Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
On Display - Battle of Trafalgar
MSW Crew member Rob Kernaghan shares with us a nice project, the Battle of Trafalgar.
Brazil Begins Building First Scorpene Submarine
Source: DCNS
PARIS --- On 16 July 2011, DCNS and its partner Odebrecht, through their joint company ICN (Itaguaí Construções Navais), launched construction of the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine under the Brazilian submarine programme. The ‘first cut’ ceremony, marking the effective implementation of the technology transfer agreement, was held in Itaguaí, Brazil, in the presence of the country’s most senior political officials.
The ceremony held in presence of the Brazil President, Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, Nelson Jobim, the French Ministry of Defence, Gerard Longuet and the Chairman and CEO of DCNS President Patrick Boissier and for Odebrecht, the CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht.
The start of construction work in Brazil on the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine is one of the most important milestones of the programme. It demonstrates that the engineers, technicians and workers trained at DCNS in France have acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills, particularly the steel forming and welding techniques used in the construction of the pressure hull. It points out also that Brazil has the state-of-the-art industrial facilities needed to produce latest-generation submarine hulls. All aspects of the programme are supervised by the Brazilian Navy, under a wide-ranging technology transfer agreement.
The programme covers the design and construction of four Scorpene conventional-propulsion submarine submarines, design and construction assistance with the non-nuclear portion of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine and support for the construction of a naval base and a naval shipyard. The first of the four Scorpene-class conventional-propulsion submarines is scheduled to enter active service in 2017. These four submarines feature conventional diesel-electric propulsion. Their length overall is approximately 75 metres, with a surface displacement of close to 2,000 tonnes. They will be operated by a crew of 30 to 45.
The four Scorpene conventional-propulsion submarines meet the particular specifications of the Brazilian Navy and are perfectly tailored to the protection and defence of Brazil’s 8,500-kilometre coastline. They are highly versatile ocean patrol submarines, designed for all types of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, special operations and intelligence gathering.
This latest milestone further underscores DCNS’s commitment to Brazil, the Brazilian Navy and local industry, which will play an active role in the construction of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine.
The First Multipurpose Frigate Launched: The “Carlo Bergamini”
Source: Fincantieri
Today the Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard celebrated the launch of the frigate “Carlo Bergamini”, the first of a series of Fremm vessels - Multi Mission European Frigates - ordered from Fincantieri by the Italian Navy within the framework of an Italo-French program of cooperation.
Godmother to the ship was Mrs Maria Bergamini Loedler, granddaughter of Admiral Carlo Bergamini. The frigate was named in honour of Admiral of the Fleet, Carlo Bergamini, who was decorated for military valour after sinking with his battleship, the Roma, on 8th September 1943.
Present at the ceremony were, General Biagio Abrate, Chief of Defence, Admiral Bruno Branciforte, First Sea Lord and Giuseppe Bono, CEO of Fincantieri and Corrado Antonini, Chairman of Fincantieri.
The vessel, which is due for delivery in early 2012, will feature a high degree of flexibility, capable of operating in all tactical situations. 139 metres long with a beam of 19.7 metres, the ship will have a displacement at full load of approximately 5,900 tonnes. The “Carlo Bergamini” will have a maximum speed of over 27 knots and will provide accommodation for a crew of 145.
The ships in the FREMM program constitute state of the art vessels of European and Italian defence in the Mediterranean and will replace the “Lupo” and “Maestrale” class frigates built by Fincantieri in the 1970s.
Participating in the initiative as prime contractor for Italy is Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (51% Fincantieri, 49% Finmeccanica) and, as prime contractor for France, Armaris (DCNS + Thales).
The cooperation has drawn of the highly positive experience of the previous Italo-French program “Orizzonte” under which two frigates were built for the Italian Navy, the ”Andrea Doria” and the “Caio Duilio”.
Battle of Matapan
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Matapan.
USS California (ACR-6)
Today’s website is USS California (ACR-6). Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1886 - Atlanta, the first steel-hulled American cruiser armed with breechloading rifled guns, is commissioned.
1897 - Lt. Robert E. Peary departs on year long Arctic Expedition which makes many important discoveries, including one of largest meteorites, Cape York.
1918 - Armored cruiser USS San Diego (ACR 6) sunk off Fire Island, N.Y. by a mine laid by German U-boat U-156.
1940 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs second Naval Expansion Act.
Diorama Idea of the Day
Blue Angel 1 preparing for a cat shot. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
