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



Review - IJN Type 96 25mm A-A Guns

Crew-mate Dade W. Bell (karybdis) gives us a closer look at two of Fine Molds fantastic looking upgrades, IJN Type 96 25mm Anti Aircraft Guns, sets WA1 and WA2, in this "inbox" review!
Review


Community Build Stats-to date-January Result

Here’s the build stats. Stats-to date




HMS Victory

Today’s website is the HMS Victory. This webpage chronicles the history of Nelson’s flagship. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1779 - John Paul Jones takes command of the vessel Bonhomme Richard.
1919 - The Navy Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal are created by an act of Congress.
1959 - The keel of USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is laid in Newport News, Va.
1991 - The Pentagon releases its budget for Fiscal Year 1992. The budget includes $2.8 billion for the creation of a Seawolf nuclear attack submarine and the decommissioning of the Navy's last two active battleships, USS Missouri (BB 63) and USS Wisconsin (BB 64).


Raytheon Begins Deliveries of Zumwalt Mission System Production Equipment
Source: Raytheon Company

TEWKSBURY, Mass. --- Raytheon Company has delivered the first production equipment for the U.S. Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer. The Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) planar array antenna assembly was delivered to the Navy on cost and ahead of schedule.

"The delivery of the first production equipment for Zumwalt is a critical milestone, demonstrating that with the right processes and commitment to budget and schedule requirements, major programs can be delivered on cost and on schedule," said Dan Smith, president of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "As the program continues to transition from development to production, we remain focused on our primary goal -delivering unprecedented capabilities to the warfighter."

CEC brings tactical data fusion capability to the Zumwalt-class destroyer, integrating data from shipborne, airborne and land-based radars into a common, real-time picture for the warfighter. This capability allows all members of the network to simultaneously identify a threat, such as an approaching missile or aircraft, even if the target is out of range of an individual platform's sensors.

Leveraging this capability currently deployed on existing ships of the U.S. Navy fleet, the Zumwalt-variant planar array antenna assembly has more stringent shock requirements and a secondary radome to enhance the radar cross section to meet the multi-mission requirements of the ship class.

Work on this CEC assembly was completed by a team of experts that included representatives from across Raytheon Company as well as the Navy. Raytheon employees in Marlborough, Mass.; Largo, Fla.; McKinney, Texas; and St. Petersburg, Fla., worked in conjunction with the Navy to accelerate the antenna's design, construction, and acceptance test process.

Integrated Defense Systems is Raytheon's leader in Global Capabilities Integration providing affordable, integrated solutions to a broad international and domestic customer base, including the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the U.S. Armed Forces and the Department of Homeland Security.


Lockheed Martin Awarded $35.8 Million Navy Contract to Expand Submarine Communication Capabilities
Source: Lockheed Martin

MARION, Mass. --- Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $35.8 million contract by the U.S. Navy to design and produce antenna buoy systems that will significantly expand the communications capabilities of submarines while they are submerged.

The Navy's Communications at Speed and Depth (CSD) program will use expendable submarine and air-launched communications buoys to enable submarines operating below periscope depth and at tactical speeds to communicate with surface ships and land-based assets via satellite networks. All classes of U.S. Navy submarines will be equipped with this capability.

Under the contract, a Lockheed Martin-led industry team will develop three types of expendable communications buoys: two submarine-launched tethered buoys that provide real-time chat, data transfer and e-mail capabilities via either Iridium or UHF satellites; and an untethered, acoustic-to-radio frequency gateway buoy that can be launched from a submarine or maritime patrol aircraft to enable two-way data transfer between a submerged submarine and surface assets. The contract also includes production of associated shore and onboard equipment needed to support the systems. If all options are exercised, the cumulative value of the contract is estimated at $177.9 million.

The Lockheed Martin-led team, which includes Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems and ERAPSCO, collectively has more than 50 years of experience in the design and development of expendable devices. Ultra Electronics Ocean Systems Inc., headquartered in Braintree MA, is a world-leading developer and provider of special purpose expendable devices for U.S. Navy submarines and surface ships as well as major allied navies. ERAPSCO, a joint venture between Sparton Electronics Florida, Inc. in DeLeon Springs, FL and Ultra Electronics - USSI in Columbia City, IN, is a leading designer and manufacturer of expendable underwater transducer and sensor products for the U.S. Navy and its allies.

"Having the ability to communicate at speed and depth will truly transform submarine communications," says Captain Dean Richter, Program Manager - PEO C4I / Submarine Integration Program Office (PMW 770). "With this capability, submarines become a fully-integrated fleet asset with on-demand access to the Global Information Grid."

"Delivering this capability eliminates a traditional limitation of submarines by giving them the ability to communicate with maximum tactical flexibility and maneuverability," says Joe Rappisi, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Marion-based business. "We are partnered with the industry's best to give submarines the same access to communication networks as the rest of the U.S. Navy's fleet."



Famous Fleet Air Arm Pilot Returns To HMS Ark Royal
Source: Royal Navy

A former Fleet Air Arm Swordfish pilot John "Jock" Moffat returned to HMS Ark Royal on 24 January to attend a Burns Night Mess Dinner, whilst the Ship was berthed in Glen Mallen on the beautiful west coast of his homeland of Scotland.

Jock has a very deep affection for HMS Ark Royal as it was the Ship in which he and his fellow aviators of 818 Sqn took off from on 21 May 1941, to attack the mighty Bismarck, wondering if they would ever return. Now 90 years old, Jock’s memories of these dark days are as vivid as ever and the young members of the Ship’s company were all truly amazed at his stories, culminating in the defining moment when he and his young crew with the Bismarck looming large in his sights, dropped their torpedo at wave top height, turned tail and hoped for the best. The rest is history and after crippling the Bismarck, she was sunk by the Home Fleet, much to the chagrin of Jock and his Squadron, who wanted to finish off the job themselves! Exhilarating stuff and particularly poignant in this year of celebrating the Centenary of Naval Aviation and after Ark Royal had visited the resting place of Jock’s old ship and laid a wreath on Remembrance Day last year. Captain John Clink presented a montage of Ark Royal III and the wreath laying ceremony during his visit.

Jock left HMS Ark Royal just prior to the sinking in 1941 and served throughout the war flying many different types of aircraft, but his very deep affection for the Swordfish or “Stringbag” is still evident. He has only just hung up his flying helmet after 70 years in the cockpit and Jock left a great impression on those he spoke to during his short visit and when the words “in the finest traditions of the Fleet Air Arm” are mentioned in the forthcoming year, those people know exactly what they mean.


Photo of the Day



British battle cruiser "Theseus" during World War I.
Source: Life Magazine Archive

Gator