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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Makin Island (LHD-8)

/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Mike - Xray - Golf NMXG

Wasp Class Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose):

Laid down, 14 February 2004, at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula. MS.

Christened, 19 August 2006

Launched, 22 September 2006

Commissioned USS Makin Island (LHD-8), 24 October 2009, at NAS North Island, Coronado, CA., CAPT. Robert Kopas USN, in command

Makin Island is assigned to Amphibious Group Five of the Pacific Fleet and will be homeported at San Diego, CA.

Specifications:
Displacement 41,335 tons (fl.)
Length 847'
Beam 106' (waterline)
Draft 27.3' (mean at full load)
Speed 20 kts.+
Complement 104 Officer, 1004 Enlisted
Marine Force 1894
Armament 2 Sea Sparrow launchers, 3 20 mm Phalanx (CIWS)mounts, 8 50cal. mgs.
Aircraft 42 CH-46 Sea Knight Helicopters, 5 AV-8B Harrier aircraft, 6 ASW helicopters
Power Plant General Electric [GE] "LM 2500 plus" gas turbine engines , two shafts, 70,000 total shaft horsepower

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Source
PCU Makin Island (LHD-8)
	29k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** while under construction at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula. MS, 20 May 2005. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems photo	Charles Canterbury
	227k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** while under construction at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula. MS, 11 August 2006. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems photo	Robert M. Cieri
	57k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** sponsor, Mrs. Silke B. Hagee, christens the ship with a bottle of champagne across her bow at the ships launching, 19 August 2006, at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding Corp. Pascagoula. MS. Northrop Grumman Ship Systems photo	Robert M. Cieri
	142k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** begins her first at sea period to conduct Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGSB) Builder's Sea Trials in the Gulf of Mexico, 9 December 2008. US Navy photo from the USS Makin Island web site.	Robert M. Cieri
	480k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8) departs the Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Gulf Coast shipyard for five days of Builder's Trials to tests a wide variety of systems and equipment. More than 100 Makin Island Sailors were embarked to observe and monitor the testing conducted be Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding personnel. Makin Island*, scheduled for commissioning 24 October 2009 in San Diego, will be the Navy's eighth and final Wasp Class amphibious assault ship. US Navy photo # 081209-N-2225N-002 GULF OF MEXICO (Dec. 9, 2008)* by MC3 Alec Noe.	Lee Wahler
	1093k	The well deck of Pre-Commissioning Unit *PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** is flooded as Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding Gulf Coast personnel open the stern gate during a five-day Builders Trial underway. US Navy photo # 081210-N-3357M-005 GULF OF MEXICO (Dec. 10, 2008) by MCC W. Scott Mishley.	Robert M. Cieri
	1402k	Pre-Commissioning Unit *PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** conducts builder's trials in the Gulf of Mexico. US Navy photo # 090204-N-0000X-002 GULF OF MEXICO (Feb. 4, 2009), courtesy of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast.	Lee Wahler
	982k	Pre-Commissioning Unit *PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** at sea for Builder's Trials in the Gulf of Mexico, 9 December 2009.	Courtesy Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding (NGXB), Gulf Coast.
	3095k
	906k
	512k
	243k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** returns to Northrop Grumman's shipyard at Pascagoula, MS., 20 March 2009 after completing US Navy acceptance sea trial in the Gulf of Mexico. The ship is the eighth USS Wasp (LHD-1)-class amphibious assault ship being built Northrop Grumman at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, MS. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corporation	Bill Gonyo
	357k	US Navy Sailors and Northrop Grumman shipbuilders together manned the flight deck *PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** as Northrop Grumman Corporation's Shipbuilding sector delivered to the ship to the US Navy at Pascagoula, MS, 16 April 2009. Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman Corporation	Bill Gonyo
	63k	*PCU Makin Island* (LHD-8)** moored at NAS North Island, Coronado, CA., 18 October 2009, six days before commissioning.	Photo by Derick S. Hartshorn
USS Makin Island (LHD-8)
	6778k	Sailors and Marines assigned to *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8) begin to form up for the ship's commissioning. Makin Island** was officially commissioned during a ceremony at NAS North Island. US Navy photo # 091024-N-3357M-152 SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2009) by MCC W. Scott Mishley	Lee Wahler
	269k	Rear Adm. Bill Landay, Vice Admiral Richard Hunt, Vice Adm. Kevin McCoy, Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, and U. S. congresswoman Susan Davis listen to a speech given by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, during the commissioning ceremony of *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8)*. US Marine Corps. photo # 091024-M-9051G-418 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2009)* by LCpl Meghan Gonzales.	Robert M. Cieri
	502k	Sailors and Officers of her crew, board *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8)** to prepare to "bring the ship to life" during the ship's commissioning ceremony. US Marine Corps. photo # 091024-M-9051G-689 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2009) by LCpl Meghan Gonzales.	Robert M. Cieri
	260k	Sailors and Marines bring the ship to life" manning the rails during the commissioning ceremony of *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8)*. US Marine Corps. photo # 091024-M-9051G-742 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2009)* by LCpl Meghan Gonzales.	Robert M. Cieri
	4890k	Thousands of friends, family and official guests watch as Sailors and Marines man the rails during the commissioning of *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8)*. Makin Island is the final Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, but the first of the class built with gas turbine engines and an electric drive. US Navy photo # 091024-N-8788B-348 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2009)* by MC2 Michael Barton	Lee Wahler
	475k	Sailors man the rails during the commissioning of *USS Makin Island* (LHD-8). Makin Island** was officially commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island. US Navy photo # 091024-N-3357M-275 SAN DIEGO (Oct. 24, 2009) by MCC W. Scott Mishley.	Robert M. Cieri
	2624k	*USS Makin Island* (LHD-8)** moored at Naval Station San Diego in November 2009.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
	2591k	*USS Makin Island* (LHD-8) at left and USS Boxer (LHD-4)** at right, moored at Naval Station San Diego in November 2009.	Photo by Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.

Makin Island (LHD-8) Memorabilia
Christening Coin Contributed by Robert M. Cieri	Christening Program Contributed by Robert M. Cieri	Welcome Aboard Contributed by David Buell

There is no DANFS history available for Makin Island (LHD-8) an the US Naval Historical Center

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
Fleet Reserve Association

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
USS Makin Island LHD-8
Amphibious Assault Ships - LHA/LHD/LHA(R)

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Last Updated 5 February 2010