‘Prius’ of the Navy « Liveshots

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William La Jeunesse

Los Angeles, CA

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‘Prius’ of the Navy

October 22, 2009 - 1:02 PM | by: William La Jeunesse

The USS Makin Island is the newest ship in the fleet and the first to use hybrid technology --earning it the nickname the 'Prius' of the Navy.

Three football fields long, the Makin Island carries 2,000 Marines, their helicopters, hovercraft, Bradley fighting vehicles and a squadron of Harrier jets. The ship is designed for cruising offshore for long periods at slow speeds-perfect for a hybrid electric motor.

SLIDESHOW: USS Makin

Compared to other steam driven ships, the Makin Island can stay on water almost twice as long before refueling. On its first voyage from a shipyard in Mississippi to San Diego, the hybrid engine saves more than 1 million gallons of diesel, saving taxpayers 2.2 million dollars.

The Makin Island is just the first "green" ship to sail the ocean blue- part of an ongoing initiative to make our armed forces less reliant on fossil fuel and to reduce the Military's carbon footprint.

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32 Comments

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Diana

Named for the The Battle of Makin Island WWII . The first enlisted Marine to win the Medal of Honor in WWII was Sargeant Clde Thomason. He was one of Carlson's Raiters who fought in that battle. http://www.usmarineraiders.org/makin.html

October 23, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Rich

Isn't technology great! Let us continue to allow free market systems and "limited" government allow our brightest minds to create innovative solutions (FCC stay the hell out of the Internet!).

October 23, 2009 at 7:59 AM

gunfighter

The Marine Corps does not use Bradley fighting vehicles. Don't forget about the 23 helicopters that are also aboard. Who is doing your research FOX? All you have to do is ask the Marine Corps.

October 23, 2009 at 7:46 AM

Kenn Mileski

This article does not define what exactly makes this ship a 'hybrid'. If it is based on that fact that it has no direct drive shaft and storage batteries, then the title of 'first hybrid' should go to the pre-nuclear diesel submarines starting before WWI.

October 23, 2009 at 7:19 AM

Doug

How much more did it cost to build?

October 23, 2009 at 6:56 AM

James

Prius of the Navy? Navies around the world have used such "Hybrid" technology since the 1930s. Its nothing new. Ever heard of a non-nuclear powered submarine? They are still in use today.

October 23, 2009 at 6:25 AM

fred

Wait a min.. how is not spending money "saving"? Isn't that 'bout the same as the wife going on a spending spree and telling the husband how much she saved by looking at all the % off signs as she bought? How bout not building it in the first place? wouldn't that be a "savings"? "Honey, just saved 60 thousand dollars by not buying two new trucks!"

October 23, 2009 at 5:12 AM

Matthew Van Dusen

Al Gore should be tickled pink since this is the beginning of the end of Global Warming.

October 23, 2009 at 1:45 AM

Dean Sawyer

Named for the island taken prior to U.S. invasion during Korean War?

October 23, 2009 at 12:15 AM

T. Price

For several decades the Navy has had ships that don't rely on fossile fuels at all. It's called nuclear power, and it's "green"!

October 23, 2009 at 12:07 AM

jim

saves taxpayers 2.2 million dollars? Three football fields long, carries enough military equipment for a war of it own! Ha,Ha I bet it only cost $1.2 billion. AND THAT saves money???

October 22, 2009 at 11:44 PM

Craig

We have an AMERICAN troop ship being compared to a Japanese car. We have an American car company that did not take any bailout money, Ford. It produces the best MPG SUV on the planet, The Ford Escape Hydrid. Why not compare the American Navy ship to an American SUV?

October 22, 2009 at 11:39 PM

richb313

It is a mistake to call this ship a Prius. The Makin has Gas Turbines for Main Propulsion instaed of using Steam. Auxillary Propulsion is Electric. The BIG Gas Turbines can be shut down because unlike a Steam Plant or even Large Marine Diesels startup time on Gas Turbines is minimal. There has been no loss of performance but huge fuel savings can be realised when loitering because the Mains can be shut down. This is a Helicopter Carrier so it does not need to steam full ahead into the wind during aircraft flight operations.

October 22, 2009 at 11:11 PM

George

The USMC does not use Bradley's. The current vehicle in use by the Marines is the AAV(Amphibious Assault Vehicle), which will be replaced in the future by the EFV(Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle).

October 22, 2009 at 10:54 PM

VetteDriver

Good story and demonstrates how technology is used in the military, but a key part of the story is missing. Where does the electrical power for the electric motor come from while cruising?? Does is have solar cells?..........a long extension cord?.........or a fuel burning engine driving a generator connected to the electrical motor? I guess it could have some secret high capacity battery recharged overnight in port. Knowing is critical to understanding the full story. Thanks!

October 22, 2009 at 9:37 PM

Laura

One important piece of information being left out of this article are the 1000+ sailors working to maintain the ship as well as get it ready for commissioning and earn its certifications. The marines come on board only for transport during surges and deployments, it's the sailors that call the Making Island their home and learn to fight the ship.

October 22, 2009 at 9:16 PM

Calvin

Steam driven??? Not that many steam driven ships left in the US Navy. Try gas-turbine or diesel powered ships alongside the nukes.

October 22, 2009 at 6:04 PM

Navy Engineer

It is not greener! Electric motors have higher front end emmissions than diesel motors because of line losses and battery hysteresis. The greenest ship of all is a nuclear powered one. And quite frankly, it is a ridiculous premise because CO2 is a harmless gas, existing in less than 1/1000 of the atmosphere, that is necessary for photsynthesis and a necessary product of respiration. You green people and your green idiocy are looking stupider and stupider every day.

October 22, 2009 at 5:16 PM

Chief Bates, Retired

If it works fine. However, I see no notation of the additional costs to design and build a Hybrid Ship capable of carrying 2,000 Marines and all their equipment versus the savings. What makes it "Hybrid", cadnium batteries, lithium batteries?

October 22, 2009 at 5:05 PM

Richard

I doubt that the primary reason for hybrid technology in ships is to be "green" and help the environment. That $2.2 Million per refuel is the primary reason. Higher efficiency and less cost are much more important than saving the environment.

October 22, 2009 at 4:37 PM

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