Arrrrggggg! Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Take a seat me hardies and listen to the word from the poop deck.



Hoist the Jolly Roger…
…and draw ye cutlasses. It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day! Our motley crew has taken over. So, are ye with us or against us? The wrong answer could get you a trip to Davy Jones’ locker!
Arrrgggg




1/350 Prinz Eugen From Trumpeter
Thar be a new 1/350 German raider on the horizon. Shiver me timbers, Trumpeter is releasing the cruiser Prinz Eugen in 1/350. We’ll have more from the poop deck when more details are available.




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1915 - Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels organizes the Naval Consulting Board to mobilize the scientific resources of the United States for national defense.
1957 - Bathyscaph Trieste, in a dive sponsored by the Office of Naval Research in the Mediterranean, reaches record depth of two miles.
1992 - Joint Task Force Marianas stands down after providing assistance to Guam after Typhoon Omar.

Can you write a sea shanty?

The Australian Navy has a new mission on its radar: to create an inspiring new Navy anthem and unearth exciting new Australian talent. The Navy Song Battle invites Australian musicians of all genres to write a song that evokes the emotion, adventure and camaraderie of a Navy career. The winning song will underpin the Navy's new recruitment campaign to be launched early in 2009.

The competition opens today and will be housed on MySpace at www.myspace.com/navysongbattle Songs can be entered up until 27 October 2008. Throughout the entry phase of the competition fans can vote for their favorites.

Carl Riseley, former Australian Idol finalist and member of the Australian Navy, said the Navy Song Battle is a fantastic launching pad for Australian talent. "My own experience is an example of how things can change with a single opportunity. My music career was given a kick-start by Idol and I have recently released my debut album, The Rise, which entered the national ARIRA charts at Number 5," said Carl.

"As a member of the Australian Navy, the Navy Song Battle is close to my heart. We are calling on Australian musicians to save us from the tired association with the Village People's 'In the Navy'!"
"The winning song will be a modern anthem to inspire my Navy colleagues, celebrate their courage and dedication and pay tribute to the vital role they play both in Australia and internationally."
A panel of industry professionals will judge the most popular song entries and select the winning track, which will be announced in early November 2008.

The artist will fly to Melbourne and spend time in studio with a top industry producer to develop the selected track into the new Navy recruitment anthem, with the chance to be broadcast to Australians across the nation via a major ad campaign.

James Young, Australian music industry guru and owner of Melbourne's iconic rock venue, Cherry Bar, is a Navy Song Battle judge. "There has been a quantum shift in the way bands and musicians are getting their break into the mainstream. The nature of the current industry means avenues for opportunity are evolving. The Navy Song Battle is tapping into this new wave and is offering a rare chance at the big time," said James.
"The online nature of the competition means anyone, anywhere can enter a song. This platform will help us discover some fantastic Australian talent."

"The Navy Song Battle and the resulting TV and radio campaign are indicative of the increasing cross-over between music and brands as well as the changing landscape of how acts are being marketed."
Captain Mark Hill, Director Navy Personnel Policy, said the Navy wants to engage with young Australians through music and highlight the positive and rewarding aspects of a Navy career.

"The Navy defends Australia and its interests and provides humanitarian aid for our regional neighbours. It offers a huge range of exciting careers, world class training and a lifestyle and culture that is both challenging and supportive."


Navy to Roll Out New Anti-Submarine Warfare Mission Package

The Navy will roll out its new anti-submarine warfare mission package for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) in a ceremony Sept. 19 at Naval Base Point Loma Naval Mine & ASW Command Complex, San Diego.

Vice Commander, Naval Surface Forces, Rear Adm. Mike Shatynski; Principal Civilian Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research and Development, Jim Thomsen; Deputy Director of Surface Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Rear Adm. Michael K. Mahon; Commander, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Rear Adm. Michael C. Bachmann; Program Executive Officer for Littoral and Mine Warfare, E. Anne Sandel; and Commodore, LCS Class Squadron, Capt. Lewis Chris Nygard, are all scheduled to speak at the event.

"The delivery of the anti-submarine warfare mission package will provide the Navy with a persistent large area detection capability, through our advanced unmanned vehicles and bi-static ASW systems," said Sandel. "Tomorrow we will take a critical step forward in support of assured access in the littorals for U.S. Joint Forces."

LCS can be configured to deploy with any one of three interchangeable mission modules: the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) module; mine countermeasures (MCM) module and surface warfare (SUW) module also know as mission packages. The first ASW mission package (MP) will use several different vehicles -- MH-60R, unmanned air vehicle, unmanned surface vehicle -- and associated sensors -- towed array sonar, remote towed active source, USV dipping sonar, multi-static off-board source -- to detect, classify, localize, track and engage submarines in the littoral environment.

LCS is a new breed of U.S. Navy warship with versatile warfighting capabilities, capable of open-ocean operation but optimized for littoral and coastal missions. Operational experience and analyses indicate that future adversaries will employ asymmetric means to deny U.S. and allied forces access into critical coastal regions, such as strategic chokepoints and vital economic sea lanes.

The LCS seaframe and mission modules are specifically designed to defeat such "anti-access" threats, which include fast surface craft, quiet diesel submarines and various types of mines.


Photo of the Day



Damage Controlman Chief Kevin Wright checks the effectiveness of the counter measure wash down system aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72).

Gator