Ahoy mates and welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Sorry for the late edition. We spent most of the day getting ready for lil' Gator's 4th birthday party on July 14.
Hasegawa's Aircraft Carrier Akagi
MSW Associate Editor Frank Portela (clanky44) burnt the midnight oil last night (Bravo, mate!) to give us an exclusive, closer look "Inside the Box" at Hasegawa Models brand new release, Triple Deck Akagi, in 1/700th scale plastic injection mold kit, in this MSW Inbox review.
Hasegawa's Aircraft Carrier Akagi
1/350 Display Model IJN Officers & Sailors
Here’s a look at Pit-Road’s 1/350 figures.
Russia may propose that Kiev raise Black Sea Fleet rent
Moscow may propose that Ukraine raises the rent for Russia's Black Sea Fleet base in the Crimean peninsula after the current agreement expires in 2017, a Russian deputy foreign minister said in an interview on Monday.
The Sevastopol base is the subject of an ongoing dispute between Moscow and Kiev. Ukraine wants the Russian base to leave the Crimea in 2017, while some senior Russian officials have controversially questioned the status of the port city, transferred from Russia to Ukraine by Nikita Khrushchev in the Soviet era.
Grigory Karasin told the Ogonyok magazine that Moscow "is ready to consider, on a constructive and flexible basis, various conditions for the further deployment of its fleet in Ukraine, paying maximum heed to Ukraine's interests in all spheres."
The diplomat said Russia was so far paying around $8 million a year in rent.
"Russia deducts the sum from Ukraine's state debt. This payment scheme expires in 2017," the deputy foreign minister said.
Frequent disputes have arisen of late between Russia and Ukraine over the lease of the Sevastopol base, as well as Kiev's plans to join NATO, which Moscow staunchly opposes.
The Crimea, now an autonomous region within Ukraine, is a predominantly Russian-speaking territory. Since the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, the Crimea has unsuccessfully sought independence from Ukraine.
US Navy announces the name of LHA 6
The Navy's newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ship, LHA 6, will bear the name USS America, Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter announced June 27, while speaking at the USS America Carrier Veterans Association reunion in Jacksonville, Fla.
This ship will inherit a proud tradition, explained Winter. From the American Revolution through the first Gulf War, three warships have sailed with the name America.
"To serve in a ship named after our country adds to the pride one feels in being part of the Navy and adds to the feeling that when America pulls into port, there is no more powerful symbol of the power, the ideals, and the greatness of the United States of America," said Winter.
LHA 6 will be the fourth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name America. The first America, a 74-gun ship-of-the-line, was first built for use by the Continental Navy. However, before having a chance to serve the fledgling U.S. Navy, the ship was presented as a gift to the king of France to show appreciation for his country's service to the new nation.
The second USS America (ID-3006) was used to transport troops during World War I. The third ship to bear the name was a Kitty-Hawk class aircraft carrier (CV 66) in commission 1965-1996. Among other notable accomplishments, the carrier America made three deployments to Vietnam and launched air strikes on Iraq during the opening days of Operation Desert Storm.
The newest America will provide presence and power projection as an integral part of joint and multinational maritime expeditionary forces. The ship will support Marine Corps aviation requirements across a wide spectrum of operations, from small-scale contingency operations as the centerpiece of a forward-deployed expeditionary strike group, to forcible entry missions in a major theater war.
LHA 6 replaces the aging Tarawa-class and represents a conscious decision to increase the aviation capacity of future big deck amphibious ships in order to maximize the Navy's investment in future aircraft.
LHA 6 will have an extended hangar deck with two higher hangar bay areas, each fitted with an overhead crane for aircraft maintenance. LHA 6 will also provide increased aviation fuel capacity, stowage for aviation parts and support equipment. LHA 6 will be able to embark and launch the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, cargo and attack helicopters, the AV-8B Harrier and the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant F-35B Lightning II Strike Fighter.
Winter explained the importance of the new America-class amphibious assault ship and the tremendous capability she will bring to the fleet.
"USS America is a wise investment in our nation's security," Winter said, "It will be a ship worthy of her illustrious namesake, and it will continue America's long tradition of peace through strength."
Winter also announced that the sponsor of the ship will be Lynne Pace, wife of former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Peter Pace.
America is currently under contract at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., and is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2012.
