History
Makin Island was laid down on 14 February 2004 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi. She was christened on 19 August 2006, sponsored by Mrs. Silke Hagee, wife of General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, and launched on 15 September 2006. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Navy officials announced that several ships under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding had been damaged by the storm, including Makin Island and two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The ship's completion was delayed due to rewiring during 2008 to repair incorrect wiring installation. On 21 October 2008, USS Makin Island qualified their first Surface Warfare Officer. After 15 months of training and studying, Ensign Ebony Miller, of Makin Island's deck department, became the first officer to earn a SWO pin at the command.
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.
Makin Island departed 10 July 2009 on a transit around South America, during which the crew continued to train, obtaining underway certifications in preparation for its arrival in San Diego. During the transit, Makin Island conducted theater security cooperation (TSC) activities with Brazil, Chile and Peru, focusing on working closely with partner nation civil and maritime forces to share methods and training. She arrived in her home port of San Diego on 14 September 2009. Captain Kopas stated in an interview on local radio that the Makin Island had saved about $2 million in fuel, compared with a conventional propulsion system, on her voyage from Mississippi around South America to San Diego.
Her official commissioning ceremony took place on 24 October 2009 at Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado near San Diego. Six USMC veterans of the Makin Island raid attended the ceremony.
Damage to a turning gear delayed the ship's final check-out trials from August to September 2010.
Makin Island visited San Francisco in October 2010 as part of the city's 2010 Fleet Week festivities. It returned in 2012.
Read more about this topic: USS Makin Island (LHD-8)
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