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. CMDCM (SW/SS) Neil Olds. Landers assumes command of Makin Island after serving 11 months as the ship's executive officer. Her formal commissioning ceremony took place on 24 October 2009 at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, near San Diego. The port visit will allow Sailors from Makin Island and Marines from the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to experience the local culture and conduct professional military exchanges with members of the Republic of Singapore Navy. SAN DIEGO - Capt. F-35B Stealth Jets From USS Makin Island Begin Combat Missions Against ISIS. The ship's completion was delayed due to rewiring during 2008 to repair incorrect wiring installation. GUAM – U.S. Navy Capt. The new propulsion system allows the engines to be directly controlled from the throttles on the bridge, replacing the traditional engine order telegraphs on the earlier Wasp-class LHDs. Commanding Officer Captain Thomas Ulmer. The boilers also provide steam to heat the ship in colder climates. “The awesome performance of this ship and crew during this deployment is a testament to the combined talents of our Sailors and Marines. CHANGI, Singapore (NNS) -- The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) arrived in Singapore for a scheduled port visit, Nov. 18. [27], Internal heating is provided by electrical, instead of steam, heaters. Although the U.S. Navy The Wasp-class ship is crewed by more than 1,000 Sailors and can embark more than 1,600 Marines. Christopher Westphal relieved Capt. products, or services contained therein. He led Makin Island and its 1,000 crew members through the first-ever aviation certification, landing, embarkation, and operation of the F-35B Lightning II aircraft aboard the ship. [8] Gas turbines have a high power-to-weight ratio compared to steam or diesel power, but are only efficient near their maximum power output. may or may not use these sites as additional distribution ... Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. [2][13] Six USMC veterans of the Makin Island raid attended the ceremony. Her maximum speed is 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph). David Oden as commanding officer. the U.S. Navy of non-U.S. Government sites or the information, Makin Island Supports Midshipmen Summer Cruise U.S. Navy story by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Dennis Grube. [17][18][19], During the December 2014 US hostage rescue operation in Yemen, wounded hostages were flown to the ship for medical treatment while she was posted in the Gulf of Aden. The secondary or convertible mission for Makin Island is that of sea control and power projection.[5]. Tom Ulmer during a ceremony aboard the ship. [27], The downside is the logistical "tail", which means it takes a while to get parts. Attn: US Navy. Variable drive speed is achieved with an Alstom variable frequency drive system. Story Number: NNS130614-23 6/14/2013. He has previously served as commanding officer of USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Makin Island's task is to embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine landing force in an amphibious assault by helicopters, landing craft, and amphibious vehicles. The USS Makin Island is a finely tuned machine due in large part to the hard work and dedication of those on board. “Now we are standing on the flight deck of a ship that has conducted operations with the world’s premiere aircraft, the Joint Strike Fighter, we’ve passed all our certifications with flying colors, and executed a flawless mission to assist another ship and her Sailors in a time of need.”. February 16, 2021. Jon Rodgers addressed each BDOC class to share his experience and perspective as they begin their careers as future SWOs. Makin Island was laid down on 14 February 2004 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Thomas Ulmer - Commanding Officer - USS Makin Island (LHD 8) | LinkedIn View Thomas Ulmer’s profile on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional community. At temperatures above 20 °F (−7 °C) excess heating capacity can be reallocated for additional electric propulsion. The gas turbine propulsion plant, with all electric auxiliaries, is a program first for large-deck amphibious assault ships and provides significant savings in manpower and maintenance costs associated with traditional steam-powered amphibious ships. USS Makin Island (LHD 8), flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), pulled into Manama, ... Makin Island commanding officer. The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by Two U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft land aboard USS Makin Island (LHD 8) in December. MKI Amphibious Ready Group deploys. Command Master Chief Neal Olds observes as an F-35B Lightning II, assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 (Reinforced), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducts a reverse landing aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8). See All. Check out our recent change of command ceremony held in the ship's well deck! [27] About 70% of the time Makin Island can use diesel-electric propulsion, saving on fuel as diesel engines are optimized for cruising, and consume much less fuel than gas turbines. “I intend for us to continue that great tradition as we prepare for and then deploy.”