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



Attention Community Build Builders!

Ahoy, Community Builders!

The 9th Session of our GB is near to close, mates, make sure that you have your monthly progress images uploaded and into your BLOG by 4/1/09 EST for this sessions judging!!!

Don't forget... Your progresses are going to be judged by your photos uploads!
Keep'em coming!




Nelson's Dockyard National Park

Today’s website is the Nelson's Dockyard National Park. This museum is being restructured to tell the story of English Harbour and of the people that toiled and sweated in this famous Georgian naval yard. It will also explain the 20th century return of sailing ships and the aims and aspirations of Nelson's Dockyard National Park in St. John's, Antigua, West Indies. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1854 - Commodore Matthew Perry negotiates the Treaty of Kanagawa, opening trade between the United States and Japan.
1971 - The Poseidon (C-3) missile becomes operational when USS James Madison (SSBN 627) begins her third patrol, carrying 16 tactical Poseidon missiles.
1992 - USS Missouri (BB 63), the last active American battleship, is decommissioned.


Navy's Oldest Seagoing Vessel Ready for Action Again
Source: U.K Ministry of Defence

HMS Sceptre, the oldest seagoing vessel in the Royal Navy, is ready for patrol after successfully completing an intensive ten-month maintenance and defect-rectification work package.

The Clyde-based submarine has undergone a deep maintenance period (known as a RAMP - Revalidation and Assisted Maintenance Period) which occurs around once every three years.

The procedure allowed engineers to strip equipment and inspect areas of the submarine which are usually inaccessible. The Design Authorities also used the period to inspect the vessel, certifying that Sceptre is safe for operations for the remaining two years of her operational life.

During the RAMP at HM Naval Base Clyde, the opportunity was taken to upgrade weapon and electronic systems on HMS Sceptre, ensuring that the vessel is kept at the cutting edge of war-fighting capability.

Crew members also took the chance to catch up with leave, professional courses and adventurous training before heading back to sea.

Commander Colin Harvey, platform group manager, said:

"The completion of Sceptre's RAMP is a considerable achievement and a fine example of team work between the Royal Navy, Ministry of Defence and Babcock.

"The vessel's RAMP is the first major maintenance period to be conducted under the Incident and Injury Free principles and, with everyone working together, has resulted in a significant reduction in accidents and events."

Commander Steve Waller, Commanding Officer of HMS Sceptre, said:

"I have been immensely impressed with the engineering support provided by Babcock and the efforts of my ship's company in getting Sceptre ready to commence the final years of service.

"As a crew we are looking forward to completing our operational training and continuing on operations, spearheading the Royal Navy's employment of maritime power."


Wasp Flight Deck Qualifies for MV-22s
Source: US Navy

WASP, at sea --- The USS Wasp (LHD 1) Air Department completed their final MV-22 Osprey qualification March 18, certifying them to perform launch and recovery evolutions.

Air Department faced some obstacles during the qualification period; however, they were able to overcome them allowing the operation to occur with no difficulty.

"It was just business as usual," said Wasp Flight Deck Leading Chief Petty Officer Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) Omar Lee. "Wasp has had more experience with MV-22s than any other L-Class ship in the fleet. Though several of the aircrew is green, the evolution went great."

The Osprey, piloted by Marines from the Marine Medium Tilt Rotor squadron (VMM) 261 gave many of the new Air Department Sailors a great opportunity to gain experience in performing procedures with the aircraft.

"This is my first time [launching and recovering Osprey]," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Blessing Essien. "It was a great chance to learn a lot. Everyone, even the pilots, were getting training. And the more we know and understand, the safer and smarter we can perform our job, and the better positions we can hold with the crew."

Wasp has the distinction of delivering MV-22 Ospreys to their historical, first-ever combat deployment mission in October 2007. Many Sailors from Wasp's Air Department, who made this historic voyage, were glad to have the opportunity to train with the aircraft once again.

"We're really just knocking off rust," said Wasp Flight Deck Leading Petty Officer Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 1st Class German Cruz. "We performed this evolution on the first surge (in 2007). This is really just a refresher to some of us. I am confident that we have a good crew on the flight deck and we all trust each other."

This qualification means Wasp is now ready to accomplish one of the key goals of the upcoming surge deployment, the retrieval of an MV-22 squadron currently deployed to the Central Command Area of Responsibility.

"The months of training that the entire crew has participated in, the sacrifices they've made with long hours have paid off with a stellar performance during this final inspection," said Wasp Commanding Officer Capt. Daniel H. Fillion. "Not only is our ship combat ready, but we have all the qualifications we need to complete the mission, and to complete the mission in a varsity manner. With this final certification, we're ready to take the fight to the enemy."


Photo of the Day



The San Diego-based guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG 65) fires a missile Thursday, March 26, 2009 during training exercise Stellar Daggers in the Pacific Ocean.

Gator