Ahoy mates and welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Let’s see what going on today.



On Display ~ HMS Queen Mary
New MSW crew-mate Marius Chescu (mariuschescu) sends us a gallery of his 100% scratchbuilt HMS Queen Mary, his first submission, in this "On Display" feature!
HMS Queen Mary

Review ~ Battlefleet Models TAMAROA WHEC-166
Join Mark R. Smith (Gunny) in an EXCLUSIVE first look at Battlefleet Models latest USCG Cutter addition in full resin, in this MSW "First Look" style review!
TAMAROA WMEC-166




New Academy 1/350 Frigate
Are you big into 1/350 scale? Academy Models joins the fray with their upcoming 1/350 USS Oliver Hazard Perry Frigate. Details on this kit can be found at the Academy website. You’ll need to translate the page from Korean to English as the Perry is not listed on their English website. And, had I remembered to save the info last night, I could have posted it here. Retail price should be under $20.00, but don’t quote me on that.



[b]New Universal Scriber
UMM-USA has announced their upcoming release of their nice [i]Universal Scriber Tool. The scriber is made from harden tool steel. You can use it on all types of model kits and hobby crafts.






This Day in U.S. Naval History

1838 - Exploring Expedition under Lt. Charles Wilkes embarks on world cruise.
1911 - First Navy Nurse Corps superintendent, Esther Voorhees Hasson, appointed.
1965 - First major amphibious assault in Vietnam, Operation Starlight captures 2,000 Viet Cong.
1966 - First ship-to-shore satellite radio message sent from USS Annapolis (AMGR 1) in South China Sea to Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor.
1974 - After flooding in Philippines, Navy helicopters begin six days of operations to rescue people and bring supplies (244 flights).

Research to Reality? – 155MM Naval Gun Study Takes a Step Forward

BAE Systems is to build and trial a new 155mm gun to better protect existing and future warships in the Royal Navy fleet, under a £4 million contract awarded by the UK’s Ministry of Defence. The contract follows on from two previous study phases undertaken last year.

Replacing the Royal Navy’s existing 4.5-inch gun with a 155mm system would increase range, and effect on target while streamlining and reducing the cost of logistics by using the same gun and ammunition as the British Army.

Led by CORDA, BAE Systems’ specialist consultancy arm, and the Company’s Land Systems business, the contract will be delivered in conjunction with QinetiQ. BAE Systems is also exploiting the breadth and depth of experience in wider business units such as Armament Systems in the US and Bofors in Sweden to ensure the UK customer benefits from its global experience in naval weapons.

The work is part of the MOD’s science and technology programme that is managed by the MOD’s Defence Technology and Innovation Centre. The 155mm Naval Gun Study is sponsored by the Surface Effects and Self Defence, Capability Planning Group and draws upon the expertise of the wider MoD stakeholder group including DEC(Deep Target Attack), the International Gunnery Missiles and Rockets IPT and the Defence Ordnance Safety Group.

“Our previous work in this area showed real potential for an enhanced gun system on the Navy’s ships,” says Samir Patel, CORDA’s business development director. “This contract will allow more concentrated research and a live, land-based firing trial in 2009 will inform further developments on the programme”.

John Kelly from BAE Systems’ Land Systems, said: “In addition to providing the Royal Navy with a potential low-cost route to a significant enhancement in capability, this programme will help to sustain the UK industrial capacity to design, upgrade and manufacture artillery and gunnery systems in compliance with the Defence Industrial Strategy and Partnering arrangements.”

During previous study phases, valued at over £2 million, CORDA successfully examined the feasibility of fitting the gun and ammunition systems from an AS90 self-propelled howitzer system onto the existing 4.5 inch Mk8 Mod 1 gun mounting structure.

The next step for the programme, subject to a successful trial and MOD requirements, will be a full scale Technology Demonstrator Programme, leading to possible full manufacture and fit to the Future Surface Combatant and possible retrofit to the existing Type 23 and/or Type 45 fleet.

The 155mm gun study is one of eight covered by a three-year Maritime Surface Effects (MSE) research programme, which examines a number of modern naval issues, including offensive and defensive surface warfare, coastal suppression and naval fire support and the role of unmanned surface vehicles.

Navy Rower Strikes Gold in Beijing

The Royal Navy's rowing "Commander", Lieutenant Peter Reed has won gold in Beijing by taking first place in the Men's Four Rowing Final today, Saturday 16 August 2008.

Lt Reed, the number 3 in the boat and rowing with Tom James (bow), Andy Triggs-Hodge (stroke) and Steve Williams (no.2) beat Australia in a thrilling final to win by just over a second.



Australia led the race for over the first two thirds and the British team came through to take the lead in just the last couple of hundred meters. France picked up the bronze medal. It is the third olympics in a row that Great Britain have won gold in the men's four.

Five time Olympic rowing champion Steve Redgrave commented that he expected the GB team to win today's final by a bigger margin, suggesting they were playing to the crowds!
The British Men's Four began their Olympic campaign in Beijing last Saturday 9 August winning their first heat and then, again, winning their semi final heat on Wednesday 13 August to make it through to today's final.
Speaking to the BBC's John Inverdale as he stepped out of the water, a panting Lt Reed said:

"I'm so relieved and happy. It was the hardest thing I've ever gone out to do, in a long way! It was so difficult; we were really on the ropes. It wasn't a given but I'm so so happy, it was the best finish we've ever put together and thanks to everyone for their support.

"I'm very proud to do it for all the guys at home that have helped,” he continued, "physiotherapists, friends and for me the Navy. I'm happy for all these guys and for us. I'm overwhelmed."

This is Lt Reed's first Olympic medal. His previous achievements include winning two world championships with Britain's lead coxless four-boat and also recording the largest lung capacity in the world!
Lt Reed, aged 27, who lives in Chiswick, joined the Royal Navy in 1999. It was during his officer Training at the Britannia Royal Naval College, before he'd even considered a career in sport, that he first used a rowing machine: "I was pretty good at it," he said. "I remember beating the rest of my division by a country mile and when I went onto my first ship, HMS Cumberland, I had another good rowing machine test."

The Navy sponsored him to undertake an Engineering Degree at Oxford University, where his rowing career began in earnest.
Within one season he helped win the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race (for Oxford) and won the national trials. He then became British champion and replaced four-time Olympic Gold medallist Matthew Pinsent in the British Coxless Four boat.

Peter went on to win three gold medals at the world cup competitions and gold in the world championship, which he repeated the following year.
As well as being the first place where he got onto a rowing machine, Lt Reed credits his Officer Training at Britannia Naval College with developing his determination, teamwork and ability to become really dedicated to something:
"The Navy have really helped in the mental and physical side and really got me going. Since I've been rowing they've really pushed me and helped me all along the way, at every step."



Photo of the Day



A wall of sea water crashes into the hangar bay of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), while Sailors assigned to the deck department guide pallets of supplies aboard during a replenishment at sea.

Gator