Ahoy mates and welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Let’s see what going on today.
On Display - USS Cobia, 1/72 Scale
If you haven’t take a look at this fine kit, please do. MSW Crew-mate John Bardwell (johnb593) shares his build (and first MSW submission) of the Gato class submarine, USS Cobia, in this MSW "Build Story".
On Display
Community Build Incentives
Ahoy Mates!
This announcement goes out to all of the participants in our currently running MSW "Community Build Contest", both OOB and Full Build entrants.
Our mate Harry Abbott, from Battlefleet Models, made a MOST generous contribution to the cause, and has thrown in a BONUS prize for the winners in each category of the contest, which will be a $25.00 USD gift certificate, good towards the purchase of anything in Harry's catalog(which can buy you quite a bit...his prices rule!) awarded to the winner of each category, both OOB and Full Build.
Also, direct from the swamps, for each category winner of the Community Build (OOB and Full Build), Kenny will be offering a prize package of a bottle of his fantastic Gator Grip glue, precision applicator and a paint mask of choice, custom or catalog stock.
New Kits From Iron Shipwrights
Iron Shipwright has quietly released two new battleships kits, the USS Tennessee and USS California in 1941 Pearl Harbor fits.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1923 - In disaster at Point Honda, Calif., seven destroyers run aground through faulty navigation.
1939 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims a limited national emergency and increases enlisted strength in the Navy and Marine Corps; also authorizes the recall to active duty of officers, men and nurses on the retired lists of the Navy and Marine Corps.
1954 - U.S. signs Manila Treaty forming SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization).
1958 - Lt. R. H. Tabor, wearing a Navy-developed pressure suit, completes a 72-hour simulated flight at altitudes as high a 139,000 feet. It was another step in the development of the Navy spacesuit, which NASA accepted in 1959 for use by Mercury astronauts.
Russia to deliver Admiral Gorshkov to India after 2011
Russia will deliver the modernized Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India after 2011, Russia's state-run arms exporter said on Friday.
"We are planning to deliver the aircraft carrier to India after 2011, but an addendum to the original contract must be signed," Mikhail Zavaliy, a Rosoboronexport official told reporters at an air show in the Krasnodar Region.
The original $750-million contract to deliver the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier to India, which Rosoboronexport signed with the Indian Navy in 2004, projected the work would be completed in 2008.
However, Russia later claimed it underestimated the scale and the cost of the modernization and demanded an additional $1.2 billion, which New Delhi said was "exorbitant."
After long-running delays and disputes, Russia and India agreed in February to raise refit costs for the aircraft carrier, docked at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia for the past 12 years, by at least $800 million.
The current contract covers a complete overhaul of the ship and equipping it with modern weaponry, including MiG-29K Fulcrum aircraft and Ka-27 Helix-A and Ka-31 Helix-B anti-submarine helicopters.
The carrier, renamed the Vikramaditya, is to replace India's INS Viraat carrier, which, although currently operational, is now 50 years old.
The Sevmash shipyard said on June 3 it planned to sail the aircraft carrier out into the Barents Sea for trials in 2011. In early 2012, the ship is expected to be finally refitted and trials will continue into the summer of that year.
At the end of 2012, the aircraft carrier is expected to be fully prepared for its handover to the Indian navy, the company said.
After it has been refitted, the Gorshkov is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.
San Antonio Takes New Technology to Sea
The amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) deployed Aug. 28 as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), marking the first deployment of a ship in the technologically advanced San Antonio class of warships.
The deployment introduces new technology and capabilities never before seen in any ESG. One example of this technology is the shipwide area network (SWAN).
"SWAN is the first network to be the backbone of vital components of the ship," said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Wendall Bates. "Engineering, navigation and steering all run through SWAN, allowing Sailors to monitor all the systems in a much faster and reliable way."
Communications with other ships has always been key to the Navy's success. San Antonio has taken communications to the next level. "Our cooperative engagement capability allows us to interact with fellow ships underway," said Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW/AW) Kevin Sanders, combat systems leading petty officer. "By seeing what other ships see through our radars, we can see targets far ahead and either intercept them ourselves or pass along orders for our allies to intercept."
