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



Review - Seals Models, 1/700 Hashidate/Itsukushima
Gary Kato (GaryKato) sends us his views and opinions of Seals Models, 1/700 scale, two ships-in-one kit, Hashidate/Itsukushima, in this MSW "Inbox" review! http://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/forums/126233&page=1" TARGET="_blank">Review




New From Czechmaster
Czechmaster have added ML80350 1/72 U-Boat Support Blocks to their accessory range, priced at $12.00.

Revell Re-release
Revell have re-released their 1/144 Type 206A U-Boat, priced at $13.50.




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1799 - Washington Navy Yard is established.
1842 - The sloop, Concord, wrecks with the loss of three lives in the Mozambique Channel.
1939 - Foreign ministers of Western Hemisphere countries agree to establish a neutrality zone around the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North and South America to be enforced by the U.S. Navy. The zone is established at a Congress of American States meeting in Panama.


Turbulent Completes Major Comms Upgrade

The Trafalgar class attack submarine HMS Turbulent has left Devonport Naval Base following a major refit which has provided the vessel with some of the most advanced communications links in the Royal Navy.

Several key upgrades, along with routine service and maintenance, were incorporated in the fifteen month long refit, part of the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI), delivered by Babcock Marine, which will extend the submarine's operational life by two years.

An upgrade to the communications system will significantly improve interoperability with allied forces on deployed operations and newly installed IT systems will provide ship to shore connectivity when she is in port.

The IT systems inside the submarine have also been upgraded with the installation of the Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)) network onto submarine computers which provides a common communications platform across the MOD.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Baroness Ann Taylor, said:

"This project is an important investment in the submarine fleet, equipping the crew with the latest technology. This not only facilitates operations, but also provides links back to land for those serving in the unusual conditions aboard a submarine which can give a real boost to morale.

"Turbulent's return to operational duties is key to the delivery of the high readiness attack submarine force and is an example of how we work with industry to provide the front line with the equipment and capabilities it needs."

Alasdair Stirling, Director of Defence Equipment and Support's In-Service Submarines team, said:

"Effective communications are one of the most challenging aspects of submarine operations and effective, up to date technology is vital. The upgrades that we have installed have made HMS Turbulent one of the best connected submarines in the Navy.

"She has also been fitted for the latest Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile which can fly a third further than its predecessor, hitting targets 1,000 miles [1,609km] away with pinpoint accuracy. It can also be retargeted in flight, and can relay images to aid battlefield intelligence gathering - it's a significant upgrade to the boat's combat ability."

Devonport's dedicated maintenance facilities are managing a busy programme of maintenance, currently hosting two Trafalgar class submarines, HM Ships Tireless and Triumph, for major service and repair programmes, as well as several major surface ship support projects.

HMS Turbulent is one of seven 5,200 tonne Trafalgar class nuclear-powered submarines. She entered into service in 1984. The class is based at HMNB Devonport, in Plymouth. The 84m long Trafalgar class boats are armed with Spearfish torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles. They carry 130 crew and can remain submerged indefinitely. The reactor is refuelled once during the boat's service life.

Upgraded systems/enhancements include:
--Communications Upgrades;
--IT system upgrade;
--Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) upgrade to Block IV;
--Improvements to Sonar equipment;
--Improvement to Command System;
--Enhancements to the Weapon Discharge System.

Russian nuclear submarine makes 30-day trip under Arctic ice

A Russian warship from the Black Sea Fleet has entered the Aegean Sea and is heading toward the Italian coast to participate in joint naval exercises with the Italian navy, a fleet spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The Ladny, a Krivak class guided missile frigate, will participate in the biennial IONIEX-2008 exercises with the Italian navy," the spokesman said.

Ladny participated in August in NATO's antiterrorist Operation Active Endeavour in the Mediterranean.

In 2007, Russian naval ships took part in nine joint exercises with foreign navies, including Blackseafor - with the participation of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia - and Open Spirit 2007, involving Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belgium, France, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Estonia.

However, NATO suspended or cancelled a number of joint exercises this year following a brief military conflict between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia in August.

A Russian Delta-III class ballistic missile submarine has successfully sailed from a naval base in northern Russia to the Pacific Ocean under the Arctic ice floe, a Navy spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The Ryazan strategic nuclear submarine arrived at a naval base on the Kamchatka Peninsula after a more than 30-day underwater trip," Capt. 1st rank Igor Dygalo said.

Ryazan is a Project 667BDR (Delta III class) strategic nuclear submarine, which entered service with Russia's Northern Fleet in 1982. It has a crew of 130 and can travel underwater without coming to the surface for up to 90 days.

The submarine is armed with 16 R-29RM (SS-N-23 Skiff) ballistic missiles with a range of 8,000 km (about 5,000 miles).

Commenting on the submarine's successful mission, Russian Navy Commander, Adm. Vladimir Vysotsky said it had reaffirmed the Russian submarine fleet's ability to conduct strategic missions in the Arctic.

"The Navy continues to play an important role in safeguarding Russia's maritime economic and research activity throughout the world, including in the Arctic," the admiral said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the Ryazan, which was previously part of Russia's Northern Fleet, will be reassigned to the Pacific Fleet and will patrol the Pacific Ocean on a regular basis.

With the addition of the Ryazan SSBN, Russia's Pacific Fleet will have 10 Delta III class ballistic missile submarines in service.


Photo of the Day



Machinery Repairman 2nd Class Jason Wiers hammers the name inside the ship's bell of a child recently baptized in the chapel aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Gator