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



On Display - HMS King George V

MSW Crew member Alan McNeilly shares with us his build story of the M.A.S. 563 Serie 3a classe 500 in 1/35 scale.




Australia Buys Amphibious Ship
Source: Australian Department of Defence

Mr Smith and Mr Clare announced finalisation of the acquisition process for the United Kingdom Bay-Class amphibious ship Largs Bay.

The Government announced on 6 April that Australia had been successful in its bid to acquire the United Kingdom’s Bay Class amphibious ship Largs Bay at a cost of £65 million (approximately $100 million).



The negotiations for the RFA Largs Bay have now been completed with the signing of the Sales Agreement by the Australian and the United Kingdom Governments on 8 June. The third and final payment of $35 million (£22 million) will now be made.

The purchase follows successful sea-trials undertaken in April and inspection by international Shipping firm Teekay confirming that the Ship is in a good material state.

The Ship will now undergo essential re-fit and maintenance work in the United Kingdom as part of the Ship’s normal five–year recertification cycle to allow the Ship to join the Royal Australian Navy in Australia at the end of this year.

The Largs Bay is a 16,000 tonne landing ship launched in 2003 and commissioned in 2006. It was purchased to ensure Australia’s amphibious capability following the decommissioning of HMAS Manoora.


More Women At Sea In Submarines
Source: Australian Department of Defence

Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon has cleared the way for more women to serve in Navy submarines by formally approving shared female and male accommodation on board every boat.

Mr Snowdon said the move, which was a recommendation of the previous Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane, is a major step forward for women in the Australian Defence Force and has the full support of new Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs and his leadership team.

“This move will ensure that our female submariners access the same training and career-progression opportunities as their male crewmates.

“The Australian Government believes it is important that the nation’s defence forces be representative of the community it serves and it’s committed to ensuring that female military personnel have opportunities for career progression and development.”

Mr Snowdon said women had been serving onboard Australian Navy submarines since 1998 but, until now, females had to sleep in female-only six-berth cabins.

“A lack of dedicated bunk space on board has occasionally led to female submariners missing out on postings because of bunk limitations, which has, in turn, denied the submarine force qualified specialists.

“These limitations have also meant that only two of our three operational submarines have been able to accommodate females,” Mr Snowdon said.

Successful trials have already been conducted over several years across the submarine force with officers and senior sailors.

Strict rules apply to maintain the dignity and privacy of all people involved.

Currently 44 of the Navy’s 560 submariners are female, which equates to 7.8 per cent.

A submarine community forum will be held on 23 June in Rockingham, Western Australia, to inform the broad submarine family of the implementation plan for the initiative and gather feedback on its implementation. This will provide opportunity for families and spouses to gain more information and to have their questions answered.

The first fully integrated junior sailor messes will begin in July 2011 on board all commissioned submarines.

Of the three services, Navy has the largest percentage of women serving in its ranks at 18 per cent.

"It should be pointed out that 97 percent of Navy positions, including combat-related positions, are already open to females, but this latest measure is a significant step in the right direction,” Mr Snowdon said.

“At this stage, only clearance diving remains a restricted employment category.”




Battle of Philippine Sea

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Philippine Sea.




USS Enterprise – CV6.org

Today’s website is USS Enterprise – CV6.org. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1813 - Fifteen U.S. gunboats engage three British ships in Hampton Roads, Va.
1815 - Trials of Fulton I, built by Robert Fulton, are completed in New York. This ship would become the Navy's first steam-driven warship.
1898 - U.S. forces occupied Guam, which became first colony of United States in the Pacific.
1913 - First fatal accident in naval aviation, Ensign W. D. Billingsley killed at Annapolis, Md.
1934 - Commander in Chief, Asiatic Fleet Adm. Frank Upham reports to Chief of Naval Operations that based on analyses of Japanese radio traffic, "Any attack by (Japan) would be made without previous declaration of war or intentional warning."
1944 - Battle of Philippine Sea ends with Japanese losing two aircraft carriers and hundreds of aircraft.avy Department schedules reactivation of hospital ship Repose (AH 16), first hospital ship activated for Vietnam conflict.


Diorama Idea of the Day



HMS Manchester D-95 seen in 1986. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.

Gator