Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
The Ships from ModelScala 2008
MSW Senior Editor Rui Matos (skipper) brings us his photo report of ModelScala 2008 event, held in Montijo, Portugal.
Event
On Display - IJN Hiyo
MSW crew-mate Anthony Kochevar (ajkochev) sends us a fine photo gallery of his latest IJN Carrier build, we present the IJN Hiyo, in 1:700 Scale, in this "On Display" Feature!
On Display
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1800 - U.S. schooner Experiment captures French schooner Diana.
1844 - The Naval Observatory, headed by Lt. Matthew Fontaine Maury, occupies its first permanent quarters.
1874 - Supply Corps purser Lt. J.Q. Barton is given leave to enter service of new Japanese Navy to organize a pay department and instruct Japanese about accounts. He served until Oct. 1, 1877, when he again became a purser in the U.S. Navy.
1880 - John Phillip Sousa becomes leader of Marine Corps Band.
1928 - The first class at school for enlisted Navy and Marine Corps radio intercept operators (The "On the Roof Gang") is held.
1937 - Patrol aviation is transferred to Aircraft Scouting Force, a re-established type command. With the change, five patrol wings were established as a separate administrative command over their squadrons.
1946 - Truculent Turtle lands at Columbus, Ohio, breaking the world's record for distance without refueling during flight of 11,235 miles.
1949 - Military Sea Transportation Service is activated.
1955 - USS Forrestal (CVA 59), the first of post-war super carriers, is commissioned.
1979 - President Jimmy Carter awards the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to Neil Armstrong, retired Navy Capt. Charles Conrad Jr., retired Marine Col. John Glenn and retired Rear Adm. Alan Shepard Jr.
1980 - USS Cochrane (DDG 21) rescues 104 Vietnamese refugees 620 miles east of Saigon.
1990 - USS Independence (CV 62) enters Persian Gulf (first carrier in Persian Gulf since 1974).
Germany unveils new ship recognition system
The most unique recognition system in the world, the KEOD system is a computerized process and supports the operations center for the monitoring of sea routes. The basis of classification is a multi-sensor platform, which uses a position to television and infrared images of objects to monitor shipping traffic, allows vessels in great distance can be greatly enlarged.
The user-friendly interface allows the operator to generate still images from video recordings. Using an editing program, the silhouette and distinctive points of the object, such deck contour, or bridge superstructures on the vessel to be traced creating a contour.
8.7 million silhouettes
Based on this data, possible ship classes in the user interface are displayed. It refers to a database that has around 300 ship classes and more than 8.7 million silhouettes. In addition, the program has detailed information about each ship class. For example, items that are listed include metric data, country of origin and armament any listed. This allows the operator an accurate picture of the ship.
Ise, Hyuga and Haruna Video
Are you looking for data on the Ise, Hyuga and Haruna? Posted on the popular YouTube site, the film shot by the US Technical Mission to Japan gives an up close look at these once proud ships.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=5znKeTCI28w
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JtayjFeUFQY
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=t3g2qxBDSsw
Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B Fire Scout Receives U.S. Navy Contract Award
Northrop Grumman Corporation's MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) system demonstrates maturity as it moves into the second year of low-rate initial production (LRIP) with a $32.9 million contract award from the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Systems Command. The company received the award recently for the second of three planned LRIP buys.
A U.S. Department of Defense Acquisition Decision Memorandum for Milestone C authorized LRIP 1 for the Fire Scout VTUAV. A series of program milestones needed to be met in order for Fire Scout to qualify for the LRIP 2 award. Key requirements included a demonstration of Fire Scout electro-optical/infrared capability using a Tactical Common Data Link, which was successfully completed in August.
“The LRIP 2 award represents a significant level of maturity for the Fire Scout program,'' said Doug Fronius, MQ-8B Fire Scout VTUAV program director for Northrop Grumman's Integrated System sector. “The Fire Scout had to demonstrate full system capability, which ultimately prepares it to move forward toward its Technical and Operational Evaluations.''
The Navy plans to conduct Technical Evaluation of the Fire Scout aboard an FFG-7 Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in early 2009 and will conduct Operational Evaluation (OpEval) in the summer 2009. The Fire Scout will reach Initial Operating Capability soon after OpEval in 2009.
Photo of the Day
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) passes under a rainbow as Sailors from Lincoln and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 participate in a "flight deck spell out" while transiting the Pacific Ocean.
Gator
