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



Kriegsmarine Of The Reich

Today’s website is the Kriegsmarine Of The Reich. This site is new to me and I haven’t had the chance to explore it. Enjoy and I hope that it has a lot of information.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1813 - Congress authorizes construction of two 74-gun ships and six 44-gun frigates.
1937 - Adm. William Leahy becomes the seventh chief of naval operations.
1969 - Operation Barrier Reef began in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.


Agility Across the Spectrum: A Future Force Blueprint
Source: Center for National Policy

Taking into account the mounting financial constraints and multiplying national security threats facing the United States, The Center for National Policy, a nonpartisan national security think tank, proposes a series of recommendations prioritized by winning today’s wars, supporting the troops and expanding the forces, preventing future conflicts, winning future wars and cutting costs.

Collectively, the recommendations are based around an Army that is rebuilt and prepared for modernization; a larger Navy; a Marine Corps returned to its expeditionary roots; and a smaller, more advanced and focused Air Force. These goals should allow the military the agility necessary to fight, win or prevent conflicts ranging from counterinsurgency to conventional war. CNP intends to follow the report with a year-long debate series on several elements of the study.
Amongst the report’s key recommendations are:

-- “Strategic Pause”: CNP puts forth the idea that Congress and the White House view the next two years as a time to defer commitments to major new and experimental weapons systems outside the scope of what is necessary to win today’s wars.

-- “Rebuild and Reset”: CNP supports the expansion of the Army by 65,000 and the Marine Corps by 27,000, and moving a greater percentage of Civil Affairs personnel from the Reserve into the Active component than is currently proposed. CNP also supports fully funding reset needs in order to ensure a reliable equipment stock for current and future operations.

-- “Greater Projection, Longer Range”: CNP proposes a number of measures that would allow the United States Armed Forces to enhance its ability to project power across the globe, at a longer range. These recommendations range from setting a target of a 325 ship Navy by building more submarines and considering a move to lower-cost platforms and studying the concept of creating an all-UCAV carrier.


British troops open their Christmas Thanks!
Source: Royal Navy

Armed Forces personnel serving across the world received around 20 different gifts each on Christmas Day this year courtesy of uk4u Thanks!
24,500 'square stockings' as the Christmas boxes containing the gifts are affectionately called, were distributed to all personnel serving across the world, including those in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Falklands, and the MOD civilians supporting them, as well as those in hospital, this year.

The boxes, organised by the charity uk4u Thanks! and supported by the MOD, follow on from the 1914 gesture from the 17 year-old Princess Mary, who had the idea of presenting a gift from the nation for everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day.

The charity raises money and sponsorship throughout the year to provide these boxes as a way of saying thank you to our Armed Forces and to let them know that people are thinking of them over Christmas.
This year, 2008, TV presenter and actor Ross Kemp added his support to the initiative, which uses free space in the existing MOD supply chain to distribute the boxes, meaning they do not slow up or prevent mail from family and friends reaching loved ones over the busy Christmas period.

The 2008 gold box is designed to be the same size as a standard 24 hour ration pack, and contains around twenty items, including a multi tool, toys and games, a sewing kit and a reading light.
Defence Minister Kevan Jones, said:
"The Christmas Box campaign is a fantastic way for the nation to show their thanks and appreciation of the Armed Forces. The charity uk4u Thanks! ensures personnel serving abroad on operations from the Royal Navy, the Army and the RAF all receive a box, and the MOD is pleased to support them in their work."
Amongst those receiving the boxes were Marine Duncan Potts, serving in Afghanistan over Christmas. He said:
"Thanks for everyone's support back home, the Christmas box is much appreciate."

Major Gill Neil, also serving in Afghanistan, said:
"As this is my third Christmas and New Year deployed on operations, I was especially excited to receive another gift from uk4u – the gold, shiny ammunition box was a real treat!. Many thanks to all those that contributed to bringing a smile to the faces of British troops in Afghanistan and to ensure that we aren't forgotten!"

Captain Kate Smith, Royal Military Police, serving in Afghanistan, said:
"Being away from home is hard, particularly at Christmas, but the support from the UK has been remarkable. Friends and family have been wonderful, but it's the huge generosity shown by the Great British public that has been most surprising.
"Not only have uk4u provided a parcel for every soldier, sailor and airman in theatre, but personally, I have received parcels and cards from organisations I have no connection. Thank you very much and have a drink or two for those of us that can't."

And also in Afghanistan, Chief Petty Officer, Richard Perfect, said:
"The boxes from uk4u were a great surprise and really lifted morale. It is good to know that there is so much support for us back home, it makes a tough job just a little easier."

uk4u Thanks! trustee Sally Little, said:
"All of us here at uk4u Thanks! wish our Service men and women a very merry Christmas. We hope our square stockings have brought a little festive cheer to them when they're away from their families. They are certainly in our thoughts over Christmas."


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