Landing craft with tank

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Navy's newest amphibious assault ship is also its most advanced. Commissioned last year, the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) has a hybrid propulsion system -- with both electric and gas-powered drives -- that the Navy said saved $15 million during the craft's first, seven-month, deployment.

The Makin Island is 847 feet long and carries a crew of just less than 1,000 Navy sailors and about 1,200 Marines, and is equipped to carry out anything from combat to humanitarian missions.

In this photo, taken in the Arabian Sea, a landing craft air cushion leaves the Makin Island carrying an M1 A1 Abrams main battle tank.

As part of CNET Road Trip 2012, reporter Daniel Terdiman got a tour of the ship, and a firsthand look at many of its innovative systems.