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Makin Island Energize Combat Center

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061220-07
Release Date: 12/20/2006 12:48:00 PM

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Heather W. Hines, PCU Makin Island Public Affairs

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (NNS) -- Sailors of Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Makin Island (LHD 8) held their first Electronics Light Off (ELO) Dec. 7.

“Electronics light off is a milestone in time during a ship’s construction process,” said Lt. Tony Tharpe, “where the heavy industrial work, in key spaces, comes to an end and the testing phase begins.”

Testing during the ELO included the ship's combat information center (CIC), home to the ship’s self defense system (SSDS); and two compartments which will be cornerstone’s for Makin Island’s control of flight operations, helicopter directional center (HDC) and the tactical air coordination center (TACC).

“They [spaces energized] are primarily responsible for the ability of Makin Island to perform two of her main missions: landing USMC (U.S. Marine Corps) troops on the beach via helicopters and defending those personnel on the ship from attack," said Makin Island Commanding Officer, Capt. Bob Kopas.

“[CIC] is one of the biggest and most important spaces in the combat systems of the ship,” said Tharpe. “That’s where the ‘warfighters’ of Makin Island sit when they fight the ship.”

Tharpe explained the ELO replaces a cumbersome testing procedure which would have led to a longer production schedule.

This is the first of a three-phase ELO plan for Makin Island, ultimately which will bring more than 50 spaces online. Following Hurricane Katrina, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding System endured building delays with Makin Island, and PCUs Kidd (DDG 100) and Mesa Verde (LPD 19), also under construction in Pascagoula.

Tharpe agreed that breaking the ELO into three phases was a smart move to help press the process forward.

“The shipyard has been working really hard to get to this point and we really appreciate what they’ve been able to accomplish following such a disaster,” Tharpe said.

Kopas added that the Navy’s direct representative in the building process, Supervisors of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) Gulf Coast, also played a key role in the construction process.

"The SUPSHIP test team has been doing a superb job moving this process on. Their efforts have ensured that we are able to start this long process of testing today which will lead to our delivery to the Navy in May 2008,” said Kopas. "It has been a challenging time getting the ship to this point. From when our first crewmembers reported onboard in November 2005 until today, Makin Island has made some good progress.”

Makin Island is the eighth and final ship in the Wasp-class of multipurpose amphibious assault ships and the first to be built with an all-electric drive and gas turbine engines. She is currently under construction by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. and is scheduled to complete construction in May 2008. After sailing around South America, she will be commissioned in her homeport of San Diego in Fall 2008.