By Geoff Fein
PASCAGOULA, Miss.–The Navy last week took delivery of the newest most advanced big deck amphibious ship, LHD-8, after running several months behind schedule and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget.
Almost a year ago to the date, Northrop Grumman [NOC] announced it would take a $320 million to $360 million charge on the LHD-8. But last Thursday, Mike Petters, president, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, told reporters the company brought the Makin Island in one month early and gave $60 million back to shareholders.
Although the Makin Island is follow-on to the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), the two ships are quite different, making the Makin Island appear more like a lead ship.
Petters has referred to the ship as almost being like a first-in-a-class.
For example, the Makin Island is the only LHD-class ship that has two General Electric [GE] LM-2500 gas turbines along with two Alstom variable speed electric motors, meaning there is no steam used onboard.
The Makin Island also has a new machinery control system.
“The machinery control system is the most advanced of any Navy ship,” said Cmdr. Marc Schweighofer, the ships’ command, control, computers, communications, combat (C5).
At 844-feet, LHD-8 is the largest amphib ever built and includes an electric plant that can churn out 24,000 kW, enough to power 20,000 homes, according to Northrop Grumman.
“Makin Island‘s state-of-the-art gas turbines and Auxiliary Propulsion System will benefit the Navy for years to come,” Capt. Jeff Riedel, amphibious ships program manager, said.
The ship has 1,571 compartments and a 600-bed hospital that can also be used as additional berthing space for deployed Marines, Schweighofer said.
With six operating rooms and an 18-bed intensive care unit, the Makin Island‘s medical capability is larger than that of an aircraft carrier, he added.
In addition to a crew of 1,200, the Makin Island can also house a Marine detachment of 1,894, according to Northrop Grumman.
The Makin Island is the last of the Wasp-class, and Petters noted there is currently no plan for a follow-on.
“I don’t see a LHD-9 on the plan right now,” he told reporters.
Ingalls will build the America (LHA-6), which will take some systems from LHD-8, Petters added.
For example, LHA-6 will have the same propulsion train as the Makin Island, but LHA-6 will not have a well deck.
“The propulsion plant and electrical distribution and auxiliary systems designed and built for Makin Island will also be used aboard the America,” according to the Navy.
The Makin Island‘s well deck was the first built using composite materials, according to Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman has taken lessons learned from LHD-8 and is applying them to other ship classes, as the management team moves from the Makin Island to the America, according to Northrop Grumman.
Some examples include a review of engineering products to find those that enhance producability.
LHD-8 will conduct its light-off assessment June 1-5, followed by crew certification June 23-25, Schweighofer said. On July 10, the ship will leave Pascagoula for San Diego, where additional testing of systems will take place, leading to a second Navy Board of Inspection and Survey review in early 2010, he added.
Final contract trial–the end of the warranty period–will take place approximately the same time.
LHD-8 will be commissioned in October ’09.
Additionally, once in San Diego, the Makin Island will be retrofitted to accommodate the Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT]-Boeing [BA]V-22 Osprey, Riedel said. And, in 2013, the ship will undergo upgrades for integration of Lockheed Martin‘s [LMT] F-35B, the short takeoff and vertical landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter.
“The flight deck is strong enough to handle [JSF],” Riedel said. “It’s more…how does the ship operate with the aircraft.”
In March, the Makin Island successfully completed her acceptance trials.