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



The Ultimate Model Paint Conversion Chart

Today’s website is The Ultimate Model Paint Conversion Chart. This reference site offers online realtime model paint comparison. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1842 - Three crew members of USS Somers, Midshipman Philip Spencer, Boatswain Samuel Cromwell and Seaman Elisha Smallare, executed for mutiny.
1921 - In the first flight of an airship filled with helium, Blimp C-7, piloted by Lt. Cmdr. Ralph F. Wood, left Norfolk, Va., for Washington, D.C.
1959 - The Bureau of Ordnance merges with the Bureau of Aeronautics to form the Bureau of Naval Weapons.


ITT Wins $160 Million U.S. Navy Systems Engineering Support Contract
Source: ITT Industries

ITT Corporation today announced that its Communications Systems business has been awarded a five-year contract by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command headquartered in San Diego, Calif.

Under this contract, ITT will provide a full range of field and systems engineering support services for the U.S. Navy's Fleet Systems Engineering Team (FSET). FSET provides command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) support to U.S. Navy afloat Strike Groups and shore based commands world-wide.

The competitively bid "cost plus fixed fee" award consists of one base year and four one-year options with a potential value of $160,252,327. ITT has been the incumbent for the last ten years and two competitive awards of this contract.

"We are proud to be selected for continued support to our US Navy customer and the Fleet Systems Engineering Team for the next five years," said John Vollmer, vice president of ITT Communications Systems' C4 Systems business area. "Our selection confirms that our partnership with SPAWAR continues to positively impact Fleet readiness through effective C4ISR support."

Services under the contract will support C4ISR systems throughout their entire deployment cycle, and will provide systems engineering and technical support for rapid introduction of new capabilities to the Fleet. Work under the contract will be performed at various locations around the world supporting the U.S. Navy.


ITT Corporation is a diversified high-technology engineering and manufacturing company dedicated to creating more livable environments, enabling communications and providing protection and safety. The company plays an important role in vital markets including water and fluids management, global defense and security, and motion and flow control. ITT employs approximately 40,000 people serving customers in more than 50 countries. Headquartered in White Plains, N.Y., the company generated $9 billion in 2007 sales.


Rheinmetall Develops Unmanned Sea Vehicle for German Navy; State-of-the-art Robotics for Enhanced Force Protection at Sea
Source: Rheinmetall Defence

The German Navy has contracted with Rheinmetall Defence to retrofit and supply it with a robotic boat capable of carrying out a variety of missions. In developing the Unmanned Sea Vehicle (USV), Rheinmetall is transferring its tremendous expertise in the field of unmanned terrestrial vehicles to new maritime applications. The order is worth around EUR 1.3 million.

Under a research and development contract awarded by Germany’s Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement, Rheinmetall is integrating robotic components into a Watercat M8 fast attack boat made by Marine Alutech Oy Ab of Finland. Initially to be used for evaluation purposes, the boat will be capable of manned and unmanned operations.

In contemporary operations where the main threat is often asymmetric, the special capabilities of the USV mean that it can make a valuable contribution as a reconnaissance asset, carrying out sustained monitoring and/or interception of hostile speedboats. Equipped with appropriate mission modules, unmanned sea vehicles can conduct operations where deploying human beings is extremely hazardous, e.g. capturing drifting contact mines. The system thus makes a tangible contribution to force protection at sea.

Weighting just under two tons and measuring approximately eight metres in length, the boat has a top speed of 35 knots. It can operate in manned mode, autonomously, or in remote control mode, and also features automatic waypoint navigation. Moreover, the boat’s comprehensive array of sensors significantly expands the surveillance coverage of the carrying vessel.

At a later stage, following sea trials, Rheinmetall hopes to supply the armed forces with several of this versatile craft.




For all you fans of college football, here’s this week’s BCS top 5
1. Alabama
2. Oklahoma
3. Texas
4. Florida
5. USC

Scores from around the country…
No. 1 Bama ends 6-game skid to Auburn in rout 36-0.
No. 2 Texas sends message with rout of A&M 49-9.
No. 3 Oklahoma Sooners outgun Cowboys in offensive outpouring 61-41.
No. 4 Florida thumps No. 20 FSU 45-14.
No. 5 Dominating USC defense demoralizes Notre Dame 38-3.

Scores of interest
Navy downs N. Illinois 16-0.


Photo of the Day



Sailors assigned to Riverine Squadron 1 race along the Euphrates River in riverine patrol boats.

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