The amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8) launches a NATO Sea Sparrow missile from the forward NATO mount while underway off the coast of Southern California conducting ship self-defense system operational testing and evaluation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Douglas Bedford/Released)By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Tiffani Paredes, USS Makin Island Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Makin Island (LHD 8) returned to port Feb. 24 following a weeklong underway that focused on Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) operational testing and evaluation.
With last fall's long-anticipated commissioning finished, Makin Island's crew has focused on preparations for Final Contractor Trials (FCT) later this year.
Although preparations began well before commissioning, Operations Officer Cmdr. Max DuPont said it is an ongoing process, and the command still has a way to go.
"After [FCTs], the ship is a true Fleet asset, and the Fleet can fully employ all the capabilities that LHD8 brings," said DuPont. "It's like buying a car. The warranty and break-in period is about to end on all the work [Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast] has done, so you want make sure it's right, and you want to run it through its full paces and have a mechanic make sure everything's right before you say, 'Yes, I'm ready take this car on a long cross-country trip.'"
The "mechanics" DuPont referred to are the evaluators from the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV), who evaluates new ships and existing ships for congress.
To help prepare for that, and to assess Makin Island's new SSDS system, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR) evaluators spent this past week testing weapons systems, such as the Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) and the NATO Sea Sparrow Missile Launcher, for functionality and tracking effectiveness. Earlier in the week Expeditionary Strike Group 3 personnel assisted in the crew's mock runs of common FCT evolutions such as equipment and procedure inspections and space walkthroughs.
ESG's efforts played an integral part in LHD8's preparations by helping to identify and validate concerns that that will be fixed in preparation for FCT.
Watchstanders were also tested for operator proficiency by OPTEVFOR. Using years of training, including that from Makin Island's tenure as a pre-commissioning unit, they demonstrated the weapons systems' abilities to challenge different types of targets.
"During SSDS testing, aircraft that would approach the ship were equipped with jamming pods and other tactical gear that flexed the ship's weapons systems," DuPont said. "These aircraft would run various profiles -- high altitude to low altitude, sea skimming, multiple aircraft -- in an effort to test our combat systems' responsiveness. A recommended engagement meant a system responded properly, which they each did."
Operations Department's Lt. Cmdr. Chad Simpson also pointed out that training has become much more scenario-based for the crew's benefit.
"We've actually remodeled [some of the scenarios] so that they're consistent, more realistic and are better for the operators overall," said Simpson.
In fact, Simpson said all of this at-sea period's training prepares the crew early for transition from an industrial environment, when the ship goes into its Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) this spring, to full-performance mode after FCTs. Once the crew proves they combat readiness, ship operability and self-training, they will be ready to move onto the next chapter in Makin Island's young history – deployment.
"Every time this awesome ship gets underway we gain more confidence in the systems and realize the truly advanced capabilities this unique ship brings to the fleet," said Executive Officer, Capt. Jim Landers. "The crew is ready to load up the blue-green team of the Navy and Marine Corps and get in the game!"