Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Photo Gallery SNAFU
Special Announcement from our Managing Editor
Ahoy, mates,
Sorry for the inconvenience, but our photo gallery is experiencing some internal gremlins....seems to be a bit hit and miss, and may be just due to heavy use at the moment...if you're experiencing problems as well, post your woes here!

Cheers,
~Gunny
Photo Gallery

Feature - Drumming of Daybreak
MSW Crewmate John Reid (dolly15) shares a 25 year long saga of a model build, in this MSW Feature Build Story, "Drumming of Daybreak"! Take a look and don’t forget to leave a comment.
Feature

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This Day in U.S. Naval History

1824 - U.S. schooner Porpoise captures four pirate ships off Cuba.
1944 - 7th Fleet lands more than 60,000 Army troops on Leyte, Philippines, while Japanese aircraft attack.
1952 - Task Force 77 establishes Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) Hunter/Killer Teams of two ECM-equipped aircraft and an armed escort of four Skyraiders and four Corsairs.
1967 - Operation Coronado VII began in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.
1983 - Due to political strife, USS Independence (CV 62) is ordered to Grenada.


Submarine Rescue Group Train in Gibraltar

During the past week the Royal Navy's Submarine Parachute Assistance Group (SPAG), whose remit involves deploying a team of people with escape and rescue knowledge to the scene of a submarine in distress, has been training off Gibraltar.

During the training 40 specialists, including three doctors, four medics and members of the Submarine Escape Training Tank, used a 'floating village' of 25-man life rafts to rescue various 'casualties', including the Commander of British Forces in Gibraltar, Commodore Matt Parr, from an imaginary submarine.

The aim was to test the the SPAG's ability to set up the 'floating village', to triage and treat the casualties, and to establish Command and Control procedures with headquarters in the UK. In a previous exercise which took place in 2007, the Group practised the other half of their job - parachuting into the sea with all the necessary equipment.

The Group's leader, Commander Charlie Neve, said:

"Gibraltar is ideal for this kind of training. The weather is generally good, the water temperature is ideal, we get away from our home base for team building and there is a military headquarters close at hand.

"As long as we are sending people to sea in submarines and fitting submarines with escape hatches (which everyone does), then we need a system to retrieve people from the water and take them to a safe environment. The process only ends when the rescued submariners are back at home with their loved ones."

Whilst the SPAG is unique, many other countries have some expertise in this field. The SPAG works closely with teams in Australia, Canada and Ukraine and opens up its exercises to anyone who wishes to be involved - this latest exercise included six Italian divers:
"And we'll be back in Gibraltar next year to improve our own standards still further," promised Commander Neve.

Back in the UK the SPAG are on six hours notice to take-off, twenty four hours a day, all year round.

Goodrich to Supply Sonar Domes for U.S. Navy Frigates, Cruisers and Destroyers

Goodrich Corporation has received a contract from the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane, IN to provide sonar domes for U.S. Navy surface combat ships. The five-year Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is potentially valued at up to $33 million and covers deliveries through 2013. Work will be performed by Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products team in Jacksonville, Fla.

A sonar dome is an acoustically transparent housing that surrounds a ship's sonar transducer array used for detection, navigation, and ranging. The dome permits acoustic energy to pass through with minimal sound degradation. The Goodrich contract covers two types of sonar domes - a sonar composite dome (SCD) and a sonar dome rubber window (SDRW).

The SCD, mounted on the keel of FFG-7 frigates, uses a proprietary composite system designed to provide optimal structural and acoustic performance to the ship's sonar system. SCDs, which replaced traditional rubber domes on U.S. and allied Navy frigates in 1997, provide significant savings on maintenance costs, and have the potential to last many years even under the demanding operating conditions faced by naval surface ships.

The SDRW, bow-mounted on DD-963 and DDG-51 class destroyers as well as CG-47 class cruisers, is a specialized rubber-wire reinforced structure that houses a ship's sonar system. The rubber's unique energy absorption and reflection properties enhance the sonar system's detection capability. Goodrich has produced more than 300 SDRWs over the past four decades.

