USS Makin Island (LHD-8)

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Career	Image:US Naval Jack.svg
Image:USS Makin Island (LHD-8) Float off-3.jpg
Ordered:	April 2002
Laid down:	14 February 2004
Christening:	19 August 2006
Launched:	15 September 2006
Commissioned:	Spring/Summer 2008 (scheduled)
Status:	under construction
General Characteristics
Class:	Wasp
Builder:	Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.
Displacement:	41,335 tons full, 28,333 tons light, 12,821 tons dead
Length:	844 ft (257 m) overall, 778 ft (237 m) waterline
Beam:	110 ft (34 m) extreme, 106 ft (32 m) waterline
Draft:	27 ft (8.2 m) navigational, 28 ft (8.5 m) limit
Power Plant:	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+ knots (37+ km/h)
Range:	9500+ nmi. (17,600 km) at 20 knots
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 (typical):	Assault: 45 × CH-46 helicopters, Sea Control: 5 × AV-8B attack planes. 6 × ASW helicopters
Landing Craft (typical):	3 × air cushion landing craft (LCAC) or 39 EFVs
Motto:	Gung Ho

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

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. As of 2006 she is scheduled to be commissioned in 2008.

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.

Image:Pre Commissioning Unit Makin Island.jpg

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, US Navy officials announced that several ships under construction at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, MS had been damaged by the storm, including the USS Makin Island and two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.