USS Makin Island (LHD-8)

For other ships of the same name, see USS Makin Island.

File:LHD8 Sea Trial.jpg USS Makin Island (LHD-8) during her sea trials.
Career
Name:	USS Makin Island
Namesake:	Makin Island
Awarded:	19 April 2002
Builder:	Ingalls Shipbuilding
Laid down:	14 February 2004
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Silke Hagee, wife of Michael Hagee
Christened:	19 August 2006
Launched:	22 September 2006
Acquired:	16 April 2009
Commissioned:	24 October 2009
Maiden voyage:	10 July 2009
Homeport:	San Diego, CA
Motto:	Gung Ho
Status:	in active service, as of 2024
Badge:	150px
General characteristics
Class and type:	Wasp-class amphibious assault ship
Displacement:	41,335 tons full, 28,333 tons light, 12,821 tons dead
Length:	847 feet (258 m) overall, 778 feet (237 m) waterline
Beam:	110 feet (34 m) extreme, 106 feet (32 m) waterline
Draft:	27 feet (8.2 m) navigational, 28 feet (8.5 m) limit
Installed power:	2 × 35,000 hp gas turbines (GE - LM 2500+) 6 × 4,000 kW diesel generators (Fairbanks Morse Engines)
Propulsion:	Two shafts 70,000 shaft horsepower (52 MW) 2 × 16.5 ft diameter controllable pitch propellers (Rolls Royce)
Speed:	20 kn (37 km/h)
Range:	9500+ nmi. (17,600 km) at 20 knots
Boats and landing craft carried:	3 × LCAC or 39 EFVs
Complement:	(typical) Embarked ships company: 102 officers, 78 CPO/SNCO, 1024 crew Embarked Marine detachment: 174 officers, 64 CPO/SNCO, 1449 crew
Armament:	2 × Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, 2 × NATO Sea Sparrow launchers, 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts, 4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, 3 × 25 mm Mk 38 machine guns, 1 × ceremonial gun
Aircraft carried:	(typical): Assault: 4[citation needed] × CH-46 helicopters, Sea Control: 6 × AV-8B attack planes, 6 × ASW helicopters

USS Makin Island (LHD-8), a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, is the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Makin Island, target of the Marine Raiders' Makin Island raid early on in the United States' involvement in World War II.

Construction

The purpose/mission of Makin Island is to embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine landing force in an Amphibious Assault by helicopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles. The secondary/convertible mission for Makin Island is that of sea control and power projection.

Although Makin Island is the eighth ship of the Wasp class, it will feature noteworthy technological advances. Changes from the previous LHD design include: gas turbine main propulsion engines, all-electric auxiliaries, an advanced machinery control system, water mist fire protection systems, and the Navy’s most advanced command and control and combat systems equipment. The gas turbine propulsion plant, with all electric auxiliaries, is a program first for large deck amphibious assault ships and will provide significant savings in manpower and maintenance costs associated with traditional steam-powered amphibious ships. The ship carries four reverse-osmosis water-purification systems, each holding 50,000 gallons.

History

Makin Island was laid down on 14 February 2004 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was christened on 19 August 2006, sponsored by Mrs. Silke Hagee, wife of General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and launched on 15 September 2006. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, US Navy officials announced that several ships under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding had been damaged by the storm, including Makin Island and two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The ship's completion was delayed due to rewiring to repair incorrect wiring installation.

File:Pre Commissioning Unit Makin Island.jpg

Makin Island on 11 August 2006, pre-christening

Makin Island was delivered to the US Navy on 16 April 2009 and was commissioned at Pascagoula, Mississippi without ceremony on 26 June 2009 with Captain Bob Kopas in command.

Makin Island departed 10 July 2009 on a transit around South America, during which the crew will continue training, obtaining underway certifications and preparing for its arrival in San Diego. During the transit, Makin Island is scheduled to conduct theater security cooperation (TSC) activities with Brazil, Chile and Peru, which will focus on working closely with partner nation civil and maritime forces to share methods and training. She arrived in her home port of San Diego on 14 September 2009. Captain Kopas stated in an interview on local radio that the Makin Island had saved about $2 million in fuel, compared with a conventional propulsion system, on her voyage from Mississippi around South America to San Diego.

File:Makin-Island-Stars-Stripes.JPG

The Stars and Stripes at Makin Island's mast on commissioning day in 2009

Her official commissioning ceremony took place on 24 October 2009 at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado near San Diego. Six USMC veterans of the Makin Island raid attended the ceremony. Makin Island left San Diego on 17 February 2010.^{[citation needed]}

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[[Commons: Category:USS Makin Island (LHD-8)

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• USS Makin Island official web page
• USS Makin Island page on globalsecurity.org
• USS Makin Island page on navsource.org
• USS Makin Island history page on USCarriers.net