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



Look what the tide washed up...

MSW associate editor Frank Portela (Clanky44) has started a thread that allows crew mates here to share with fellow modelers what we’ve recently purchased. If you’ve bought a ship model, aftermarket accessories, reference material or tools, feel free to post it. As long as it’s ship/hobby related, it’s welcomed.
Ahoy


On Display - Roman Warship, 50BC

MSW crew-mate Arthur Macon (ArthurSC) shares a gallery of images of his latest build, Academy Models, Roman Warship, 50BC, in this "On Display" Feature! Don’t forget to leave a comment.
On Display


Review - Revell's Fletcher Class Destroyer

This is Steve Hornberger's (Hatter50) first contribution to MSW in the form of the long awaited Revell Germany's 1/144 scale Fletcher Class Destroyer.
Review


Campaign - PROPOSED-WWII Flattops

Ahoy mates! Hop on board our latest MSW Campaign, a new proposal to be set forth for sign up and approval, have a look at "WWII Flattops", sign on, and get ready for another fantastic campaign group build!
Campaign




USS Constitution

Today’s website is the USS Constitution. This webpage chronicles the history of “Old Ironsides.” Click below and find out. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1800 - USS Constellation, commanded by Capt. Thomas Truxtun, captures French vessel la Vengeance.
1862 - USS Hartford, commanded by Capt. David G. Farragut, departs Hampton Roads for Mississippi River campaign.
1894 - Sloop Kearsarge, commanded by Cmdr. Oscar F. Heyerman, wrecks without loss of life on Roncador Reef off Central America.
1991 - Coalition naval operations continue in the Gulf War with an attack on the Al Kalia naval facility. One Iraqi Exocet-capable patrol craft is hit directly with two laser-guided bombs, while a second U.S. aircraft launches a string of twelve 500-pound bombs across another patrol boat. The bombs also strike several buildings on the pier, generating several secondary explosions.


Royal Navy's Newest Destroyer Arrives Home
Source: UK Ministry of Defence

Daring, the first of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers, entered and berthed in her home port of Portsmouth today for the first time, witnessed by hundreds of well-wishers.

The occasion marks a major milestone in the programme's development. The six Type 45 destroyers, of which Daring is the first of class, will form the backbone of the Royal Navy's air defence capability for the 21st Century.

It is also the first time in 30 years that a new class of destroyer has entered Portsmouth.

Speaking in Portsmouth today, Wednesday 28 January 2009, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

"Today is a special day for the Royal Navy, the city of Portsmouth and her dockyard, the crew of HMS Daring and all those involved in building her, as one of the most powerful warships in the world enters her home port for the first time. It is with great pride that I have been able to witness the first arrival of HMS Daring into Portsmouth today."

Daring is one of the most advanced ships ever built and along with the five other Type 45s will be one of the essential pillars of the Royal Navy in the 21st Century.

Designed primarily to provide air defence protecting forces against enemy aircraft and missiles, Daring is extremely versatile and able to undertake a broad range of missions from combat to humanitarian assistance.

She can operate a number of helicopters, including the Chinook, providing greater operational flexibility than other ships of her size. She will also be able to carry a significant number of extra personnel, such as troops or evacuated personnel.

Top quality accommodation has been fitted so the crew can live and work in comfort. The ship also has her own hospital facilities, complete with operating table.

Vice Admiral Sir Trevor Soar KCB OBE, Chief of Materiel (Fleet), used the occasion to officially name the Type 45's air defence missile system as 'Sea Viper' - formerly known as the Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS). He said:

"With its Sampson Radar the system is capable of detecting and tracking several hundred targets including the supersonic, sea- skimming and high altitude targets out to 400 kilometres. It can then classify and decide how to best engage up to 10 of them simultaneously in order to ensure the highest possibility of a successful engagement.

"I have to say she is a superb looking ship. She is absolutely state-of-the-art: from the Sampson Radar and the PAAMS missile system, which provide a capability far beyond any other weapon system in the Royal Navy, right the way through to the power systems that have been designed to be as green and economical as possible."

Speaking shortly before her arrival Daring's Commanding Officer, Captain Paul Bennett OBE, said:

"Today provides a fitting opportunity to mark the first entry into Portsmouth of a new class of destroyer for over 30 years. It's been a fantastic event to mark the passage of this great warship into her home port and we look forward to a successful year of sea trials before embarking on operations."

Daring will undertake an intensive sea trials programme for the rest of the year, with a formal commissioning ceremony due to take place in the summer and a target of formally accepting her into naval service by late 2010.

Chief Executive Alan Johnston of BVT, who built Daring, said:

"It's a fantastic feeling to see HMS Daring enter her home port for the first time and BVT is immensely proud of its role in achieving this, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and companies throughout UK industry. HMS Daring and the five further Type 45s that will follow will provide a unique capability to the UK Armed Forces for the next 30 years and beyond. At BVT we are looking forward to continuing to support both these ships and the Royal Navy every step of the way."

