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



Feature - 3"/50 Mark 33 Deck Gun
MSW Crewmember Fred Boucher (JPTRR) brings us a nice walk around of a 3”/50 Mark 33 dual purpose deck gun.
Feature




Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Today’s website is the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum in Savannah, GA, founded in 1966, exhibits ship models, paintings and maritime antiques, principally from the great era of Atlantic trade and travel between England and America during the 18th and 19th centuries. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1815 - USS Peacock takes HMS Nautilus, last action of the War of 1812.
1943 - 3rd Fleet Amphibious Force lands troops on Rendova Island while naval gunfire silences Japanese artillery.
1951 - Naval Administration of Marianas ends.


Northrop Grumman Awarded PSA Contract for USS George H. W. Bush
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. ---- The nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), will be returning to Northrop Grumman Corporation for post-delivery maintenance work, also known as the ship's post shakedown availability (PSA).

The company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va., is the prime contractor for the work, which is valued at $72.6 million. A PSA is a typical availability in the early life of a carrier that allows the Navy and Northrop Grumman team to resolve any items that came up during trials and delivery and make any last-minute changes and upgrades.

"We have worked closely with our Navy partners during the planning period, sharing lessons learned and best practices, and are ready to begin the execution period of this contract," said Mike Shawcross, vice president for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's aircraft carrier construction programs. "The Shipbuilding team looks forward to continuing our close working relationship with the officers and crew aboard USS George H. W. Bush."

Work includes the installation of a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) handling system and a new fresh water purification system. Other changes include compartment reconfigurations, combat system and radar equipment upgrades, and minor repairs. The work is scheduled to last through early 2010.

Named after America's 41st president, USS George H. W. Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Its keel was laid Sept. 6, 2003; it was christened Oct. 7, 2006; commissioned Jan. 10, 2009 and delivered May 11, 2009. At 1,092 feet in length, USS George H. W. Bush is nearly as long as the Empire State Building is tall. It weighs 97,000 tons and carries more than 80 combat aircraft. Its top speed exceeds 30 knots, and powered with two nuclear reactors, it operates for more than 20 years without refueling.


New Sub Enhances Stealth, Endurance Capabilities of the RSN
Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence

Two years of training and hard work paid off for 28 submariners from the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) as they proudly witnessed the launch of their new vessel RSS Archer at Kockums Shipyard in Karlsrona, Sweden, on 16 June.

The first of two Vaastagotland-class submarines acquired from the Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN) in 2005, the range and reach of the RSS Archer has been extended with a modern suite of combat and sensor systems, which allows it to detect and engage targets from greater distances.

In addition, the submarine is equipped with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system which enables it to stay safely submerged for longer periods. Not only does this improve its endurance, the boat's stealth capabilities are also enhanced; the risk of detection is significantly reduced as it does not need to surface for air as frequently as compared to other conventional submarines.

The navy has also worked closely with the Defence Science & Technology Agency to refurbish and convert the Archer-class submarines for local operations in Singapore's tropical waters.

In his opening address at the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean noted that the launch of the RSS Archer is a further development of the RSN's submarine capabilities, enhancing the navy's key mission in defending Singapore's sea lines of communication.

"The Archer-class submarines, integrated with our six stealth frigates and soon-to-be-delivered naval helicopters, will allow the navy to undertake more complex and sophisticated operations to help maintain regional peace and stability, and secure the vital sea routes through our region," he said.

Comprising a mix of personnel who are freshly-trained submariners as well as experienced ones who had previously served on the RSN's Challenger-class submarines, which are also of Swedish origin, the crew found themselves better prepared and able to adapt to this new class of submarines with greater speed and ease.

Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Jack Nyeo, Commanding Officer of RSS Archer, attributed this success to the quality of dedicated and professional sailors under him, as well as the strong rapport between the RSN and their Swedish counterparts.

The RSwN have more than 100 years of experience in submarine operations and also conducted training for the pioneer batches of submariners from Singapore in 1996.

In fact, due to the intensive training and sea sorties which the crew underwent back home with the Challenger-class submarines, their overseas training stint this time round was reduced from the previous time-span of three years to two, despite the higher training tempo and greater complexity of systems on board this new class of submarines.

"In the past, we had no prior knowledge of submarine systems, so we had to learn and understand the purpose and configuration of every system from scratch," explained Chief Engineer, Second Warrant Officer (2WO) Elangkanan Ramasamy.

"Now, having built up our fundamental skills and knowledge with the Challenger-class submarines, we were able to better focus on gaining more in-depth knowledge about these highly automated new class of submarines, which have more complicated and interconnected systems."

Commenting on the quick progress of the crew, Lieutenant Commander Per-Erik Nystrom, the project director of the submarine training programme, said: "All the students from Singapore are extremely motivated, and I think the Swedish instructors were very stimulated to work together with them."

"Many of the crew were already submariners when they arrived in Sweden, so they were able to pick things up faster," he added.

With the launch of the RSS Archer, the crew now looks forward to the future operationalisation of the submarine, which is expected to enter service at the end of 2010.

"Moving ahead, the challenge is to continue with the pace of progress, with the crew playing a more significant role getting the submarine ready for sea trials," said LTC Nyeo.

Chief Sonar Specialist, Master Sergeant (MSG) Eric Chua shared the same sentiments, saying: "To us, training is never over, even more so now that RSS Archer has been launched."

"We have to constantly keep ourselves in line with the changes and new upgrades, to ensure the smooth conduct and completion of sea trials so as to deliver the boat back to Singapore on time."

Fact Sheet: RSN's Archer-Class Submarines
The Archer-class submarines (ex-Royal Swedish Navy's Vaastergotland-class submarines) were designed and built by the Swedish company, Kockums AB, as single-hull, double compartment submarines optimised to reduce noise and magnetic signature. The two pressure-tight compartments also enhance safety and survivability of the crew.

The submarines were designed to operate in the shallow waters of the Baltic Sea and are therefore also optimised for operation in Singapore waters, which have similar depth profiles. Working closely with the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA), the RSN adapted the Archer-class submarines to suit local operating conditions and also upgraded them to include advanced combat and sensor systems.

The Archer-class submarines are equipped with an Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, which enables the submarines to have longer submerged endurance and lower noise signature. This enhances the submarines' stealth capability. The advanced sonar system allows the submarines to detect contacts at a further distance, while the torpedo system has a better target acquisition capability, which allows the submarines to engage contacts at a further range.

The crew of the Archer-class submarines has undergone two key phases of training with the RSwN. The first is the Key Personnel Training Phase, where they mastered individual vocational skills. This was followed by the Team Training Phase, where they operated as a composite crew (comprising RSwN submariners) to do mission-oriented training. To further hone their skills, submarine rescue exercises, comprising both sea training and simulator sessions, were also conducted for the crew.

RSS Archer will be undergoing sea trials following its launch and is expected to return to Singapore in 2010.

SPECIFICATIONS:
-- Length: 60.5 metres
-- Beam: 6.1 metres
-- Height: 11.8 metres
-- Draught: 5.6 metres
-- Displacement: 1,400 tonnes (surfaced); 1,500 tonnes (submerged)
-- Speed: 8 knots (surfaced); >15 knots (submerged)
-- Armament: 9 Torpedo Tubes
-- Systems:
*Active and Passive Sonars
*Command and Weapon Control System
*Radar and Electronic Warfare Surveillance Measures
*Integrated Navigation System
*Air Independent Propulsion System
-- Complement: 28 crew




Unmanned Little Bird Helicopter
Source: US Navy

The US Navy has released photographs of the Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) helicopter, a smaller variant of the larger, manned A/MH-6M, can be controlled by a pilot or piloted remotely. The ULB may be used for multiple missions that may include re-supply and casualty evacuation and is capable of carrying a 300-pound payload.



The photographs are dated June 16 and are datelined in Bridgeport, California.

Boeing’s website describes the Unmanned Little Bird Demonstrator as “a modified MD 530F single-turbine helicopter designed for optionally manned flight. It won the AHS 2005 Grover E. Bell award for the best advancement in rotorcraft research that year. The platform is capable of dual pilot, single pilot or no pilot flight operations. It can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous operations in any of these operational modes.

The ULB is designed to test new manned and unmanned technologies and capabilities. Boeing R&D utilizing the Unmanned Little Bird demonstrated a variety of missions (resupply; intelligence, reconnaissance & surveillance; weaponization) and helped to shape the VTOL UAV market through flight experimentation.

The aircraft has safely conducted more than 500 hours of UAV technology flight testing since its first flight in September 2004. It is supporting the definition and qualification of U.S. Army manned/unmanned aircraft operations. The growth unmanned variant based on the A/MH-6M aircraft is only being marketed internationally.


Photo of the Day



Weapons department personnel spell out "John Finn" on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) to commemorate the 100th birthday of Medal of Honor recipient Naval Aviation Ordnanceman John Finn.

Gator