"Our proven ability to provide advanced acoustic products that maximize sonar system performance gives our sailors a significant tactical at-sea advantage," said Jim Pollock, Vice President for Goodrich's Engineered Polymer Products team. "Our dedicated team of professional engineers and manufacturing experts is committed to delivering superior acoustic technologies in support of the U.S. Navy."


Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense and homeland security markets. With one of the most strategically diversified portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service facilities.




New UH-1Y Huey Takes Flight During Boxer ESG Exercise

Marine Medium Helicopter (HMM) Squadron 163 (Reinforced), embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), is among the first squadrons to operate the new Bell UH-1Y "Huey" helicopter, which was tested as part of the Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) integration exercise Oct. 7-16.

The most modern tactical utility helicopter available, the Huey is the latest version of one of the Marine Corps' most durable and versatile helicopters, with many improvements on the previous UH-1N.

"This 'Yankee' version of the classic UH-1 'November' is making the Huey applicable to today's war," said Marine Capt. Tara Russell, an HMM 163 (Rein.) "Evil Eyes" pilot. "Everything has been improved, from the lift capability and flying time to situational awareness systems like a glass cockpit with a moving map display."

Boxer is the first ship to have the new helicopter aboard as part of its rotary wing aircraft augmentation for deployment. With a new composite four bladed rotor system, two powerful T700-GE 401C engines and decreased maintenance requirements, it provides BOXESG a more advanced ability to provide humanitarian aid or to take the fight to the enemy wherever needed.

"With the resources to carry both personnel and a full arsenal of weapons we have an expanded capability to support groups on the ground and participate in a greater range of missions," said Marine Capt. Brian Hensarling, an "Evil Eyes" pilot.

Upgraded features also include increased survivability from enemy attack with a laser warning receiver, radar warning receiver, "smart" countermeasure dispenser and a missile warning device.

Improved safety systems include energy-absorbing landing gear, self sealing fuel systems and a fuel vapor inerting system.

"The upgrades that are among the most beneficial for the crew and passengers are the energy attenuating seats that reduce the effects of G-forces in the event of a crash," said Russell. "Before this, the passengers just had to sit on the deck."

The new Huey also features greater operational flexibility due to 50 percent increased range, faster maximum speed, a stronger airframe design, advanced electronic warfare self protection and 125 percent greater payload than the previous UH-1N.

The BOXESG is scheduled for more training exercises this fall prior to a deployment scheduled for early next year.

BOXESG is comprised of Amphibious Squadron 5, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Boxer, USS New Orleans (LPD 18), USS Comstock (LSD 45), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USCGC Boutwell (WHEC 719), USS Milius (DDG 69), USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, Naval Beach Group 1, Assault Craft Unit 5, Assault Craft Unit 1, Beach Master Unit 1 and Fleet Surgical Team 5.

The 13th MEU is comprised of HMM 163 (Rein.), Combat Logistics Battalion 13 and Battalion Landing Team 1/1.





For all you fans of college football, here’s this week’s BCS top 5
1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Penn State
4. Oklahoma
5. USC

Scores from around the country…
No. 1 Texas dominates No.11 Missouri 56-31.
No. 2 Alabama's late defensive stand holds off Ole Miss 24-20.
No. 3 Penn State ends nine-game skid to Michigan 46-17.
Bradford's record day lifts No. 4 OU by No. 16 KU 45-31.
No. 5 Florida had the week off.

Scores of interest
No. 13 LSU gets by South Carolina with late rally 24-17.
Senior Newswriter Gator Loup’s alma mater McNeese rallies past Sam Houston St. 28-17.

Military Academy Scores
Streaking Navy unable to contain No. 23 Pittsburgh 42-21.
Army loses to Buffalo in OT 27-24.
Air Force squeaks by UNLV 28-27.

Photo of the Day



The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) transits the Indian Ocean with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53).

Gator