Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - HMS Prince George - Dardanelles '15
MSW Crew member Peter Fulgoney sends us photos of his build, the HMS Prince George - Dardanelles '15.
Walkaround - USS Missouri
MSW Crew member Tim Parker takes us for a trip around the decks of the USS Missouri.
HMS Dragon Sails Out of Clyde for Final Time
Source: British Forces Broadcasting Service
The latest member of a fleet of hi-tech Navy warships is preparing to leave the Clyde for the final time before being officially handed over to the Ministry of Defence.
The Type 45 destroyer, Dragon, is the fourth ship of its kind built by BAE Systems on the River Clyde. She will leave the shipyard in Scotstoun, Glasgow, for the last time on Saturday and head to her new base in Portsmouth.
A ceremony will be held on her arrival as the BAE flag is taken down and replaced with the White Ensign of the Royal Navy.
HMS Dragon is one of six of the Navy's Type 45 destroyers, along with Daring, Dauntless, Diamond, Duncan and Defender.
The vessels will contribute a specialist air warfare capability to worldwide maritime and joint operations until 2040.
Royal Navy Commander Darren Houston said it is a "huge privilege" to be the ship's first commander: “It's a huge privilege to be the first commander of HMS Dragon. This is my first command so I am excited and ready to take her away from the Clyde and get her operational at her base in Portsmouth."
Keith Dickie, who is ship manager of HMS Dragon until it is handed over to the Navy, said: "The ship itself has been on the go for about four years, with around 1,000 people having worked on it throughout, but the programme including the design of it has been happening for 10 years. It feels fantastic to see the ship finished.”
Peru – NATO Seasparrow Surface Missile Systems
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency
WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Peru for four MK57 MOD 10 NATO Seasparrow Surface Missile Systems (NSSMS) and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support worth an estimated $50 million.
The Government of Peru has requested a possible sale of four each MK57 MOD 10 NATO Seasparrow Surface Missile Systems (NSSMS) without RIM-7 missiles, MK57 Installation and Check Out (INCO) Kits, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training, U.S. Government (USG) and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $50 million.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of Peru which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in South America.
The proposed sale will improve Peru’s capability to meet current and future threats of enemy anti-ship weapons. Peru will use the enhanced capability of the MK57 MOD 10 NSSMS on its four LUPO class (aka Aguirre) Class frigates purchased from Italy in 2004. The frigates have MK57 MOD 2 NATO Seasparrow Systems modified to fire the Aspide air defense missile. The systems retain the ability to fire the RIM-7 Seasparrow missile, and Peru intends to move from the ASPIDE missile to the RIM-7 Seasparrow in a future purchase.
Peru, which already has MK 57 Missile Systems, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional systems into its inventory.
The proposed sale of this equipment will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractors will be Raytheon Technical Service Company in Norfolk VA and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems in Portsmouth, RI. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Peru.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
Battle of Plattsburgh
Today is the anniversary of the Battle of Plattsburgh.
25 Haunting Shipwrecks Around the World
Today’s website is 25 Haunting Shipwrecks Around the World. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1781 - French fleet traps British fleet at Yorktown, Va.
1925 - Cmdr. John Rodgers and crew of four in PN-9 run out of fuel on first San Francisco to Hawaii flight. Landing at sea, they rigged a sail and set sail for Hawaii.
1941 - U.S. assumes responsibility for trans-Atlantic convoys from Argentia, Canada, to the meridian of Iceland.
1942 - Establishment of Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Vice Adm. Aubrey W. Fitch.
1942 - First Seabee unit to serve in a combat area, 6th Naval Construction Battalion, arrives on Guadalcanal.
1945 - USS Benevolence (AH 13) evacuates civilian internees from two internment camps near Tokyo, Japan.
Diorama Idea of the Day
A shipwrecked freighter frozen in ice. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
