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



The Blueprints Database

Today’s website is The Blueprints Database. This site offers the ship modeler a wonderful selection of line drawings and illustrations. To view the high res versions you will need to register, but that is free. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1944 - USS Comfort is commissioned in San Pedro, CA; first ship to be manned jointly by Army and Navy personnel.
1948 - VF-17A becomes first carrier qualified jet squadron.
1961 - CDR Alan Shepard Jr. makes first U.S. manned space flight. Flight of Freedom 7 (Mercury 3) which lasted 15 minutes and 28 seconds reached the altitude of 116.5 statute miles with a velocity of 5,134 mph.
1980 - USS Robert E. Peary (FF 1073) rescues 440 Vietnamese refugees from disabled craft south of Thailand.


Typhoon submarines may sail again
Source: Russian Navy

The world’s biggest nuclear powered submarines, the Typhoon-class, can again be put into ordinary operation. The two submarines Severstal and Arkhangelsk, today in reserve, can in the future be sailing for the Northern Fleet.

Of the originally six submarines of the giant Typhoon-class, only one remains operational. This submarine, Dmitry Donskoi, is used as a test platform for the new Bulava sea based intercontinental missiles. Three submarines of the class are scrapped.

The two last Typhoon-class submarines, Severstal and Arkhangelsk, remain in reserve at a Belomorsk naval base in Severodvinsk. Now, the debate has started about their future use.

Last week, on April 8th, Sergey Stepashin, the chairman of Russian Accounts Chamber visited Severodvinsk and discussed the future of the remaining Typhoon-class submarines with Nikolai Kalistratov, the director general of Sevmash shipyard, reported by Nuclear.ru.

During his visit to Severodvinsk Stepashin also visited to the nearby Belomorsk naval base where he stayed on board Severstal.

All the Typhoon-class submarines were built at the Sevmash yard in Severodvinsk and the constructors today believe both Arkhangelsk and Severstal can be put into operation in the Northern fleet again.

The 175 meter (574 feet) long and 24,000 tons heavy vessel is the largest nuclear powered submarine ever built. During the Cold War the six Typhoon-class submarines were based at the naval base in Zapadnaya Litsa, only some 50 kilometres from the border to Norway. Three of the six Typhoon-class subs are decommissioned.


Dolphins join fight against Somali pirates in Gulf of Aden
Source: The China Daily

A pod of dolphins has hampered an attempted Somali pirate attack on a convoy of Chinese commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden, Chinese media reported on Tuesday.

International Radio China reported that more than 1,000 dolphins had encircled several Chinese ships sailing through the Gulf of Aden on Monday, creating a live barrier between the commercial vessels and the Somali pirates.
The China Daily reported that the dolphins "suddenly leaped out of water between the pirates and merchants when the pirate ships headed for the Chinese vessels." The pirates were unable to approach the Chinese commercial vessels and had to retreat.

According to official reports, 20% of the 1,265 Chinese commercial vessels that passed through the Gulf of Aden in 2008 came under pirate attack.
Around 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries are involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. The Chinese Navy has escorted some 200 vessels through the pirate-infested waters off the East African country, which has no functioning government after years of civil war.




Northrop Grumman Completes Delivery of 44th F-5 Tiger Adversary Aircraft to United States Navy; Former Swiss-Owned F-5E Aircraft Modified for U.S. Use
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. --- Northrop Grumman employees today celebrated the delivery of their 44th modified F-5 Tiger for the U.S. Navy. In a ceremony at the company's East Coast Aircraft Manufacturing and Flight Test Center, officials from NAVAIR PMA 207 accepted the delivery of the final aircraft under the current Navy F-5 Acquisition/Re-capitalization Program, which provided for the modification of 44 Swiss Air Force aircraft into 41 F-5N's (single-seat aircraft) and three F-5F's (two-seat trainers).

“The transformation of these formerly Swiss-owned fighters to U.S. Navy assets was a smart, strategic, and cost-effective move,'' said Capt. James Wallace, PMA 207 program manager. “It speaks to the entire team's effort that all of the aircraft were delivered on cost and on schedule. The objective of this program was to achieve a cost-effective solution for providing our naval aviators with real-time, hands-on training to simulate enemy aircraft in aerial combat training exercises, which only platforms like the F-5 can deliver. Clearly, we achieved that goal.''

“The team's ability to deliver on our contract commitments is a testament to the talent of our U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman team to get the job done. As the original manufacturer, our generations of experience in building new, and modifying existing, military aircraft greatly benefited our Navy customer,'' said Rick Matthews, Northrop Grumman vice president for east coast production operations and St. Augustine site manager. “We have supported the global F-5 fleet for more than 40 years.''

The F-5 is an agile, highly maneuverable, reliable supersonic fighter, combining advanced aerodynamic design, engine performance and low operating costs. A highlight of the effort, according to Matthews, included the conversion of three single cockpit F-5E aircraft to dual cockpit F-5F aircraft.

“This conversion replaced the F-5E forward fuselage with a refurbished F-5F forward fuselage at the basic manufacturing attachment assembly point,'' Matthews said. “It was a monumental task completed by outstanding craftsmen and women.''

“The company has long had the expertise to maintain and enhance the structural integrity of the F-5 airplane to ensure satisfactory, cost-effective structural integrity for the newly extended service life and at the more severe operational spectrums anticipated by countries operating the F-5,'' Matthews said.

Since 1999, Northrop Grumman has been under contract to the U.S. Navy to perform depot level maintenance for the Navy's fleet of F-5E/F aircraft. This phased depot maintenance program provides structurally sound F-5 aircraft that will operate safely in the severe spectrum associated with the adversary role of the F-5 fleet.

“Today, we are focused on a total system support plan approach to ensure all current and future F-5 users can obtain the necessary structure spare parts and systems upgrades well into the future,'' Matthews added.

Northrop Grumman continues to support F-5 user air forces with cost-effective support solutions through the U.S. Air Force (under foreign military sales agreements) and through direct contracts with user air forces. Many of the international F-5 operators are considering (and some have committed to) basic structural life extension programs and avionics/subsystems upgrade packages to obtain an effective lead-in trainer with a modest investment.


Photo of the Day



The German frigate Emden at sunset.

Gator