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



PitRoad’s Wallpaper of the Month

Today’s website is PitRoad’s Wallpaper of the Month. This month it is the box art of the USS Quincy kit. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1935 - The Naval Security Group is born when OP-20G becomes the Communications Security Group.
1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act.
1942 - In a Motor Patrol (PT) boat, Lt. Cmdr. John Bulkeley leaves the Philippines to take Gen. Douglas MacArthur to Australia.
1945 - The first Navy landing craft crosses the Rhine River at Bad Neuenahr.
1965 - Market Time patrols begin off the South Vietnam coast.


Hurricane may have uncovered Civil War shipwreck
Source: Associated Press

GALVESTON, Texas – Experts know of about a dozen Civil War-era shipwrecks off the Texas coast. They might have just identified another. Contractors searching for debris from Hurricane Ike near Galveston Island took a sonar scan of what the Texas Historical Commission believes is a previously undiscovered ship carrying cotton that sank in 1864.

The Carolina, also known as the Caroline, was a privately owned merchant ship that tried to break though a federal blockade of Galveston. After being pursued for several hours by Union gunships, the crew of the Carolina ran the ship aground in shallow water between Galveston and San Luis Pass, then set it on fire rather than let it be captured.
Historians said records indicate the ship sank in the area where workers took the sonar image. It had probably been buried in sand until Hurricane Ike scoured the Gulf floor.

"It's certainly significant if it turns out to be a historic wreck, as we think it is," Steven Hoyt, state marine archaeologist with the Texas Historical Commission, told the Houston Chronicle.

Hoyt said the shape of the image indicates the wreckage is a ship, and that he will study its size, style and characteristics to determine whether it could be the Carolina. Divers will investigate the site in the spring or summer when the Gulf of Mexico waters are calmer. Even then, visibility could be limited.

The possible wreck was discovered about a month ago by General Land Office contractors hired to clean the surrounding bays of debris from Ike. Crews have located hundreds of cubic yards of underwater debris, including a shrimping boat, washing machines, refrigerators and furniture, said Jim Suydam, land office spokesman.

Crews also have found two previously charted Civil War-era shipwrecks: the Acadia and the Will-o-the-Wisp. The two ships are protected state archaeological landmarks.

State workers will not reveal the location of the new possible shipwreck to prevent looters from discovering the site.


Northrop Grumman Successfully Redelivers USS Toledo (SSN 769)
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation has successfully redelivered the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Toledo (SSN 769) to the U.S. Navy. The redelivery took place Feb. 21 following successful sea trials.

The ship began its Depot Modernization Period in 2007 at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va. The work included upgrades to the submarine's sonar, combat and weapons systems and maintenance work on the propulsion, auxiliary and habitability systems. Additionally, preservation work was performed on all ballast and internal tanks.

“We have a great shipbuilding and Navy team who have worked on just about every inch of Toledo since her arrival,'' said Becky Stewart, vice president of Submarines and Fleet Support at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. “Their hard work, dedication and spirit of cooperation have resulted in the successful return of a highly complex and capable submarine to the Navy's fleet.''

USS Toledo is the 26th Los Angeles-class submarine built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. It was christened on Aug. 28, 1993 and commissioned into service Feb. 24, 1995.




GE Wins $438M Order for F-18E/F Engines
Source: US Department of Defense

General Electric Co., Aircraft Engines Business Group, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $438,138,755 modification to a previously awarded firm fixed price contract to exercise an option for the Fiscal Year 2009 full rate production of 90 F414-GE-400 engines and 90 F414-GE-400 device kits for U.S. Navy.

In addition, this option provides for 26 F414-GE-400 engines and 24 F414-GE-400 device kits in support of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The F414-GE-400 engine powers the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet aircraft.

Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass., (50 percent); Madisonville, Ky., (22 percent); Hooksett, N.H., (13 percent); Albuquerque, N.M., (6 percent); Rutland, Vt., (5 percent); Dayton, Ohio (2 percent); Evandale, Ohio, (1 percent); and Bromont, Canada, (1 percent), and is expected to be completed in Apr. 2011.

This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($343,713,854; 78.4 percent) and the Government of Australia, ($94,424,901; 21.6 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.


Photo of the Day



USS Jacksonville leaves her home port of Norfolk for the final time. She is being transferred to Pearl Harbor.

Gator