HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division on Saturday christened the U.S. Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8).
“Today is not only a day to celebrate our namesake, representatives of the successful outcome of a World War II campaign, but also the team work and collaboration of our United States Navy and Marine Corps that enabled it,” Ingalls Shipbuilding President Kari Wilkinson stated. “To fulfil our mission here in the shipyard, our sailors and Marines serve as a stellar example of how this extended network works together to fulfill a bigger purpose.”
Bougainville is the second ship named in honor of Bougainville Island within the Solomons. The title commemorates a profitable World War II marketing campaign enabled by shut coordination among the many U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps and our allies. During the marketing campaign, which lasted from 1943 to 1944, allied forces secured a strategic airfield from Japanese forces within the northern Solomon Islands, serving to the allies break the Japanese stronghold within the South Pacific.
In his remarks, Major Gen. James Adams III, nominee for deputy commandant for Programs & Resources, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, honored the Americans who fought in the course of the Bougainville marketing campaign.
“Bougainville’s christening symbolizes their enduring legacy – a legacy etched into the very soul of this vessel,” Adams stated. “As was the case with Bougainville, the nation needs modern amphibious ships. They are the cornerstone of our nation’s global expeditionary crisis response force.”
Under Secretary of the Navy Erik Raven served because the keynote speaker.
“(These) ships, like the future USS Bougainville, make our Navy and Marine Corps team a potent fight; providing forward-posture across the globe, ready to respond to crisis and disaster,” Raven stated.
He additionally addressed the Ingalls shipbuilders who’ve constructed Bougainville.
“I see why the Department of the Navy has enjoyed such a long and successful relationship with this yard. You are special, and together you represent the finest qualities of our great nation. Please remember this and remember that what you do matters. You play a critical role in defending our way of life,” Raven stated.
Bougainville is sponsored by Ellyn S. Dunford, spouse of Gen. Joe Dunford Jr. nineteenth chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he was additionally the thirty sixth Commandant of the Marine Corps. Ellyn Dunford formally christened Bougainville by smashing a bottle of glowing wine throughout the bow of the ship.
She spoke proudly of the perseverance proven by the Navy and Ingalls Shipbuilding group the previous few years of building on Bougainville in the course of the ceremony.
“From naval architects and engineers to welders and the supply team, they experienced their own challenges, including a pandemic, and true to the spirit of those who fought at Bougainville, they all met the challenge with tenacity and overcame each challenge,” Dunford stated.
The America-class LHA is a multi-functional and versatile ship that’s able to working in a excessive density, multi-threat surroundings as an integral a part of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious activity drive or an amphibious prepared group.
Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy. The shipyard delivered the primary within the new America class of amphibious assault ships (LHA 6) in 2014. The second ship within the America class, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), was delivered to the Navy in early 2020. In addition to Bougainville, Fallujah (LHA 9) can be beneath building, and the corporate authenticated the keel throughout a ceremony in September 2023.
