Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Another blast from the past from Revell
Revell has released a limited re-run of their 1/471 USS Hope Hospital Ship.

Final production run of the USS Yorktown
Yankee Modelworks is making one final production run of the USS Yorktown before it is discontinued. There is only a limited supply, so please place your order now. Once they are sold, there will not be more made. Kits will be shipped around the end of October.




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1776 - John Paul Jones sails into Canso Bay, Nova Scotia, and attacks British fishing fleet.
1943 - U.S. destroyers and landing craft land Australian troops at Finschhafen, New Guinea.
1989 - After Hurricane Hugo, Sailors and Marines provide assistance to Charleston, S.C., through October 10.

Two crew members die in fire on Russian warship in the Pacific

Two seamen were killed and one was injured late Wednesday after a fire broke out on board a large naval vessel from Russia's Pacific Fleet, a Navy spokesman said on Thursday.



The Marshal Shaposhnikov, a large ASW ship, was returning to its home base near Vladivostok after exercises in the Sea of Japan when the fire started in the engine room.

"According to reports from the Pacific Fleet, the fire occurred on the [Admiral Shaposhnikov] ship, killing two seamen who were in the engine room at the time," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

"It took eight hours to put out the fire," he said.

The warship, which has been towed to port, was part of a naval task group which conducted live firing drills at dummy airborne and surface targets on September 15-17.

The drills were the third in a series of combat training exercises conducted by the Pacific Fleet in the past month. Two previous exercises off Russia's Far East coast involved over 50 warships and submarines, along with naval aircraft and naval infantry.

Dygalo said military prosecutors have launched an investigation into the fire.


Chatham Hands Northern Gulf Baton To Lancaster

The challenge of protecting Iraqi oil infrastructure and wider peace and stability in the North of the Persian Gulf has been passed from HMS Chatham to HMS Lancaster during a formal handover alongside in Bahrain.
The Royal Navy has been involved in maritime security in the Gulf for many years with current tasking at the North of the region in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and the Government of Iraq. The Royal Navy operates as part of Coalition efforts to protect Iraqi Oil Platforms and Territorial Waters. With the output of 2 huge oil terminals, the Al Basrah and Khawr Al Amaya, accounting for somewhere in the region of 80% of Iraq’s income their protection is essential for both Iraq and wider regional stability.

Chatham’s time in the Gulf coincided with the summer weather with temperatures of up to 50°C and humidity up to 100% proving extremely challenging for crew and equipment alike. It was certainly a far cry from the cold waters of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap for which the Type 23 Frigate was originally conceived.

HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 Frigate, left her Portsmouth home at the end of August with a memorable send off - a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Lancaster Bomber. With her first stop at the favorite Naval ‘run ashore’ of Gibraltar many of the Ship’s Company took part in the traditional, but grueling, Rock Race, whilst their football team beat a Combined Services side 4-3. Having passed through the Suez Canal and safely transited the strategic choke points of the Bab El Mandeb Strait and Strait of Hormuz, she slipped silently into a misty Bahrain to join Chatham for their handover.

Lt Cdr Chris Smith, Chatham’s Weapons Engineering Officer pointed out, “Conducting a handover between the ships is essential to ensure continuity in this vital task. We have learnt many lessons in the time we have been in theatre. Whether these be in patterns of life, modes of operating or surrounding equipment performance, there is much that will be invaluable to our Lancaster counterparts.”

The meeting was a familiar sight for HMS Chatham’s Commanding Officer, Commander Martin Connell who had previously served as Principle Warfare Officer in HMS Lancaster. He said “It is good to see Lancaster once again in such fine shape. We have had an extremely successful deployment and conducted extensive operations in demanding conditions. My people and equipment have performed exceptionally and I feel we have made a tangible difference to safety and security in the region. As we come to the end of our time in the Gulf, I am extremely proud”. Adding, “Although we are looking forward to arriving home towards the end of next month, our thoughts are also with HMS Lancaster, who is now fully prepared to carry on where we left off. We wish them the very best of luck in the months ahead”.

Taking over the baton, Lancaster’s Commanding Officer, Commander Rory Bryan said, “My Ship’s Company are fully trained and ready in every respect to serve in the demanding environment of the Gulf. We are focused on the task and prepared for the challenges that lie ahead”.
Both ships set sail from Bahrain today, Friday 19 September, Lancaster heading out to her operational tasking in the Gulf and Chatham pointing her bow towards home for the first time in almost 6 months.
HMS Chatham will arrive back in Devonport at the end of October, having been away from home for almost 7 months. HMS Lancaster is due to return to Portsmouth in February 2009.


Photo of the Day



USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) receives fuel during a fueling-at-sea with the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5).

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