Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - USS Tarawa in action
MSW Crew member Christer Johansson shares the build story of his USS Tarawa in action.
Final Oman Ship Named in Ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base
Source: BAE Systems
Portsmouth, UK --- The last of three corvettes under construction by BAE Systems for the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) was formally named in a launching ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base today.
Employees and guests, including senior representatives from the RNO and UK Royal Navy, gathered at the naval base to watch Lt General Hassan Mohsin Al Sharaiqi, Inspector General of the Police and Customs of the Sultanate of Oman, formally name the RNO's newest vessel, Al Rasikh.
Mick Ord, Managing Director of BAE Systems' Surface Ships division, said: "We have developed a close working relationship with the Royal Navy of Oman as we work in partnership to deliver the Khareef corvettes.
"These highly sophisticated ships are fitted with complex weapons and high quality accommodation with exceptional sea keeping ability. I have no doubt that Al Rasikh, and her sister ships, will be a valued asset within the Royal Navy of Oman's surface fleet."
Al Rasikh is part of Project Khareef, signed in 2007, for the design and build of three state-of-the-art 99 metre corvettes for the RNO. With a continued commitment to providing through-life support and services to its customers, BAE Systems is also delivering training for RNO personnel, as well as an initial logistics support package for the ships.
The corvette is an efficient and operationally flexible platform, equipped to defend against both surface and air threats. Al Rasikh and her sister ships will be used to protect Omani territorial waters, conducting coastal patrols in peacetime, with the ability to conduct search and rescue, as well as disaster relief, while providing ocean going capability for use in deterrent operations during times of tension.
Following hand over to the RNO next year, the first of class Al Shamikh, and her crew will undergo the UK Royal Navy's Flag Officer Sea Training programme before sailing to Oman for hot weather trials. Al Rahmani, the second ship of the class, was officially named in July 2010 and will undertake sea trials later this year.
Austal Awarded Construction Contract for JHSV 6 and 7
Source: BAE Systems
The U.S. Navy has exercised contract options funding the construction of the sixth and seventh Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV), as part of a ten-vessel program potentially worth over US$1.6 billion. The construction contract for both vessels is valued at approximately US$313 million.
Austal Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Bellamy, noted that this contract demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s confidence in Austal as a leading defence prime contractor.
“With options remaining for a further three vessels, the JHSV program is expected to deliver a predictable revenue stream of AUD$330 million per annum from 2012 to 2015, which is approximately 60 per cent of Austal’s historical revenue.”
As prime contractor, Austal was awarded the construction contract for the first 103-metre JHSV in November 2008, with options for nine additional vessels between FY09 and FY13. The Austal JHSV team includes platform systems engineering agent General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems who is responsible for the design, integration and testing of the ship’s mission systems, including internal and external communications, electronic navigation, and aviation and armament systems.
Austal received authorisation from the Navy to start construction on the first vessel of the contract, Spearhead (JHSV 1), in December 2009 after completing the rigorous design over a 12-month period. Spearhead is scheduled for launch in August 2011 and delivery in December 2011. Construction on Vigilant (JHSV 2) began at Austal’s Mobile, Alabama, USA shipyard on September 13, 2010.
Austal USA’s President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Rella remarked, “this award facilitates the continued development and growth of our U.S. operations, as well as the expansion of our Alabama workforce from over 2,000 to nearly 4,000."
Austal is also currently building a second Independence-variant 127-metre Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) for the U.S. Navy, Coronado (LCS 4), which is scheduled for launch in September 2011.
As prime contractor, Austal recently received a U.S. Navy contract for construction of up to an additional 10 Littoral Combat Ships, including Jackson (LCS 6) and Montgomery (LCS
, to be appropriated in the following five years, with a total value in excess of $3.5 billion. Once commissioned, these 10 vessels will join the Austal-built USS Independence (LCS 2) which was commissioned in January 2010.
Battle of Vyborg Bay (1790)
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Vyborg Bay (1790).
HMS Renown (Battlecruiser, 1916-1948)
Today’s website is HMS Renown (Battlecruiser, 1916-1948). Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1776 - American colonies declare their independence from Great Britain.
1777 - John Paul Jones hoists first Stars and Stripes flag on Ranger at Portsmouth, N.H.
1801 - First Presidential Review of U.S. Marine Band and Marines at the White House.
1831 - U.S. concludes indemnity treaty with France.
1842 - First test of electrically operated underwater torpedo sinks gunboat Boxer.
1863 - Confederates surrender of Vicksburg, Miss., gives Union control of Mississippi River.
Diorama Idea of the Day
An artist concept of a mobile landing platform (MLP) ship under construction at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) shipyard in San Diego, Calif. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
