Amphibious Assault

Navy Christens New Amphibious Assault Ship Makin Island

By the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) The U.S. Navy will christen Makin Island, the newest and last ship in the Wasp-class of amphibious assault ships, on Aug. 19, 2006, during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi will deliver the principal address at the ceremony. Silke Hagee, wife of Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee, will serve as ship's sponsor. The ceremony will be highlighted by the time-honored Navy tradition of the sponsor breaking the bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship. Makin Island is named for the daring raid carried out by Marine Corps Companies Alpha and Bravo, Second Raider Battalion, on Japanese-held Makin Island, in the Gilbert Islands, on Aug. 17-18, 1942. The raid was launched from the submarines USS Nautilus and USS Argonaut and succeeded in routing the enemy forces based there, gaining valuable intelligence. Twenty-three Navy Crosses were awarded for actions during the raid, including to the raid's leader, Marine Corps Lt. Col. Evans Carlson, and executive officer, Marine Corps Maj. James Roosevelt (son of President Franklin Roosevelt). Marine Corps Sgt. Clyde Thomason was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for heroism during the raid and was the first enlisted Marine to be so honored during World War II.

Sen. Lott to Speak at Christening of Makin Island

In what will be the first major event at Northrop Grumman's Pascagoula, Miss. shipyard since Hurricane Katrina, Sen. Trent Lott, Miss. (R-Miss.) will deliver the principal address at the Saturday August 19, 2006 christening of Makin Island (LHD 8). A multipurpose amphibious assault ship uniquely designed to support assaults from the sea against defended positions ashore, the ship is 844 feet long, will displace 40,500 tons fully loaded and will

Northrop Grumman Awarded Navy Contract

Northrop Grumman Corporation was awarded a U.S. Navy contract to provide a wide range of support services for new-construction and in-service ships, including DDG 51 destroyers, LPD 17 amphibious transport dock ships, the Navy’s LHD 8 amphibious assault ship, Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), the DD(X) multi-mission combat ship and the LHA(R) amphibious assault ship. Under the estimated $64 million, five-year contract awarded by

Northrop Grumman to Build Amphibious Vessel

Northrop Grumman Corp. recently won a $1b contract from the U.S. Navy to build the ninth vessel of LPD-17 Class of amphibious transport ships. Northrop Grumman is building ships for the $13.5b Navy program at its facilities in Avondale, La., and Pascagoula, Miss. The LPD-17s, which stand for Landing Platform Dock, are amphibious assault vessels. Work on the latest ship will be performed at Avondale, near New Orleans, and in Pascagoula and is expected to be completed in 2011.

NASSCO Awarded Contract for Amphibious Assault Ship Modernization

  General Dynamics NASSCOhas been awarded a contract by the U.S. Navy to modernize San Diego-homeported LSD 41 and LSD 49- class amphibious assault ships. The total potential value of the contract if all options are exercised is approximately $210 million for work to be performed through 2014. Under the contract, NASSCO will perform as many as six scheduled availabilities in . The work to be performed includes routine maintenance as well as shipboard alterations that are intended to

This Day in U.S. Naval History - March 9

 1798 - Appointment of first surgeon U.S. Navy, George Balfour   1847 - Commodore David Connor leads successful amphibious assault near Vera Cruz, Mexico   1862 - First battle between ironclads, USS Monitor and CSS Virginia   1914 - Test of wind tunnel at Washington Navy Yard   (Source: Navy News Service)

$2.4b Navy Contract Awarded

The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $2.4 billion fixed-price incentive contract for the detail design and construction of the amphibious assault ship, LHA 6. Work will be performed primarily at the company's shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., and ship delivery is scheduled for 2012. "This contract award reinforces the U.S. Navy's confidence that we have recovered from the effects of Hurricane Katrina and are capable of meeting the warfighters' needs in a timely and cost

Report: HII Explores Options for Avondale

According to a Bloomberg report, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) may keep its Avondale shipyard in Louisiana open beyond 2013 by turning it into a site for other manufacturing. Huntington, with 2010 sales of $6.7 billion, became a separate company in March when Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) spun off its shipbuilding unit. Former parent Northrop and Huntington have said the Avondale yard would be shut when work on the Navy’s two amphibious ships there is completed in 2013.

Warship in Place to Guard London Olympics

'HMS Ocean' is returning to London for a key role supporting the police in providing security to the Olympic Games The warship will be berthed at Greenwich until after the Paralympics, and will act as a helicopter landing platform and logistics hub in support of maritime and air security operations. HMS Ocean will also accommodate 400 military personnel who will be part of the venue security force for nearby Greenwich Park.

Dock Landing Ship 'USS Tortuga' Leaves for Spring Deployment

The first Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) landing ship 'USS Tortuga' leaves homeport for deployment in the 7th Fleet's area of responsibility. The forward deployed Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), part of the Bonhomme Richard ARG, dsparts its homeport, for its spring deployment in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility. Tortuga will take part in an Amphibious Integration Training (AIT) and Certification Exercise (CERTEX)