Sam Spade's San Francisco

USS Makin Island is brand-new. The ship came into active service in 2010. She is the Navy's newest and most advanced Wasp-class amphibious assault ship

The Eleventh Marine Expeditionary Unit - (11 MEU) is a self-contained fighting force and humanitarian/medical response team of about 2,000 Marines. Thanks to Makin Island those Marines have a global reach and are able to take with them the fighter jets, attack helicopters, battle tanks, medical supplies, support supplies and other equipment they use.
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Makin Island's job is to transport, protect and support Marines and to serve as a Global Disaster Response Platform. Think: the world's biggest heavy-rescue squad and SWAT Team. Makin Island is Nirvana for First Responders.

World's largest and most powerful true hybrid Rescue Unit 

Makin Island is homeported at Naval Base San Diego. She is a little over 840-feet long and displaces 41,000 tons. That's a light "footprint" for such a large ship and that means Makin Island can be fast. Makin Island is an advanced turbine-electric drive ship. Makin Island is a true hybrid. During the ship's transit from Pascagoula, MS to San Diego, Makin Island would have burned 900,000 gallons less fuel than a steam ship completing the same trip. That would save more than $2-million in fuel costs and spare the planet's air.

Propulsion and Power Plant

The ship's power machinery includes two 35,000-BHP LM2500 General Electric gas turbines, two 5,000-BHP variable-speed Alstom electric motors, two 16-foot-diameterRolls Royce controllable-pitch propellers and six 4,000-kW Fairbanks-Morse diesel generators. When the ship is moving at 12 knots or greater, the gas turbines propel the ship. When she is moving at less than 12 knots the auxiliary systems drive the propulsion shafts.

Inside USS Makin Island

What's inside Makin Island? There are AV-8B Marine attack jets, CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Dragon helicopters, MV-22 Osprey helicopters, LCAC air-cushion landing craft plus whatever the 2,000-plus Marines who can call Makin Island home will need for their mission. Makin Island can carry M1A1 main battle tanks, AAV-7 amphibious assault vehicles, trucks, bulldozers, humvees -- all the tools available to the Marine Corps.

Global Disaster Response Platform

But that's just half of Makin Island's story. There is also a fully-equipped and staffed emergency trauma hospital aboard with six operating rooms, a 17-bed state-of-the-art ICU and a 47-bed ward. In disaster situations Makin Island can be converted to become a major trauma hospital and surgical center able to provide in-patient care to 200 or more patients and out-patient care to thousands by dispatching medical teams aboard Marine helicopters. Makin Island is second in medical capabilities only to the Navy's two hospital ships.

When an emergency strikes the Navy can deploy Makin Island. The ship's enormous powerplant can produce electricity and provide desalinated drinking water. The hospital, air rescue, communications center and law enforcement capabilities aboard would be second to none. Makin Island would become the primary Incident Command Center and the hub for emergency relief wherever on the planet disaster strikes.

Firepower and the Bubble of Protection

To protect her Marines, Makin Island has more firepower than just about anybody wants to mess with. First, there are two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) systems.

Each system fires five-inch diameter supersonic missiles with enough explosive power to sink a boat, cripple a ship or down an aircraft. Makin Island's weapons fire control system can engage multiple targets simultaneously. With each missile destined to hit the bulls eye each time, that's some very serious firepower. Wherever the ship chooses to go, Makin Island can create a circular bubble of protection that easily extends out 100 miles.

Second, there are the two Phalanx CIWS defense units.

The Phalanx is a radar-guided 20-mm Gatling gun on a swivel base that can fire 3,000 rounds a minute. It simply mows down and pulverizes everything it hits and it always hits wherever it intends to hit. Holy smokes! (see  of a Phalanx in action.)

And don't forget the 11th MEU. There could be 2,000 Marines aboard Makin Island and every one of them armed to the teeth and they have heavily armed attack jets and helicopters armed with smart missiles. Think: waving a stick at an angry wasp's nest. Guess what happens next.

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