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




Know Your PT Boat

Today’s website is ”Know Your PT Boat” from the Historic Naval Ships Association. "Know Your PT Boat," July 1945, was created very near the end of WW II to use as an introduction to PT Boats for crews' in training. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1938 - Prototype shipboard radar, designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory, is installed on USS New York (BB 34).
1941 - USS Swordfish (SS 193) makes the initial U.S. submarine attack on Japanese ship.
1952 - A strike from Task Force 77 aircraft destroys a munitions factory and several rail facilities near Rashin, North Korea.


New Empire's 'Hero' named Australia's unofficial Navy anthem!
Source: Royal Australian Navy

The Navy has an uplifting new anthem thanks to New Empire, a four-piece pop-rock band from Sydney, who was today announced the winner of the Navy Song Battle for their inspiring song 'Hero'.
The Navy put the call out to musicians across the country to create a new anthem for their members. Australians from all corners of the country, responded with 149 songs which attracted more than 11,400 votes from music fans.

Hero' was one of 20 songs voted the most popular by MySpace members, which then went on to win over the panel of industry judges.
New Empire, from Cronulla on Sydney's southern beaches, is made up of Jeremy Fowler, 23, Kale Kneale, 23, Pete Gillies, 22, and Sam Walker, 22. The band of childhood mates formed in 2005, and released their debut album "Come with me tonight" in September this year.

Lead singer Jeremy said the band was proud and excited to have had their song chosen by the Navy, saying he felt 'Hero' symbolized the spirit of the Navy.
"'Hero' speaks of a selfless attitude, a sense of service for a greater cause and the idea of working and achieving as a team," he said.
"It's so easy to forget that there is more to life than just looking after ourselves. The Navy is about self-sacrifice and the song 'Hero' really sums that up."

'Hero' will be used in internal and online Navy campaigns, and at Navy events. New Empire will also work in studio with Defence Force Recruiting and George Patts Y&R advertising agency to develop the Navy's new television commercial, to be launched in early 2009.

The band has also won professional sound recording equipment to the value of $5000, provided by MySpace Fox Interactive.
Competition judge Carl Gardiner, Managing Director of Mushroom Marketing, said 'Hero' had a broad appeal that would appeal to music fans across Australia.
"'Hero' has real emotion and an anthemic feel. The song captures the spirit of adventure, commitment and excitement that comes with a career in the Navy and life on the high seas," he said.
Navy Song Battle ambassador Carl Riseley said 'Hero' would not only entertain Australians, but it would uplift and inspire members of the Australian Navy.

"New Empire show outstanding talent and the song 'Hero' embodies the passion, joy, emotion and challenges of Navy life," the former Australian Idol finalist and Australian Navy member said.
Captain Mark Hill, Director Navy Personnel Policy, said he had been impressed by the level of enthusiasm Australian musicians had shown and the quality of entries.
"There were a number of excellent entries and the judging panel had a hard choice in choosing a winner," he said.

"The Navy is overwhelmed and touched by the effort all those who entered went to and the obvious talent of all participants."
All artists that made the Top 20 ranked songs will also be sent certificates thanking them and recognizing their achievement.


Bath Iron Works Awarded $46 Million Contract for DDG 1000 Services
Source: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

The U.S. Navy has awarded Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics a $45.8 million contract option to provide services associated with the detail design and construction of the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer. The contract being modified was initially awarded in February 2008.

Under this award, Bath Iron Works (BIW) will continue to provide services for the DDG 1000 program, including configuration management and maintenance of class design products; program management; configuration and data management; system and ship integration services; production engineering services; and ship system segment management.

In February 2008, the Navy awarded BIW the contract to build the first Zumwalt-class destroyer (DDG 1000), which is scheduled to be delivered to the Navy in 2013. DDG 1000 represents the Navy's next generation of multi-mission surface combatants which will provide a broad range of capabilities that are vital both to supporting the global war on terror and to fighting and winning major combat operations.

Dugan Shipway, president of Bath Iron Works, said, "This award confirms the U.S. Navy's ongoing commitment to bring this next generation destroyer to the fleet. The shipbuilders of BIW welcome the award and are encouraged by the confidence expressed by the U.S. Navy, members of Congress and supporters of this program as we continue to work together to build this much-needed ship."

Bath Iron Works of Bath, Maine is a leader in the design and construction of surface combatants for the United States Navy and is the lead designer and builder of the Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) class of AEGIS destroyers. The company employs approximately 5,900 people.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 91,200 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies.


EU Launches Horn of Africa Anti-Piracy Mission
Voice of America news

PARIS --- The European Union, or EU, launches its first naval operation on Monday - to the Horn of Africa. The goal: to crack down on rampant piracy.

The European Union is sending six warships and three surveillance planes to tackle a massive problem - piracy off Somalia's waters that has resulted in almost 100 ships being attacked this year alone. The ships take over from NATO vessels now trying to maintain security over a vast region - more than 1.5 million square kilometers.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana recently outlined the tasks facing the new mission. "It will be a very solid operation," said Javier Solana. "It will have robust rules of engagement and it will be able to deter, to prevent, to protect and, in particular, to protect the United Nations humanitarian component in those waters vis-à-vis Somalia."

The EU mission will be headquartered near London and last for at least a year. Vessels from at least eight European countries will escort aid ships and conduct anti-piracy operations.

Somali pirates are holding about 16 ships and more than 350 crew members off their country's coast. They generally ask for huge ransoms in exchange for the vessels' release.

Besides the European Union and NATO operations, private companies are offering escort services through the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.


Photo of the Day



Chief Quartermaster Stephanie Kotatis, left, assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1), and Boatswain's Mate Seaman Dustin Foster, assigned to USS Constitution, raise the Colors aboard Freedom.

Gator