Makin Island

Northrop Grumman Delivers USS Makin Island

Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) Shipbuilding sector delivered to the U.S. Navy on April 16, one of the nation's newest and most advanced ships, the amphibious-assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) during a short ceremony held on the vessel's flight deck. Makin Island (LHD 8) was delivered to the U.S. Navy after successfully completing acceptance sea trials. Acceptance trials are conducted to allow representatives of the U.S. Navy Board of Inspection and Survey to witness and evaluate operation of ship systems and ship performance. Makin Island is the eighth USS Wasp (LHD 1)-class amphibious assault ship built by the company's shipbuilders in Pascagoula, Miss. It is 844 ft long, 106 ft wide and weighs 42,800 tons. Its 70,000 horsepower hybrid propulsion system will drive it to speeds in excess of 20 knots. Makin Island contains the first gas turbine/electric-powered propulsion system ever used on large deck amphibious assault ships. The gas turbine engines and electric drive, a change from previous steam-powered amphibious-assault ships, will provide significant life-cycle savings in manpower and maintenance costs over the previous ships. As a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship, Makin Island is designed to transport and land a Marine Expeditionary Unit, a force of almost 2,000 Marines, ashore by helicopter, landing craft and amphibious assault vehicle

DoD Officials Tour Warship's Hybrid-electric Propulsion Plant

Deputy Secretary of Defense, Secretary of the Navy, pay a visit to 'USS Makin Island' (LHD 8). Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus met recently with several flag and general officers in the area on board USS Makin Island (LHD 8) for a leadership breakfast and to tour the ship. Following breakfast, the guests were taken on a tour of Makin Island and were able to meet many of the sailors who help to keep the ship fully mission capable. Lt. Cmdr

This Day in Naval History - Aug. 17

From the Navy News Service 1812 - Frigate President captures British schooner L'Adeline in North Atlantic. 1942 - Submarines USS Nautilus (SS 168) and USS Argonaut (SS 166) land 222 Marines on Makin Island, first amphibious attack made from submarines. 1959 - Adm. Arleigh Burke re-appointed as Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) for third two-year term, serving longest term as CNO. 1962 - Navy's first hydrofoil patrol craft, USS High Point (PCH 1) launched at Seattle, Wash.

Makin Island Sailors Prepare to Defend their Ship

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Webb, Commander, Naval Surface Force Public Affairs Thirty-five Sailors from Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) (LHD 8) graduated the Damage Control Familiarization Safety, Environmental and Occupational Health Programs (DC CREWFAM) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) West Administrative Annex, April 11. DC CREWFAM is designed to provide Makin Island crew members with basic damage control (DC) processes

SECNAV Tours Next Generation Amphibious Assault Ship

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Webb, Pre-Commissioning Unit Makin Public Affairs Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter visited Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) May 29, as part of a scheduled Gulf Coast visit. Winter toured the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) facility and spaces aboard . His primary goal for the tour was to review updates on the overall shipbuilding activities at NGSB and for a status assessment of what's happening with .

Successful Makin Island Sea Trials

On Feb. 10, the Northrop Grumman Corporation-built (NYSE:NOC) amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) returned from successful three-day builder's sea trials held in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship is the eighth USS Wasp (LHD 1)-class amphibious assault ship being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. "We worked collaboratively with the Navy to meet our program commitments, and complete this significant milestone," said Irwin F

McHale Named VP at Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation has named Gaylene M. McHale vice president and program manager of large deck amphibious ship programs for the Ship Systems sector, effective immediately. McHale will manage the large deck amphibious shipbuilding programs, consisting of LHD and LHA class ships. In this role, she will have overall program responsibility for the construction and delivery of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD

Main Engine Lit Off Aboard Makin Island

  By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Webb, Makin Public Affairs  Seven crew members from pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) witnessed a construction milestone Feb. 26, when LHD 8 became the first Navy vessel with a 35,000 horsepower LM2500+ gas turbine engine to successfully complete forward main engine light off (MELO). LHD 8 is part of the Navy's Smart Ship design, which is an effort to reduce manpower through the increased use of technology

GE LM2500 Digital Fuel Control Retrofit Kits for Navy

GE Marine reports that the United States Navy has retrofitted nearly 50 LM2500 marine aeroderivative gas turbines with GE’s Digital Fuel Control (DFC) kits. The LM2500s power the U.S. Navy’s CG-47 Ticonderoga class cruisers and DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class destroyers. The U.S. Navy incorporated the DFC retrofit into a concurrent ship system modernization program. Since the first digital fuel controls were installed, the U.S

Fleet Week Brings 1.5 Million Visitors to San Francisco

Under clear skies and with calm seas, they came by the hundreds of thousands to San Francisco Fleet Week 2010, the largest such gathering in more than twenty years to take place in the City. The USS Makin Island -- known as the Navy's "Green Ship" for its revolutionary hybrid technology came to San Francisco early to showcase its disaster relief capabilities. In addition, five more 3rd Fleet United States Navy ships, plus two from the Canadian Navy