HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Successfully Launches Navy’s Bougainville Amphibious Assault Ship

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of the Navy’s third America-class amphibious assault ship, Bougainville (LHA 8). The launch took place on Saturday, as the ship was gracefully moved from the floating dock into the Pascagoula River.

The Ingalls Shipbuilding team, led by Amphibious Ship Program Manager Gene Miller, expressed their pride in this accomplishment. They consider it an honor to be constructing such a versatile ship for the Navy and Marine Corps. The launch of Bougainville is a testament to the exceptional teamwork displayed by the shipbuilders, who continue to diligently prepare the vessel for delivery.

Prior to the launch, Bougainville was translated from land to the company’s floating dry dock using translation railcars. While in the dry dock, the Ingalls team completed final preparations for the ship’s launch. Notably, Bougainville is the first ship in the America class to feature a well deck, enhancing its surface assault capability. The ship will also retain aviation capabilities with a larger flight deck configured for F-35B Joint Strike Fighter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft. Furthermore, Bougainville boasts top-of-the-line medical facilities, including full operating suites and triage capabilities.

The America class is renowned for its multi-functional and versatile nature, enabling it to operate effectively in high-density, multi-threat environments as part of an expeditionary strike group, amphibious task force, or amphibious ready group. Ingalls Shipbuilding has a long-standing history of delivering large-deck amphibious ships to the U.S. Navy, with 15 already completed. The first ship in the America class, LHA 6, was delivered in 2014, followed by USS Tripoli (LHA 7) in early 2020. Currently, Fallujah (LHA 9) is under construction, with the keel authentication ceremony held in September 2023.

HII, a global defense provider, is committed to delivering powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation. With a workforce of 43,000, HII’s mission is to provide critical capabilities ranging from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training. As the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, HII has a rich history of advancing national security.

For more information about HII and the successful launch of the Bougainville amphibious assault ship, please visit the official website or contact Kimberly K. Aguillard at 228-355-5663 or Kimberly.K.Aguillard@hii-co.com.

###