Posted on October 11, 2023
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division announced the successful launch of the Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship Bougainville (LHA 8) into the Pascagoula River over the weekend.
On September 9, Bougainville was translated from land to the company’s floating dry dock using translation railcars to support the ship. While in the dry dock, the Ingalls team completed the final prep work for launch.
Bougainville, which is the first ship in the America class to be built with a well deck, will retain aviation capabilities while adding the surface assault capability of a well deck and a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft.
These large-deck amphibious assault ships also include top-of-the-line medical facilities with full operating suites and triage capabilities.
“This launch is a significant accomplishment for our entire LHA shipbuilding team, and we are honored to be building such a versatile ship for our Navy and Marine Corps partners,” Ingalls Shipbuilding Amphibious Ship Program Manager Gene Miller said. “It is also a testament to the outstanding teamwork we see every day as our shipbuilders continue the critical work of preparing Bougainville for delivery.”
The America class is a multi-functional and versatile ship that is capable of operating in a high-density, multi-threat environment as an integral member of an expeditionary strike group, an amphibious task force, or an amphibious ready group.
Ingalls has delivered 15 large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy, with the shipyard delivering the first in the new America class of amphibious assault ships (LHA 6) in 2014.
The second ship in the America class, USS Tripoli (LHA 7), was delivered to the Navy in early 2020.
In addition to Bougainville, Fallujah (LHA 9) is also under construction, and the company authenticated the keel during a ceremony in September 2023.