. [11][12], She was christened on 19 August 2006, sponsored by Silke Hagee, wife of General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and launched on 15 September 2006. 02, 2016) USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Executive Officer Capt. When the gas turbines are engaged, the electric motors are similarly decoupled from the drive system. [23][24] After searching an area of 4,600 square miles (12,000 km2) without locating the missing sailor, Makin Island's crew recovered his personal items and left the yacht for later salvage.[25][26]. This is an official U.S. Navy website. exercise editorial control over all of the information that you ... A USN Officer’s Sword, 1917 Naval NCO Cutlass, USMC Officer’s Mameluke and a 1840 USMC NCO Sword were chosen to represent the … Makin Island deployed 10 July 2009 and sailed around South America via the Strait of Magellan, in which the crew continued to train, obtaining underway certifications in preparation for her arrival in San Diego. USS MAKIN ISLAND is the eighth and final WASP-class Amphibious Assault Ship and the second ship in the Navy to bear the name. USS Makin Island (LHD 8) operates in the eastern Pacific in April. Command Master Chief. Makin Island was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 16 April 2009 and was commissioned at Pascagoula, Mississippi, without ceremony on 26 June 2009 with Captain Bob Kopas in command. "The Sailors and Marines on this ship performed exceptionally well during this deployment," said USS Makin Island Commanding Officer, Capt. Makin Island is the eighth ship of the Wasp class, but features noteworthy technological advances. USS Makin Island Holds Change of Command Ceremony. The amphibious assault ship and accompanying vessels and Marines in its ready group are within the Persian Gulf as a part of the U.S. Central Command’s counterterrorism operations towards ISIS in Syria and Iraq. The ship carries four reverse-osmosis water-purification systems, each capable of processing 50,000 US gallons (190,000 l) of fresh water per day. channels for Department of Defense information, it does not USS Makin Island (LHD 8) San Diego, CA. In conventional Navy ships, the steam boiler drives both the propellers and ship service steam turbine generators to provide electric power for the vessel. Makin Island departed on her maiden deployment as the US Navy’s first hybrid-drive warship: part gas-turbine and part diesel-electric. Since Makin Island does not have steam boilers, she uses the diesel electric generators for all shipboard power services. During the deployment, Makin Island conducted theater security cooperation activities with Brazil, Chile, and Peru, focusing on working closely with partner nation civilian and maritime forces to share methods and training. During the ceremony, Capt. U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft departed from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), flagship of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, to execute the long-range strike. [15], Makin Island visited San Francisco in October 2010 as part of the city's 2010 Fleet Week festivities. Ulmer, who served as Makin Island’s executive officer since March 2019, was commissioned in 1996 through the Naval ROTC program at the Pennsylvania State University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice. USS Makin Island's award winning magazine. We are grateful to the Kingdom of Bahrain for our port call, and proud to demonstrate our commitment to the … [8], December 2014 US hostage rescue operation in Yemen, "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Makin Island", "Makin Island Begins Transit to San Diego Homeport", "Fact File: Amphibious Assault Ships - LHD/LHA(R)", "USS Makin Island Ship's Characteristics", "USS Makin Island: Proven Fuel Efficient", "Navy to Christen Amphibious Assault Ship America", "Heroes Relive Epic Raid On Namesake Ship", "Eco friendly USS Makin Island arrives in SF", "USS Makin Island Arrives In San Francisco For 31st Annual 'Fleet Week, "USS Makin Island arrives in SF for Fleet Week", "USS Makin Island Returns from Historic Maiden Deployment", "U.S. hostage Luke Somers killed in Yemen during rescue attempt", "US forces raid al-Qaida hideout in Yemen; hostages reported killed", "Famous Sailor Presumed Lost at Sea on Trans-Pacific Voyage", "Coast Guard searching for missing Chinese mariner in Pacific", "USS Makin Island conducts search for Chinese mariner", "Guo Chuan: Search suspended for sailor attempting world record", "US suspends search for Chinese sailor lost in mid-Pacific", "Navy's First Hybrid-Drive Warship Goes To Sea", USS Makin Island