Daring will be open to military and MOD visitors alongside Victory Jetty, Portsmouth, between 0930 and 1200 hrs on Friday 30 January. Industry representatives will be in attendance with displays of the technology within the Type 45. There is an opportunity to tour the ship and meet the ship's company. There is no requirement to book your visit; if you have a free slot in your diary, come and see the ship of the future today.

Daring was launched in February 2006 and completed her contractor sea trials in September 2008. She was handed over to the MOD from the shipbuilder BVT on 10 December 2008 and set sail from the Govan dockyard on the Clyde on 16 January 2009 for the journey down to Portsmouth.

Interesting Facts

-- Daring is affiliated with both Birmingham and Guernsey.
-- Two and a quarter million man hours have been spent fitting her out.
-- The hull structure is made of 2,800 tonnes of steel which is more than the weight of the Blackpool Tower. Approximately 40 tonnes of paint will have to be applied to cover an area of 100,000 square metres of steel.
-- The Sea Viper air defence missile is the size of a public telephone box, weighs almost as much as a small car, and from launch accelerates to a speed twice that of Concorde in under 10 seconds.
-- Her 152-metre length is equivalent to more than 16 double-decker buses laid end-to-end and she is as high as an electricity pylon.
-- Her onboard power plant can supply enough electricity to light a town of 80,000 people.
-- Her fuel tanks have a volume equivalent to approximately half that of an olympic-sized swimming pool.
-- She contains 220 beds, 26 sofa beds, 22 single beds and has her own hospital facilities complete with operating table. She is fitted with one bath, 44 showers, 54 toilets and 100 wash basins.
-- She is fitted with enough carpet to cover nearly two five-a-side football pitches.
-- She has 404 telephones (mainly internal) and is fitted with enough electrical cable to circle the M25 three times.


Delivery of Frigate “LIMNOS” - Program of Mid Life Modernization of Six “S” Class Frigates
Source: Hellenic Shipyards S.A.

SKARAMANGAS, Greece --- On Wednesday January 28th, 2009, the “S” Class Frigate “LIMNOS” was delivered to the Hellenic Navy, during a ceremony that took place at the premises of Hellenic Shipyards S.A. in Skaramangas.

Rear Admiral I. Karaiskos H.N., Chief of Fleet, attended the ceremony. The ceremony also attended Mrs. Krinio Kanellopoulou, Member of the Parliament for the Constituency of Ileia and President of the Standing Committee on Defense and Foreign Affairs and Mr. Nerantzis Anastasios 3rd Vice President of the Parliament.

The Frigate “LIMNOS” is the fourth of the six “S” Class frigates to be modernized for the Hellenic Navy. HS “LIMNOS”, underwent extensive and demanding sea trials following her modernization, having had all her systems successfully tested and is now ready to join again the Hellenic Navy.

The Hellenic Ministry of Defense awarded the “S” class Frigates contract to Hellenic Shipyards in 2003 and the foreseen end of this program is October 2009. The first frigate “KOUNTOURIOTIS” was delivered to the Hellenic Navy in September 2006.

The modernization scope of work is mainly the renewal of most of the sensors and weapon systems, the installation of a new tactical combat system, the modernization of the communication and navigation systems, the replacement of the propulsion, monitoring and control system (IPMS) and some other platform modernization works. These developments render the vessels particularly effective in meeting the specific operational needs of the Hellenic Navy and represent a significant and important step in the process of modernization that the Hellenic Navy is carrying out.

Two more frigates are being currently modernized at the premises of Hellenic Shipyards S.A., Frigate “ELLI” and Frigate “AEGEON”. Frigate “ELLI” is planned to be delivered to the Hellenic Navy within spring 2009.

With regard to the frigate delivery, Mr. Ioannis Manolemis, Member of the BoD, Naval Sales Director and Director of Naval Projects Management of Hellenic Shipyards S.A. stated: “Frigate Limnos along with all the other vessels that have been delivered to Hellenic Navy, consists an eloquent example of the excellent work that is performed by the experienced personnel of Hellenic Shipyards S.A. We are proud of the projects that we have completed as well as for the projects that are carried out by our company.”




MHS Wins $326M for Naval H-60 Helicopter Support
Source: U.S Department of Defense

Maritime Helicopter Support Company, Woodbridge, Va., is being awarded a $326,596,424 firm fixed price, definite delivery, definite quantity Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract for support for Navy H-60 weapons repairables assemblies (WRAs) and shop replaceable assemblies covering various airframes and avionics systems in support of the H-60 series helicopters.

Work will be performed at Stratford, Conn. (83 percent) and Owego, N.Y. (17 percent), and work is expected to be completed by January 2010. Contract funds will not expire before the end of the current fiscal year.

This announcement combines purchases with the U.S. Navy (98 percent), the U.S. Coast Guard (1 percent) and the Governments of Australia, Greece, Spain, Thailand, and Taiwan - 1 percent). This contract was not awarded competitively.

The Naval Inventory Control Point is the contracting activity.


Photo of the Day



French light cruiser Marseillaise listing badly on bottom of Toulon Harbor after French fleet was scuttled by its own men to keep the ships out of German hands.

Gator