Ahoy mates and welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Let’s see what going on today.
Get well soon Bruce
MSW Crew-mate Bruce Miller (grayghost666) suffered a couple of broken bones when he was struck by a tree that he was cutting down. Bruce said that he will be on bed and chair rest for two weeks but not to worry, as this will give him time to work on his USS San Francisco.
Asian manufacturer to offer deck upgrades
Asian aftermarket company Shinsengumi will release a series of ship deck upgrades starting this month. The upgrades for 1/700 scale will be decals while the 1/350 offerings will be wood. Here is a list of their upcoming offerings:
1/700 Yamato Musashi Deck Decal Light
About $9.52 USD
1/700 Yamato Musashi Deck Decal Dark
About $9.52 USD
1/700 IJN CV Akagi Deck Decal Early Model
About $14.28 USD
1/700 IJN CV Akagi Deck Decal Middle Model
About $14.28 USD
1/350 Wood Deck Set for Prince of Wales & King Geroge V
About $90.45 USD
1/350 Wood Deck Set for Yamato & Musashi
About $90.45 USD
1/350 Wood Deck Set for IJN BB Mutsu
About $90.45 USD
1/700 Wood Deck Set for IJN CV Triple Deck Akagi
About $66.65 USD
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1862 - Congress creates rank of Rear Admiral. David G. Farragut is named the first Rear Admiral.
1912 - Rear Adm. Bradley Fiske receives patent for torpedo plane, or airborne torpedo.
1915 - First Navy ships, battleships USS Ohio (BB 12), USS Missouri (BB 11), and USS Wisconsin (BB 9) transit Panama Canal.
1945 - First atomic bomb test at Alamogordo, N.M.
U.S. 4th Fleet Officially Re-established
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead officially re-established U.S. 4th Fleet and named Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan as its commander during a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport July 12.
The ceremony followed the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (NAVSO) change of command, during which Kernan relieved Rear Adm. James W. Stevenson Jr.
Kernan, the dual-hatted NAVSO and 4th Fleet commander, is responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines assigned from east and west coast fleets to operate in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, Central and South America and surrounding waters.
"Re-establishing the Fourth Fleet affirms our support for, and our desire to, enhance cooperative relationships with the navies and maritime services in the Caribbean and Central and South America. It recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the region," said Roughead.
"Our maritime strategy raises the importance of forming global maritime partnerships by working with international partners as the basis for global maritime security. Re-establishing Fourth Fleet allows us to more effectively employ naval forces to build confidence and trust among nations through collective maritime security efforts that focus on mutual interests."
Fourth Fleet was first established in 1943 as one of the original numbered fleets. During World War II, the United States needed a command in charge of protecting against raiders, blockade runners and enemy submarines in the South Atlantic. Fourth Fleet fulfilled that mission until it was disestablished in 1950, and U.S. 2nd Fleet took over its responsibilities.
The new 4th Fleet will be headquartered in Mayport and co-located with NAVSO, taking advantage of the existing infrastructure, communications support and personnel already in place. Fourth Fleet's re-establishment will not involve an increase in forces assigned in Mayport, or result in any permanently assigned ships or aircraft.
With a focus on strengthening friendships and partnerships, 4th Fleet will directly support the U.S. Maritime Strategy by conducting five ongoing missions: support for peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, traditional maritime exercises and counterdrug support operations.
"It is an honor to assume command of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and to be granted the privilege of reestablishing U.S. 4th Fleet," Kernan said. "I look forward to continuing the great work Rear Adm. Stevenson has accomplished in demonstrating the United States' commitment to our regional partners in this immensely important part of the world."
The re-establishment and change of command ceremony concluded with Stevenson's retirement after 32 years of naval service.
During Stevenson's tour as NAVSO commander, U.S. Navy's operational focus in the region was greatly increased resulting in enhanced partner nation cooperation and improved collective capabilities. Recent missions championed under Stevenson, such as USNS Comfort's (T-AH 20) 2007 humanitarian medical assistance deployment and the first Global Fleet Station deployment in 2007 with HSV Swift highlight this increased focus.
In 2008, Stevenson oversaw planning and execution of the third-annual Partnership of the Americas deployment, which included the George Washington Carrier Strike Group; as well as Continuing Promise humanitarian civil assistance deployments aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4) and USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). Currently, Military Sealift Command rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (T-ARS-51) is conducting Navy Diver – Global Fleet Station with Caribbean Island partner nations.
As the Navy component command of SOUTHCOM, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Various operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.
Fourth Fleet is the numbered fleet assigned to NAVSO, exercising operational control of assigned forces. Fourth Fleet conducts the full spectrum of Maritime Security Operations in support of U.S. objectives and security cooperation activities that promote coalition building and deter aggression.
Millions Watch Across the Mersey As the Royal Navy Leads the Tall Ships 2008
Six of Her Majesty’s warships will be part of one of the most spectacular sights ever witnessed on the River Mersey on Monday, 21 July 2008 – the Tall Ship’s Race 2008.
The Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships HMS Argyll, RFA Lyme Bay, minehunter HMS Grimsby, patrol vessel HMS Mersey and P2000’s HMS Ranger and HMS Blazer, will start arriving on the Mersey on Wednesday, 16 July.
And no doubt the highlight of the weekend will come on Monday, when Type 23 frigate HMS Argyll leads the Parade of Sail as the Tall Ships head for Lough Foyle in Ireland to begin the Liverpool to Malöy first leg of the race.
Also taking part in the weekend’s celebrations will be the visual splendour, rousing music and military precision of the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Scotland, who will be performing a number of engagements from Wednesday onwards in the city centre and over the weekend.
The two biggest ships, Argyll and Lyme Bay, will be open to members of the general public on Saturday, 19 July and Sunday, 20 July, from 10am to 5pm, giving visitors the chance to find out more about life on the ocean waves. Admission is free.
And on Monday, the head of the Royal Navy, the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB ADC, will embark on board RFA Lyme Bay alongside the Cruise Liner Berth in the heart of Liverpool to watch the Parade of Sail.
Commodore John Madgwick, the Naval Regional Commander in Northern England, said: “There is every chance that given a kind day by the weather we might see crowds of more than 2,000,000.
“Two million people at one event is almost impossible to imagine and it would be entirely inappropriate for the Royal Navy not to be there. HMS Argyll and RFA Lyme Bay are splendid ships and they will more than hold their own against the magnificent ships which are taking part in the Race.
“And the great thing is that they are open to visitors so people will be able to see close up how the modern Royal Navy works.
“Then, of course, HMS Argyll is leading the Parade of Sail, which will be visually stunning, on the Monday to cap a great weekend for Liverpool with all its great traditions of the sea.”
Photo of the Day
A landing craft air cushion from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 approaches the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) during the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group composite unit training exercise.
Gator