history page on USCarriers.net, List of United States Navy amphibious warfare ships, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=USS_Makin_Island_(LHD-8)&oldid=1001644249, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 20 kn (37 km/h; 23 mph), 266-by-50-foot (81 by 15.2 m) by 28-foot (8.5 m) high, This page was last edited on 20 January 2021, at 16:53. David Oden as the commanding officer. [1], The ship's armament consists of two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, two RIM-7 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launchers, three Mk 38 25-mm close-in guns, two Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, four M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, and a ceremonial gun. [6], Makin Island is the eighth Wasp-class amphibious assault ships to be ordered for the U.S. Navy, but differs from her older sister ships in her propulsion system. In Makin Island, the gas turbines are used to power the ship above 12 knots. Mark Melson explains the ship's upper vehicle storage and well deck to foreign defense attaches during a tour of the amphibious assault ship.. Free for commercial use, no attribution required. 250 Makalapa Drive Alvin […] I look forward to commanding such an awesome crew as we sail … HI Guests at the ceremony were limited to immediate family and senior leaders serving aboard the ship due to social distancing requirements related to COVID-19. 96860-3131. She has an overall length of 847 feet (258 m) and a waterline length of 778 feet (237 m). Specifically, instead of steam heating, she uses electric heating for laundry and hot water supply as well as for heating interior compartments in cold climates. Advertisement “The Sailors and Marines of Makin Island ARG and 15th MEU should be proud of the work they have done while deployed. When powered by the electric motors, the gas turbines are decoupled from the main reduction gear and braked to prevent spinning. Chris “Woody” Westphal during a short ceremony aboard the amphibious assault ship, June 12. [7], Makin Island has two 35,000 shaft horsepower (26,000 kW) General Electric LM 2500+ gas turbines each connected to a separate 20:1 ratio main reduction gear, which then drive two 16-foot-6-inch (5.03 m) diameter Rolls Royce controllable pitch propellers. During the pinning ceremony, USS Makin Island Commanding Officer, Capt. Westphal also balanced competing demands and the COVID-19 global health crisis while successfully completing the ship’s basic phase certification. On an average day, Makin Island uses 15,000 US gallons (57,000 l) of fuel, versus 35,000 to 40,000 US gallons (130,000–150,000 l) on an older steam ship of its type, according to Captain James Landers, commanding officer. Captain Tony "TC" Chavez ... Captain Tony "TC" Chavez. consistent with the stated purpose of this website. SAN DIEGO (March 15, 2018) Sailors assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) stand in formation during a change of command ceremony in the ship’s well deck. LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE LINKS U.S. Navy Office of Information . ... commanding officer of the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. 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. With the traditional reading of official orders, exchange of salutes and the words “I relieve you sir,” command of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) was passed from one naval officer to another during a ceremony held aboard the ship at Naval Base San Diego, June 14. “The women and men of Makin Island have proven themselves as first rate Sailors and proud professionals,” said Ulmer. [note 1] The extreme beam is 118 feet (36 m) with the beam at the waterline being 106 feet (32 m) and the draft is 28 feet (8.5 m). Operationally, Landers has commanded Patrol Squadron 47 at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe, Hawaii. [14], Damage to a turning gear delayed the ship's final check-out trials from August to September 2010. The vessel has a light displacement of 28,176 long tons (28,628 t) and a full-load displacement of 41,684 long tons (42,353 t) with a dead weight is 13,508 long tons (13,725 t). The previous Wasp-class vessels used steam boilers and steam turbines to drive the propellers, while Makin Island is the first U.S. Navy vessel to use a hybrid propulsion system consisting of a combined diesel electric and gas turbine propulsion system. (U.S. Navy/MCSN Ethan Jaymes Morrow), Capt. USS Fitzgerald en route to San Diego homeport, Coastal Riverine Group 1 holds change of command. USS MAKIN ISLAND, At Sea (NNS) -- Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) held a change of command ceremony at sea in the Arabian Gulf, Feb. 29. “As one comes to the end of a tour, especially a tour as a CO, you reflect and wonder if you made a difference,” said Westphal. Makin Island, homeported in San Diego, is currently conducting routine operations and training. [10], Makin Island was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 16 April 2009 and was commissioned at Pascagoula, Mississippi, without ceremony on 26 June 2009 with Captain Bob Kopas in command.