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



Review - Akagi Wooden Deck
MSW Senior Editor Rui Matos (skipper) gives us a closer look at Hasegawa's "Akagi Wooden Deck" in this "inbox review"!
Review




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1912 - Battleship Wyoming (BB 32) commissioned.
1925 - Submarine S-51 (SS 162) sinks after collision with SS City of Rome off Block Island, Rhode Island.
1941 - In first successful U.S. Navy escort of convoys during World War II, Navy escorts turn over HX-150 to British escorts at the mid-ocean meeting point. All ships reach port safely.
1957 - In project Stratoscope, Office of Naval Research obtains sharp photographs of sun's corona from first balloon-borne telescope camera.

DSU Tests New Submarine Rescue System with Chilean Submarine

The Navy's Deep Submergence Unit tested a new system known as the submarine rescue diving and recompression system (SRDRS) with the Chilean submarine CS Simpson (SS-21) Sept. 17-18.

The SRDS is designed to be rapidly deployed to any location in the world via air or ground and can be installed on military or commercial vessels when a call for assistance is received. It will replace the de-activated deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) system as the Navy's premier submarine rescue capability.

"The SRDRS is the U.S. Navy's 21st century submarine rescue system and represents state-of-the-art technology for submarine rescue systems," said Lt. Rich Ray, the former engineering officer of the rescue submarine Mystic (DSRV 1).

According to Ray, the SRDRS is designed to be mobilized, installed on a transport vehicle, transported to a site and mated to a distressed submarine to begin rescues within a maximum of 72 hours.

During the exercise, and with operators inside, the pressurized rescue module (PRM) was remotely controlled via a topside control console on board USNS Navajo (T-ATF 169). Next, the PRM descended more than 400 feet to the Chilean submarine CS Simpson (SS-21) and mated with the escape hatch. Once the simulated transfer of personnel was completed, the PRM detached from the submarine and ascended to the surface. The PRM was then recovered from the sea and craned onto a deck cradle installed aboard Navajo.

Upon recovery, the PRM docked with the submarine decompression system (SDS). Personnel were then transferred to the SDS from the PRM via a pressurized flexible man-way to undergo decompression.

"It was an awesome experience to work with the Chilean Navy," said DSU Machinist's Mate 2nd Class (SS) Chris Huffstetler. "I believe it is beneficial to work with foreign navies in case something really happens…we can provide immediate support."

The SRDRS concept of operations has been developed to support rescue of up to 155 personnel from a pressurized disabled submarine. The PRM accommodates 16 rescued personnel per trip and requires two operators and a diving medical technician.

"The operation was a phenomenal success thanks to the cooperation of the entire crew," said Cmdr. Larry R. Lintz, deputy commander for submarine escape at Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 5. "Now we can officially say, the SRDRS is the Navy's official submarine rescue system."

BAE Systems Successfully Demonstrates Contender for U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare System Upgrade

BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated a surface-ship electronic warfare system as a proposed successor to the U.S. Navy’s current primary electronic warfare suite. The system consistently detected, identified, and located enemy threat signals during demonstrations off the coast of Hawaii as a part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), the world's largest international maritime exercise.

The equipment demonstrated at RIMPAC will form part of BAE Systems’ proposed solution to the upcoming Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, Block 2 contract to upgrade the Navy’s AN/SLQ-32 (V) electronic support measures system. The AN/SLQ-32(V) provides early warning of enemy threats and dispenses chaff decoys to defeat attacks by guided weapons, such as anti-ship cruise missiles. SEWIP Block 2 will upgrade the system’s receiver, antenna, and combat system interface.

“The system performed flawlessly in sea tests, demonstrating its ability to provide the Navy with the world’s most advanced maritime EW capability,” said Greg Smith, vice president of information dominance systems for BAE Systems in Hudson, New Hampshire. “We demonstrated the maturity of a system that meets or exceeds the Navy’s requirements for protecting our men and women at sea.”

For the RIMPAC exercise, BAE Systems installed its proposed SEWIP Block 2 system on a ship and detected simulated threat signals over a period of two weeks. The system features an improved receiver and antenna group that uses digital signal processing to detect more targets at longer ranges. It also uses open-system architecture, minimizing the need for software changes, maximizing performance in complex maritime signal environments, and integrating seamlessly with existing shipboard combat systems.




First VH-71 Presidential Helicopter Production Aircraft Takes Flight

The VH-71 presidential helicopter program achieved another major milestone today when the first operational pilot production helicopter (PP-1) completed its maiden flight at AgustaWestland's facility in Yeovil, England.

"We're seeing real progress and execution on this program," said U.S. Navy VH-71 program manager Capt. Donald Gaddis. "With agreement on the way forward and a more realistic schedule, we can build on the momentum we have generated as we deliver the increment one helicopters to the Marine Corps and White House and move into the increment two phase."

A U.S. Air Force crew will transport the helicopter aboard a C-17 cargo aircraft to U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD, in early October.

"The maiden flight of PP-1 is a tremendous accomplishment for the VH-71 program -- as expected it performed exceptionally during its 40-minute flight," said Stephen C. Moss, CEO of AgustaWestland North America. "It is a great honor to design and build the next presidential helicopter and I look forward to adding it to the U.S. Department of Defense inventory."

"Every aircraft that flies brings us a step closer to fielding helicopters that will serve the office of the president," said Jeff Bantle, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of the VH-71 program. "We've got systems integration laboratories online, helicopters in flight test and more in production for final command and control systems integration. It's crucial now for us to leverage what we've accomplished in the last few years and charge ahead to complete this phase and continue into the next phase."

PP-1 is the first of five VH-71 production aircraft that will complete the initial phase, or increment one, of the presidential helicopter replacement program, designed to meet an urgent need for new helicopters.

Increment two will provide 23 operational helicopters with increased range and upgraded navigation and communications systems that fulfill White House requirements to maintain continuity of government and allow the president to carry out the duties of the office. Some of the current presidential helicopters have been flying since the 1970s, and are scheduled to begin phasing out of operational service at a rate of three per year beginning in 2017.

Lockheed Martin Systems Integration-Owego is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the VH-71 program with overall responsibility for the program and aircraft system. AgustaWestland, the principal subcontractor to Lockheed Martin, has responsibility for the basic air vehicle design, production build, and basic air vehicle support functions. More than 200 suppliers in 41 states support the VH-71 program.


Photo of the Day



The U.S. Navy flight demonstration team The Blue Angels perform for more than 100,000 guests during the Great State of Maine Air Show.

Gator