability, battle damage assessment and repair table-top exercise, and continuous maintenance availability.

“Our Sailors really came together as a team to meet the challenges of this exercise,” said Peeples. “The skills we learned increase our capability to keep USS Ashland in top material condition and help our forces maintain peace through strength.”

Ashland and embarked Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force make up Task Force (TF) Ashland, which is conducting routine operations in U.S. 7th Fleet. TF Ashland is a flexible, purpose-built task force that can operate independently or integrate with other naval assets, showcasing a key component of Distributed Maritime Operations (DMO). This model provides combatant commanders with more options to maintain presence and build partner capacity.

U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in supporting peace, stability, and prosperity and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.