Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - Modeling the Capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma
MSW Crew member Valentin E. Bueno shares with us with his Modeling the Capsized U.S.S. Oklahoma.
Government to Authorize Five More BAM Amphibious Ships
Source: Spanish Ministry of Defence
The Minister of Defence, Carme Chacon, today in Rota (Cadiz) attended the ceremonies marking the opening of the new pier at the Naval Base, and the delivery to the Navy, by the company Navantia, of the first Maritime Action Ship (BAM), “Meteor.” Chacon has also chaired the meeting of the Superior Council of the Navy which was held aboard the strategic projection ship 'Juan Carlos I'.
During the visit, the minister announced that the Cabinet tomorrow [July 29—Ed.] will authorize the award of a contract to build five new Maritime Action Ships. This new program, according to the minister, will secure jobs for 6,000 families in the Bay of Cadiz area for the next five years.
Chacon, who made the announcement during as the first Maritime Action Ship, the “Meteor,” was handed over the the Navy, said that three of the new ships will be configured for patrol missions, one for search and rescue, and the final one for oceanographic research.
The program for the construction of the first four BAM was authorized by the Council of Ministers in May 2005. Today, Chacon presided over the delivery ceremony to the Navy of the first of these ships.
Built entirely in the Navantia’s La Carraca shipyard in San Fernando (Cádiz), this vessel will be fully operational from next March, after several months of tests and qualification.
With a crew of 35 and simple and economical maintenance, the BAM are multipurpose ships, able to perform a variety of missions, and capable of operating at sea for long periods of time and in adverse weather conditions.
This versatility was highlighted by the defense minister, who said that "BAM has the same ability to monitor our coasts, to act as hospital emergency humanitarian disaster, or to combat piracy in waters off Somalia. That's the flexibility required for twenty-first century missions," she concluded.
During the morning, Chacon has also attended the official opening of Pier 4 of the Rota Naval Base. The new dock is designed to increase capacity to support the Alliance’s maritime forces, and was built as part of NATO’s Security Investment Program.
The new Pier 4 is 398.5 meters long and 51.5 meters wide. The project cost a total of 46.5 million euros, of which NATO financed 24.3 million (52.3% of total) and Spain 22.18 million (the remaining 47.7%).
DCNS: Gowind OPV L’Adroit Begins First Sea Trials
Source: DCNS
The Gowind offshore patrol boat L'Adroit began its first sea trials on Wednesday 27 July for DCNS to validate the seakeeping and other nautical qualities of the vessel.
These initial sea trials mark the beginning of the next phase of the ambitious Gowind OPV programme, which spearheads DCNS's efforts to win a larger share of the markets for small- and medium-displacement surface ships. The sea trials are beginning in line with the contract schedule, just 14 months after construction started on the Gowind L’Adroit, an innovative offshore patrol boat designed for maritime safety & security missions.
“The start of these first sea trials is a symbolic milestone that testifies to the remarkable teamwork between DCNS, the project’s investors and co-contractors, and the trial crews,” said Gowind OPV programme manager Marc Maynard. “Everybody has brought their knowledge and expertise to the table, and their unflagging commitment has made it possible to consistently meet the programme’s ambitious industrial milestones.”
During the sea trials, more than 50 technicians on board the vessel are conducting an intensive test campaign to validate its seakeeping and other nautical qualities. After testing the ship’s fire-fighting, flood control and other safety systems, the onboard team will be running trials with the propulsion system and checking vessel manoeuvrability. Alongside these sea trials, tests will also be conducted on the ship’s navigation systems (log, position, heading), inertial platforms (positioning) and other systems.
When the vessel returns to dock, outfitting of the last equipment compartments and painting work will continue. Construction is scheduled for completion by DCNS at the end of 2011.
The start of sea trials with the Gowind OPV L’Adroit again demonstrates DCNS’s ability to design and build a highly innovative ship in less than 24 months and in strict compliance with budget commitments.
OPV L’Adroit is being built under a DCNS-funded programme and will be made available to the French Navy for three years on completion. The three-year loan period will enable the Navy to qualify the OPV as ‘sea proven’, giving DCNS an exceptionally strong argument when promoting the Gowind family on the international market.
The Navy will demonstrate the Gowind’s relevance and operational value for current and emerging missions on the high seas, from area surveillance to anti-piracy, counter-terrorism, fisheries policing, drug interdiction, environmental protection, humanitarian aid, search & rescue and maritime safety & security.
OPV L’Adroit has a length of 87 metres, an at-sea endurance of 3 weeks and a range of 8,000 nautical miles. With a top speed of 21 knots, the vessel has a helicopter flight deck and can accommodate UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) operations. It is designed for reduced crewing, with a complement of 30 and space for 30 passengers.
The ship features a number of major innovations for navies, commandos and coastguards: 360° panoramic visibility from the bridge, a single integrated mast for 360° radar coverage, covert deployment of fast commando boats in less than 5 minutes and provision for UAVs and USVs (unmanned surface vehicles). The Gowind family also benefits from DCNS’s extensive experience in IT and command information systems. Vessels in the Gowind family can be readily tailored for extended area surveillance and, when working in conjunction with shore-based control centres and other networked ships, for the automatic detection of suspicious behaviour by ships and other craft.
Battle of Savo Island
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Savo Island.
HMAS Australia
Today’s website is HMAS Australia. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1813- U.S. Schooners Hamilton and Scourge founder in storm on Lake Ontario.
1959 - Announcement of Project Teepee, electronic system to monitor 95 percent of earth's atmosphere for missile launchings or nuclear explosions. System developed by William Thaler, Office of Naval Research physicist.
1972 - Women authorized for sea duty as regular ship's company.
Diorama Idea of the Day
Captain Emile Dechaineux DSC on the bridge of HMAS Australia in the South-West Pacific Area in September 1944. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