Targeting surface threats with weapons has also benefited from the new technology. "San Antonio is the first class of ship to have an MK-46 30mm gun weapon system," said Cmdr. Kurt Kastner, San Antonio's commanding officer. "It is a very effective anti-surface weapon with specific daytime and nighttime modes."
Another force protection measure added to the transport dock ship is San Antonio's arsenal of small boats. "Our collection of small boats makes both Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) operations and visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations easier with increased capability and flexibility," explained Kastner.
Other San Antonio design features make day-to-day life more comfortable for the Sailors, while also increasing efficiency.
The engineers aboard keep much cooler thanks to unmanned engine rooms. This is possible due to the engineering control system (ECS).
"ECS is a PC-based system that provides remote monitoring and control of the propulsion, fuel, electrical, auxiliary, damage control, and ballast systems," said Kastner.
San Antonio can also serve as a small-scale hospital ship, and boasts a state-of-the-art medical department that is equipped to provide the highest quality of care with the inclusion of systems like Medical Web.
"San Antonio is designed as a secondary casualty receiving ship with an in-house care facility, complete with an operating room, capable of caring for 24 intensive care patients," said Kastner. "Additionally, Medical Web allows the medical team to transfer digital X-ray images for consultation at large, to shore-based hospitals."
The design of the ship has also made moving supplies throughout the ship less laborious. "The ship's design places the elevators in front of the store rooms, allowing for easy transfer of stores while other ships often need to snake around the ship to get the stores where they need to go," stated Kastner.
A deployment is an opportune time to work on qualifications and further in-rate knowledge. San Antonio's Total Ship Training System provides shipwide access to computer-based lessons.
"This Total Ship Training System offers everybody the opportunity to train on any computer aboard on various topics ranging from rate specific training, to basic damage control courses," continued Kastner.
Ultimately, San Antonio was designed with one predominant focus: the Marines and supporting their mission. "LPD-17 provides 23,000 square feet of vehicle space and wider passage ways for debarkation and embarkation," said Marine Chief Warrant Officer Two Anthonie Scott.
"This allows the ship and the Marines to perform independent operations, while the rest of the strike group works other missions. This is the future of amphibious shipping, and the Navy-Marine Corps team will only benefit from its existence."
"These systems, when combined together, will deliver to the Navy the next generation of warships," concluded Kastner.
San Antonio is part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which also consists of the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7); the dock-landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61); all homeported at Norfolk, Va.; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768), homeported at Groton, Conn.
The strike group is currently en route to the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO helps set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations.
The strike group will also support the other tenets of the Navy's Maritime Strategy, which include forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. The Maritime Strategy represents a new vision for the 21st century and establishes new capabilities to codify longstanding challenges, while maintaining the focus on enduring missions.
Here’s the scores from the Top 5
Moreno helps Georgia breeze by Central Michigan, 56-17.
No. 3 Ohio State needs late rally to stop Ohio University 26-14.
(3) USC was off this week.
Bradford's 5 TDs help No. 4 OU crush Cincinnati 52-26.
Tebow takes charge as No. 5 UF ends Miami slump 26-3.
Scores of interest
The LSU – Troy game was postponed due to damage causes by Hurricane Gustav.
McNeese State rolls over Delta St. 52-27.
VMI shuts out Saint Francis (Pa.) 49-0 in season opener.
Military Academy Scores
Ex-Marine leads Ball St. defense in win over Navy 35-23.
Turnovers bite Army in loss to New Hampshire 28-10.
Air Force soars over Wyoming 23-3.
Photo of the Day
The Military Sealift Command roll-on/roll-off ship USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304) is anchored off the coast of Red Beach in Camp Pendelton, Calif. with the roll-on/roll-off discharge facility attached to the ship's fantail during Joint Logistics Over-The-Shore (JLOTS) 2008.
Gator
