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



On Display - "Steer 230", a Pearl Harbor Dio...
MSW crew-mate Karl Zingheim (CaptSonghouse) shares his latest scene with us, entitled "Steer 230", his entry for the current KitMaker Pearl Harbor Campaign, in this "On Display" feature!
On Dispaly

On Display - IJN ' Type A' Midget Submarine
MSW crew-mate Pete Vill (PeteV) shares a fine gallery of images of his latest submarine build, Fine Molds 1/72 scale IJN '' Type A'' Midget Submarine, Sydney Harbour Attack Version, in this "On Display" feature!
On Dispaly




Grey Funnel Line

Today’s website is Grey Funnel Line. This excellent site covers the ships of the Royal Navy from 1945-2000. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1933 - The Secretary of the Navy establishes the Fleet Marine Force, integrating a ready-to-deploy Marine force with their own aircraft into fleet organization.
1941 - The United States declares war on Japan.
1941 - USS Wake (PR 3), a river gunboat moored at Shanghai, is only U.S. vessel to surrender during World War II.
1942 - Eight PT boats (PT 36, PT 37, PT 40, PT 43, PT 44, PT 48, PT 59 and PT 109) turn back eight Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Japanese forces on Guadalcanal.


Pakistan to Buy German Submarines
Source: Deutsche Welle German radio

Pakistan, which has relied on French defense suppliers, is buying German-made submarines for the first time, but is still technologically behind its nuclear rival India.

Pakistan has formally agreed to buy three Type 214 German submarines under deal worth more than $1 billion (773.7 million euros) that the two countries are expected to sign within the next few months, according to a media report on Wednesday.

The German shipbuilding company Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW) will construct the diesel-electric submarines in a shipyard in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, Pakistan's English-language daily The News reported.

"The commercial contract has been finalized up to 95 percent," said Walter Freitag, the chief executive officer of the HDW, the largest conventional submarine maker in the world.

Freitag, who was interviewed by the newspaper during a defense products exhibition called IDEAS 2008 in Karachi, said that once the contract is signed, the first submarine would be delivered to the Pakistan navy in 64 months, with the rest delivered in the following 12 months.

Pakistan has traditionally relied on French submarines for its naval defense. This is first time that Karachi has opted for German boats.

Earlier, the French firm Armaris, a subsidiary of Thales group, had lobbied for the sale of three Marlin type submarines. The company delivered the last one to Pakistan in 2006.

"The Pakistan navy understands submarines and ours are the best," Freitag said. "We use higher grade steel material, which allows greater diving depth. Also, we have fuel cell AIPs and can integrate Harpoons with the Type 214."

The non-nuclear Type 214 is a 65-meter-long boat which can dive more than 25 meters, but it lacks the technology to avoid detection.

Pakistan's quest for new submarines was prompted by its traditional nuclear-armed rival India reaching a 1.5-billion-euro deal in 2005 with a French company for seven Scorpion submarines.


Royal Netherlands Navy Launches Harpoons from New Frigate
Source: Boeing Co.

Boeing today announced that the Royal Netherlands Navy has successfully test-launched two Boeing Harpoon missiles from air defense and command frigate (LCF) HMS De Zeven Provinciën. The exercise, which was the first LCF launch of a Harpoon, was held off the coast of Virginia on Nov. 8.

In the exercise scenario, a hostile ship attacked the Dutch frigate, which responded with a salvo of two Harpoon Block IC missiles, marking the first time the Dutch Navy has launched multiple Harpoons on a single target. Both Harpoons hit and destroyed the target. The Netherlands has been a Harpoon customer since 1975.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of the Harpoon Weapon System during this test, and we congratulate the Royal Netherlands Navy on achieving this new milestone," said Jan Browne, Boeing director of Stand-Off Strike Weapons. "Harpoon is an extremely reliable weapon system in use by the United States and 27 allied countries. We are proud of Boeing Weapons Programs' 33-year relationship with the Netherlands."

Boeing has delivered more than 7,000 missiles to U.S. and allied navies. The Harpoon Block I missile is capable of flying in excess of 67 nautical miles and carries a 500-pound warhead. In 2001, Boeing delivered the first Harpoon Block II missile, which incorporates a Global Positioning System navigation system to provide autonomous, over-the-horizon capabilities, even in adverse weather. The Harpoon Block III missile, which includes a data link system for in-flight target updates, is currently in development.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 71,000 employees worldwide.




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

Scores from around the country…
Tebow guides No. 4 Florida past No. 1 Bama 31-20.
No 2. Oklahoma rolls over Missouri 62-21 to claim BCS title game berth.

Navy cruises to seventh straight win over Army 34-0.


Photo of the Day



U.S. Naval Academy slot back Shun White (#26) outruns U.S. Military Academy defensive back Mario Hill to score a touchdown in the first quarter of the 109th Army-Navy college football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

Gator