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



On Display - RM Audace

MSW Crew member Bob Cicconi shares with us a nice project, the RM Audace.


Feature - Uboot im eismeer

MSW Crew member Jan Klarbæk shares his technique for making a water base with ice.




Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship Little Rock
Source: US Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced July 15 that the next Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named USS Little Rock (LCS 9).

Little Rock is the second ship to bear the name of the capital city in Arkansas. The USS Little Rock (CL-92/CLG-4/CG-4) was originally a Cleveland-class light cruiser that served after World War II, and was one of six to be converted to a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser. She was decommissioned in 1976 and now holds a place of honor as a museum ship in Buffalo, N.Y

Little Rock will be designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in the coastal waters. A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute focused missions close to the shore, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare.

The LCS class consists of two different hull forms, the Freedom variant and Independence variant – a semi-planing monohull and an aluminum trimaran – designed and built by two industry teams; Lockheed Martin and Austel USA. These seaframes will be outfitted with reconfigurable payloads, called mission packages, which can be changed out quickly as combat needs demand. These mission packages are supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors in support of mine, undersea and surface warfare missions.

Little Rock will be 378 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 57 feet, displace approximately 3,000 tons, and make speed in excess of 40 knots. The construction will be led by a Lockheed Martin industry team in Marinette, Wis.


HMS Diamond Enters Service
Source: UK Ministry of Defence

Following commissioning in May this year, HMS Diamond, one of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 advanced air defence destroyers, has entered service following extensive sea trials, the MOD announced today.

The vessel's capability is based around the sophisticated Sea Viper missile defence system, which is capable of tracking and defending against multiple supersonic targets simultaneously, backed by long and short range radar and missile systems that can operate over distances in excess of 400km.

She can embark 60 troops and their equipment, supported by a modern medical facility that can deliver a surgical capability. She could also carry up to 700 people to support a civilian evacuation.

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said:

"I'm delighted to welcome the latest in this superb class of warship into the fleet, in what is another significant milestone in this hugely important project.

"These highly capable Type 45 destroyers will form an integral part of Future Force 2020 and will allow the Royal Navy to meet the demands placed on them."

The 7,000-tonne warship, launched on the Clyde in 2007, is one of six new Type 45 destroyers being built, the largest and most powerful ships of their kind ever ordered for the Royal Navy.

Commander Ian Clarke, HMS Diamond's Commanding Officer, said:

"This marks HMS Diamond's formal transition to operations just nine months since leaving the builder's yard.

"The ship's company is rightly pleased to have reached this milestone and is now focused firmly on the forthcoming period of intense combat training in preparation for our first deployment.

"Itching to get onto a more operational footing, HMS Diamond will soon be at immediate notice to respond to world events and bring influence wherever it is needed."

With HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless already in service, and the other ships at various stages of completion, the handover of HMS Diamond represents the halfway point in this key naval equipment programme.

The ship will now undertake training in preparation for her first operational deployment in a few months' time.

All the Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009, followed by HMS Dauntless in June last year.

The fourth, Dragon, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time in September 2011. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade.




Battle of the Solent

Today is the anniversary of the Battle of the SolentI.




USS Forrestal Memorial Organization

Today’s website is USS Forrestal Memorial Organization. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1775 - Continental Congress resolves that each colony provide armed vessels.
1779 - Commodore Abraham Whipple's squadron captures 11 prizes in largest prize value of Revolutionary War.
1792 - John Paul Jones dies in Paris, France.
1813 - U.S. Frigate President captures British Daphne, Eliza Swan, Alert and Lion.
1920 - Naval aircraft sink ex-German cruiser Frankfurt in target practice.
1943 - German submarine shoots down K-47, the first and only U.S. airship lost during WW II.
1947 - President Harry S. Truman delegates responsibility for the civil administration of former Japanese mandated island to the Secretary of the Navy.
1966 - Launch of Gemini 10 with Lt. Cmdr. John W. Young, as Command Pilot. Mission involved 43 orbits at an altitude of 412.2 nautical miles and lasted 2 days, 22 hours, and 46 minutes. Capsule was recovered by HS-3 helicopter from USS Guadalcanal (LPH 7).


Diorama Idea of the Day



Waves crash against the bow of the Military Sealift Command dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE 3) as it transits the Gulf of Aden. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.

Gator