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



Navy Word of the Day
Continuing on with your Naval education we bring you another installment of MSW’s Navy Word of the Day.
Navy Word of the Day




On the Water: Stories from Maritime America

Today’s website is On the Water: Stories from Maritime America. "On the Water" is an 8,000-square-foot companion exhibition to America on the Move and replaces the Museum's Hall of American Maritime Enterprise. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1915 - Sailors and Marines land in Haiti to restore order.
1916 - Navy establishes a Code and Signal Section which initially worked against German ciphers and tested the security of communications during U.S. naval training maneuvers.
1926 - Team of scientists from Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Carnegie Institution determine height of the Ionosphere through use of radio pulse transmitter developed by NRL.
1945 - USS Callaghan (DD 792) is last ship sunk by a Japanese kamikaze attack, off Okinawa.
1973 - Launch of Skylab 3, the second manned mission to the first U.S. manned space station, was piloted by MAJ Jack R. Lousma, USMC with CAPT Alan L. Bean, USN as the Commander of the mission and former Navy electronics officer, Owen K. Garriott as Science Pilot. The mission lasted 59 days, 11 hours and included 858 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH 11).


Manufacture of Royal Navy's New Carriers Begins
Source: UK Ministry of Defence

Construction began on the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, their largest ever warships, today with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal performing the initial steel-cutting for the first of the ships.

The steel-cutting ceremony took place at BVT Surface Fleet's shipyard in Govan, today, Tuesday 7 July 2009.

The Queen Elizabeth (QE) Class carriers, together with the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the brand new Type 45 destroyers, will form the cornerstone of Britain's future ability to jointly project airpower worldwide from land or sea at a time and place of the UK's choosing.




Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:

"The MOD is committed to ensuring the UK's Armed Forces are modern, versatile and well equipped for present and future operations. The versatility of the design together with the long service life of these ships will ensure that we will be able to deal with the uncertainties of the future for years to come, and they will deliver the support to deployed UK forces around the globe.

"It is an honour to mark this historic moment with Her Royal Highness here in Govan. We also must not forget the ongoing work of legions of people in industry in regions across the country who are all delivering vital elements of this truly national project."

First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Jonathon Band said:

"The QE Class, together with the supporting aircraft forming the Carrier Strike, represent a step change in Defence's capability, enabling Britain to deliver airpower from the sea wherever and whenever it is required. This strategic effect, influence and, where necessary, direct action will give us an unprecedented range of options to deal with the challenges of an uncertain world at a time and place of our choosing.

"These ships are not just spare airfields, they are an instrument of national power: the 'big stick' which can be waved by the Government in areas of strategic interest to influence, coerce and deter."

Guided by Scott Ballingal, a 21-year-old BVT apprentice from Erskine who will be working on the carriers, Rear Admiral The Princess Royal pushed the button to start the computer-guided laser that cut the first piece of steel for the hull of these immense new ships.

Scott is one of 70 new apprentices who have been taken on by BVT to support work on the carriers. The programme has reinvigorated apprenticeship schemes at the prime shipyards and provides a solid workload for the coming years.

Three other major sections (called lower blocks) of the ship will be assembled at yards at Portsmouth and Rosyth. Other fabrication work will be done at the Appledore shipyards in Devon. Each block will be transported to Rosyth dockyard where they will be joined together to form the hull of the ship.

Manufacturing activity is continuing across the country, with the assembly of the bow for the Queen Elizabeth well underway at Appledore and work on the aircraft lifts progressing in Rosyth.

While the hull construction is just beginning, the project has moved on apace since the manufacture contract was signed in July last year, with £700m worth of sub-contracts placed for the equipment and furnishings that will kit out the ships from the weapons systems to the galleys and cabins.

UK industry has also benefited from the development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and is well placed to win further work as this programme progresses well into the 21st century.


AWD Project Progressing Well
Source: Australian Department of Defence

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Science, Personnel and Materiel, today announced several procurement contracts related to the combat system of the new Hobart Class Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) have been signed by the AWD Alliance.



These procurements for the combat system on the Destroyers and for shipbuilding work and supplies have been recently completed by the AWD Alliance and total over $50 million.

“These procurements demonstrate the AWD Alliance’s continuing transition this year from planning and decision making to execution of this nation building project,” Mr Combet said.

Among the more significant of these procurements are combat system contracts to provide a Very Short Range-Surface capability, an Electro Optical system and a number of contracts relating to the valves and flanges required for the project.

A list of the major contracts announced today is attached.

“Today’s announcement builds on the more than $850 million of contracts signed by the AWD Alliance since December last year.

“This includes $450 million for the hull block construction. In addition a number of ship building contracts have also been signed, including the provision of the AWD turbines, the helicopter handling system, reduction gears, steering system, gas turbines, the ships’ engines, generators and propellers.”

Mr Combet said the Alliance is also working hard to deliver on its commitment to maximise the opportunities for use of Australian industry capability and said that over 60 per cent of the $850 million of contracts is going straight to Australian Industry.

Further procurements will be finalised over the coming months, as the AWD Alliance moves towards production.

The AWD Project, currently Australia’s largest defence procurement, remains on time and on budget.

Recently Completed Major Contracts and Successful Contractor
-- Very Short Range Defence (Surface) – Rafael
-- Electro Optical Surveillance – Ultra Electronics
-- Plumber Bearings – American Metal Bearings
-- I & T Steel Beam Sections – Hierros Marcellino Franco HMF
-- DH55 Steel Plate – Arcelor
-- Other Steel Sections – Hierros Marcellino Franco HMF; HMF Ruukki
-- Steering System – Jered Industries
-- Marine Growth Prevention & Cathodic Protection – Wilson Walton
-- IRSS Reduction Device – WR Davis Engineering
-- Valves – Frontline
-- FO Service Engine Driver Valves – Morpac Industries
-- Plate Cutting – Ferrocut
-- MS Pipe and Flanges – Frontline


Photo of the Day



An artist's impression of Canberra and Adelaide conducting an amphibious operation.

Gator