On 16 August 2002, relieved "Germantown" as a forward-deployed naval unit at Sasebo, Japan. "Germantown" returned to San Diego, California, where she underwent a US$ 25 million overhaul. One year later, the ship deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Expeditionary Strike Group One. "Germantown" supported Operation Iraqi Freedom by landing Marines and equipment from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit.