Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
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Confederate States Submarine H L Hunley
Today’s website is the Confederate States Submarine H L Hunley. The wreck of the 40-foot submarine H.L. Hunley is of historic significance--it was one of the first submarines, and the first to be used successfully in warfare by ramming and sinking the Union warship USS Housatonic with a harpoon torpedo mounted on an iron shaft extending from the bow. Enjoy.
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This Day in U.S. Naval History
1778 - Allied French fleet under Comte d'Estaing arrives in America.
1853 - Commodore Matthew C. Perry sails his squadron into Tokyo Bay.
1879 - USS Jeannette departs San Francisco to explore Arctic.
1944 - Naval bombardment of Guam begins.
Order for the Second Barracuda Attack Submarine
Source: French Ministry of Defense
PARIS --- Hervé Morin, the minister of defence, today announced the order for the second Barracuda-class nuclear attack submarine. The Barracuda program, which calls for the delivery of six boats between 2017 and 2028, is valued at 7.9 billion euros and will provide work for several thousand people through its production phase.
The French defence procurement agency, Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), today awarded to DCNS and AREVA-TA the order for the second Barracuda-class next-generation nuclear attack submarine, as planned in the umbrella contract awarded on Dec. 21, 2006.
In parallel, the assembly of the lead boat, Suffren, also began on June 26 with the welding of the first two sections of its aft hull.
Characterized by their low detectability and their “hunt and kill” capabilities, nuclear attack submarines are deployed on all maritime theaters of operation (Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, etc.).
The Barracuda program is intended to gradually replace the six Rubis-class boats now in service with the French navy. The Barracuda will be armed with the future Artemis heavyweight torpedo, the Exocet anti-ship missile and the future naval cruise missile. They will also be able to deploy special forces and their equipment.
Construction of the Barracuda submarines will generate a significant part of the workload of DCNA, AREVA-TS, Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and over 100 small and medium enterprises until 2027.
The DCNS group, prime contractor for the entire program, will involve its facilities in Cherbourg, Nantes-Indret, Ruelle and Toulon-Le Mourillon in the program, as well as private companies operating in their employment areas.
Virginia-class Submarines Receive the Highest Ranking of Operational Test Agency
Source: US Navy
NORFOLK, Va. --- Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COTF) deemed the U.S. Navy's newest class of submarines, the Virginia Class (SSN 774), "operationally effective" and "operationally suitable," the highest possible ranking, June 23.
COTF, the Navy's independent operational test agency, made the findings after completion of a year-long Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) period.
COTF evaluated the Virginia-class warfighting capabilities in operationally realistic and demanding scenarios across its seven mission areas: anti-submarine; anti-surface ship; strike; naval special warfare; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; battle group support; and mine warfare. This comprehensive evaluation included operations with a U.S. Navy carrier strike group in a major naval exercise, simulated combat operations against surface ships and submarines, the launch of Tomahawk cruise missiles, and the execution of a naval special warfare mission using special operation forces.
IOT&E completed in March 2009 and utilized the first five submarines of the class, USS Virginia (SSN 774), USS Texas (SSN 775), USS Hawaii (SSN 776), USS North Carolina (SSN 777), and USS New Hampshire (SSN 778).
"COTF's findings validate what we have known for some time about the Virginia class - that they are ready to become the backbone of the U.S. submarine force," said Vice Adm. John J. Donnelly, commander, Submarine Force. "Virginia and Hawaii have conducted successful deployments prior to their post-shakedown availability (PSA) and New Hampshire is currently deployed. These are the first U.S. submarines to deploy prior to their PSAs, so we had confidence that these ships could operate as advertised, and now we have independent verification."
In its June 2009 IOT&E report, COTF went on to recommend full fleet introduction for the class and commented that "the Virginia-class submarine demonstrated major improvements in littoral environment capabilities" as compared to previous classes of submarine.
Currently, New Hampshire is conducting a deployment prior to its PSA. Additionally, Hawaii is underway to its new homeport in Pearl Harbor, making it the first Virginia to permanently leave Groton, Conn. Texas will follow Hawaii to Pearl Harbor in the fall. Lastly, Virginia is currently working up to its first six-month deployment, which will begin this fall.
F3 Standard: Rafale Innovations
Source: French Navy
The latest Rafale Marine, with its new equipment and capabilities, has just left Dassault Aviation’s production line in Mérignac, near Bordeaux.
At 4:30 p.m. on July 2 a naval Rafale Marine combat aircraft carrying the number 27 on its airframe landed at Mont-de-Marsan air base, in south-western France, at the conclusion of a ferry flight from Mérignac, where it was built.
Although identical in appearance to the previous version, the Rafale M12, the new aircraft is the first to have been built to the F3 production standard, the most advanced on contract for the French armed forces.
It is fitted with the latest digital systems which replace older, analogue equipment such as the video recorder. But the main difference is that the F3 version will be able to carry advanced sensors now being developed, such as the Advanced Electronically-Scanned Antenna radar which will allow improved target detection at longer ranges. It also will be fitted with the nose-mounted electro-optical thermal imaging camera which will allow passive target identification at long ranges.
With the F3 standard, the Rafale will attain its full maturity. The new version has the same basic operational capabilities as the aircraft numbered M11 to M26, which were delivered to the navy between 2006 and 2008, and which are now undergoing an upgraded at Istres air base (for the first six) and at Landivisiau naval air base for the others.
The latest aircraft, M27, is the first of 12 aircraft which will be delivered to the navy between 2009 and 2014. It has now been handed over to the détachement centre d’expérimentations pratiques et de réception de l’aéronautique navale (naval aviation reception and trials center, CEPA) at Mont de Marsan for military trials being conducted jointly with the air force.
Beginning in September, when the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is expected to be back at sea, it will undergo a series of full-load catapult tests, at full engine reheat.
Photo of the Day
An F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Black Knights" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154 launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) during Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 fly off.
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