[3]. 1200 Navy Pentagon. Capt. Commander, Naval Surface Forces Vice Adm. Thomas S. Rowden, center, tours the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) with Commanding Officer Capt. may find at these locations. Chad Falgout. USS MAKIN ISLAND (LHD 8) Armed Forces. Navy News Service. Mark Melson, “It is a testament to the crew’s hard work and ownership that make this the best ship in its class. During Makin Island’s most recent at-sea period, the ship escorted USS Kidd (DDG 100) to San Diego after an outbreak of coronavirus was detected. SAN DIEGO - Capt. Junior officers and enlisted Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) took time from a busy basic phase training cycle to help train some of the Navy’s newest prospective Surface Warfare Officers (SWO). Capt. Captain Kopas stated in an interview on local radio that Makin Island had saved about US$2 million in fuel, compared with a conventional propulsion system, on her voyage from Mississippi around South America to San Diego. On 10 October, Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin took control over the escort carrier group, making Makin Island as his flagship. Below 12 knots, ship propulsion is provided by two 5,000-shaft-horsepower (3,700 kW) AC electric motors connected to a second input shaft on the main reduction gears. Power for the electric motors comes from the ship's service electrical system, which is provided by six 4000 kW generators powered by Fairbanks Morse diesel engines.[9]. [10], The same propulsion systems experimented with in Makin Island will also be used on the America-class amphibious assault ships. Congratulations: OS1 Johnson ... BM2 Garrett HM2 Maldonado MM2 Overturf CS3 Agagas EM3 Hilgendorf DC3 Seanz GM3 Watkins. Such hyperlinks are provided Chief of Information. Tom Ulmer assumed command of USS Makin Island (LHD 8) from Capt. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Ethan Jaymes Morrow), Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet On 16 October, her task group finished exercises, and traveled to the Ulithi Atoll, making stops at Pearl Harbor and Enewetak Atoll. This arrangement is also known as combined diesel-electric or gas. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Jacob D. Bergh). Christopher Westphal relieved Capt. [16] She returned to Fleet Week in 2012 after her maiden deployment to the 5th and 7th Fleet area of operations. Download Image of USS Makin Island (LHD 8) Executive Officer Capt. Jon P. Rodgers. Makin Island’s mission is to transport and land ashore troops, materiel and supplies to support and sustain amphibious assault operations. embark, deploy, and land elements of a Marine landing force in an Amphibious Assault ... (MAP) is intended to give commanding officers the opportunity to recognize their best Sailors by nominating them for advancement when they are ready for the next level of responsibility. Executive Officer. Capt. ... May 5, USS Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group … As Makin Island’s commanding officer, he directed Makin Island through a $140 million Chief of Naval Operations Phased Maintenance Availability including significant ship-wide modernization. See More. The MAKIN ISLAND is unique because she's the only ship in her class powered by LM 2500+ Gas Turbine Engines and Electric Drive. The propeller shafts can be driven at lower speeds by slowing down the electric motors. Westphal assumed command of Makin Island in March 2019 after serving as the ship’s executive officer since 2018, and will go on to serve at the Naval Special Warfare Command. Pearl Harbor, Mark Melson explains the ship's upper vehicle storage and well deck to … Tom Ulmer assumed command of USS Makin Island (LHD 8) from Capt. “I’m honored to command USS Makin Island and all who sail in this warship,” said Rodgers. Cedric E. Pringle relieved Capt. [3] She arrived in her home port of San Diego on 14 September 2009. The Wasp class is a class of landing helicopter dock (LHD) amphibious assault ships operated by the United States Navy.Based on the Tarawa class, with modifications to operate more advanced aircraft and landing craft, the Wasp class is capable of transporting almost the full strength of a United States Marine Corps Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and landing them in hostile territory via landing craft or … “The Battle “E” means more than just a pat on the back,” explained Makin Island Commanding Officer Capt. The task group engaged in simulated amphibious landings on San Clemente Island. John T. Nawrocki is the prospective commanding officer. June 30, 2001 USS Iwo Jima was commissioned during a ceremony at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. January 6, 2002 The Iwo Jima entered the Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock Corporation (NORSHIPCO) shipyard in Norfolk, Va., for a three-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA).