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



Review - Still Motions Gearing/Sumner CD
Join Jim Adams (goldenpony) for a look at Still Motions Photographics Volume 57 covering the Gearing and Sumner classes FRAM Flt I and Flt II conversions. The CD covers ships from 1944 to 1974.
Review


Review - Flyhawk Takao PE/Resin Upgrade Set
MSW Crewmember D.T. (DR_WHO2) brings us an in-box review of Flyhawk Models 1/350 IJN Takao Premium Detail Set.
Review




USS Indianapolis Survivor's Organization

Today’s website is the USS Indianapolis Survivor's Organization. Today marks the 64th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1918 - Units of First Marine Aviation Force arrive at Brest, France.
1941 - Japanese aircraft bomb USS Tutuila (PR 4) at Chungking, China; First Navy ship damaged by Axis during World War II.
1942 - FDR signs act establishing Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES). During World War II, more than 80,000 officer and enlisted women served in the WAVES.
1944 - Naval Task Force lands Army troops near Cape Opmarai, New Guinea.
1945 - Japanese submarine, I-58, sinks USS Indianapolis (CA 35) in Philippine Sea; 316 out of 1,199 crew survived.


Coalition Ship Assists Mariners in Gulf of Aden
Source: US Navy

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- The Pakistani naval ship (PNS) Badr, operating as part of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, recently came to the assistance of Merchant Vessel (M/V) Antisana Jorf after the vessel reported engine problems in the Gulf of Aden.

Knowing that a slow speed would make the Norwegian-flagged M/VAntisana Jorf susceptible to pirate attack, CTF 151 dispatched PNS Badr to render assistance to the motor vessel and provide security as the vessel attempted to transit towards the nearest port in Aden, Yemen.

Badr escorted the distressed vessel for approximately 36 hours, assuring the vessel safe passage to Yemeni territorial waters. CTF-151 contacted the Yemeni Coast Guard to rendezvous with the vessel once it reached Yemeni territorial waters to further assist its arrival to Aden for repair.

"As professional sailors, we are all out here ultimately for the same reason," said Turkish Rear Adm. Caner Bener, commander, CTF 151. "We want to ensure safety and security in the region for all those who sail in the area."

The coordination between CTF 151 and the Yemeni Coast Guard demonstrates the importance of multinational efforts off the Coast of Somalia. This incident also highlights the increased level of cooperation with coalition forces in the area.

CTF 151 is a Turkish-led multinational task force established to conduct counterpiracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt and suppress piracy in order to protect global maritime security and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations.


Firepower boost for HMS Westminster
Source: Royal Navy.

HMS Westminster is set to get a major boost to her firepower in a £11M refit at Devonport.
Babcock began work today on the refit that will see the Type 23 frigate become the first in the class to receive both a major update to the Seawolf self-defence missile system and the new command system that controls the weapons at the same time.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:
“We work closely with industry to equip our Armed Forces and this refit will boost several of HMS Westminster’s systems and making her the most advanced frigate in the fleet.

“The Seawolf update that is being rolled out across the Type 23s is designed to combat the increasing threat of faster, lower flying and more manouvreable missiles today and also to guard against future advances. The system can now track an object the size of a cricket ball at twice the speed of sound from over 20 miles away and launch two counter missiles.”
The new ‘brain’ of the ship’s weapons systems, called DNA(2), is also being installed as part of a class-wide programme upgrade across the Type 23 Frigate Force to help ensure that operational capability can be sustained and optimised for the future.

Director of Ships at Defence Equipment and Support, Rear Admiral Bob Love, said:
“The updated command system is designed to sustain the world-class operational capability of the Royal Navy’s Type 23 frigates as technology moves forward. Exploiting off-the-shelf computing technology as appropriate, the system will be easier and more cost effective to maintain through life and shares many technological and operational features with that on the Type 45 Destroyers now entering service. This commonality will deliver further support efficiencies and minimise the need for Royal Navy personnel to retrain across ship classes during their careers.”
The contract for the upkeep period was negotiated under the Surface Ship Support Programme, the developing alliance between MOD, Babcock and BVT Surface Fleet.

Routine maintenance work during the upkeep, including replacement of the gearbox mainwheel, will also ensure that the warship remains in top condition for worldwide operations. The class was designed for anti-submarine operations and this refit will also see her state of the art Sonar 2087 system updated to maintain this capability as well as an update that will increase the range and performance of her 4.5” gun.


Photo of the Day



USS Indianapolis at Mare Island.

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