USS Bougainville (LHA 8)

USS BOUGAINVILLE is the third ship in the AMERICA - class of amphibious assault ships and the second ship in the Navy named after the Bougainville Campaign during World War II. BOUGAINVILLE is the first Flight I ship in her class, so unlike her first two sisterships, she is equipped with a well deck but has a smaller aircraft hangar and smaller medical facilities. The island structure has also been modified to create more flight deck space.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: June 30, 2016
	Keel laid: March 14, 2019
	Launched: October 6, 2023
	Commissioned:
	Builder: Huntington Ingalls Industries, Pascagoula, Miss.
	Propulsion system: two marine gas turbines
	Propellers: two
	Aircraft elevators: two
	Length: 844 feet (257.3 meters)
	Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)
	Draft: 26 feet (7.9 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 44,971 tons full load
	Speed: 22+ knots
	Aircraft: 30+ (including V-22 Osprey, AH-1Z Viper and AH-1W Super Cobra, F-35B, CH-53K Sea Stallion, MH-60S Naval Hawk)
	Landing Craft: four LCAC or one LCU
	Crew: Ship: 65 officers, 994 enlisted Marine Detachment: 1871
	Armament: two Rolling Airframe Missile Systems (RAM), two Phalanx CIWS, two Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile launchers, seven twin .50 BMG machine guns
	Homeport:

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS BOUGAINVILLE. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS BOUGAINVILLE memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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Accidents aboard USS BOUGAINVILLE:

Date	Where	Events
June 30, 2023	Pascagoula, Miss.	A fire breaks out in BOUGAINVILLE's superstructure while the ship is under construction at Ingalls Shipbuilding. Six shipyard workers receive minor injuries and damage to the ship is minimal.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The Shield:

The shield is in the shape of an "upe", a traditional headdress worn by indigenous Bougainville men, representing the location of the Bougainville Campaign. The light blue color of the shield suggests the waters and sky which the USS BOUGAINVILLE will navigate and defend. The cherry blossom branches refer to the World War II Bougainville Campaign's code name, "CHERRYBLOSSOM", and further pay tribute to those who valiantly fought to liberate the island from the occupying Japanese forces. The 3rd Marine Division caltrop signifies the United States Marines who engaged in fierce combat against a well-entrenched enemy throughout the campaign. The two silver stars denote the two battle stars earned by the first ship named USS BOUGAINVILLE (CVE 100) during WWII.

The Crest:

The wreath adopts the first-named metal and color from the shield and blazon - white and light blue. The eight stars refer to the hull number of USS BOUGAINVILLE. Additionally, the stars pay homage to the eight units supporting the Bougainville campaign: Destroyer Squadron 23, Task Force 38, Third Fleet, 37th Infantry Division, Marine Fighter Squadron 214 (VMF-214 "Black Sheep"), Navy Construction Battalion (CBs), and Marine Raider Battalion. The ocean waves represent the Pacific Ocean location where the Bougainville Campaign took place and the ship-to-shore transport of Marines to the beachhead. The waves further denote the mighty waters USS BOUGAINVILLE will sail during her naval service. The alligator suggests amphibious capabilities and portrays the fierce tenacity of the ship, sailors, and embarked Marines while the eagle in flight represents the ship's aviation support mission.

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USS BOUGAINVILLE Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken my Michael Jenning and show BOUGAINVILLE under construction at the Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., on October 11, 2023.

The photos below were taken my Michael Jenning and show BOUGAINVILLE under construction at the Huntington Ingalls Industries' (HII) shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss., on October 1, 2024.

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