Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Review - Protected Cruiser Varyag 1/350
MSW Crewmember D.T. [Dr_Who2] brings us an In-box review of Zvezda Protected Cruiser Varyag in 1/350.
Review
Review - Russian Koreets(Korietz) Gunboat
MSW Crewmember D.T. [Dr_Who2] brings us an In-box review of Box261 Russian Gunboat Koreets (Korietz) in 1/350.
Review
Review - AFV Club U-boat VII C
MSW Crewmember (TAD from Armorama) Ted Hayward [ted_hayward] offers us a build review of AFV Club 1/350 German U-boat VII C, yes I did say AFV Club!
Review
U.S. Navy Awards Lockheed Martin $93 Million to Support Submarine Imaging System
Source: Lockheed Martin
MANASSAS, Va. --- The U.S. Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a contract valued at almost $93 million for engineering services and support of the AN/BVY-1 Integrated Submarine Imaging System (ISIS) and for production of related hardware.
ISIS revolutionizes Navy submarine surveillance capabilities by integrating digital video and still images from devices on a submarine's exterior and presenting real-time imagery and analysis on crews' existing control room tactical displays.
"With ISIS, a submarine operator can manipulate a photonics mast with a joystick, while looking at digital video on a computer monitor, and share that video real-time with the entire combat team on various displays aboard the vessel," said Denise Saiki, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Undersea Systems business.
ISIS also provides submarine operators with additional image enhancement and analysis tools; active and passive range finding control; and recording, storage and recall options for imagery and associated data. In addition, the system's infrared cameras can enhance images and transmit them from the submarine to other naval and joint forces. ISIS supports both periscope and photonic mast applications.
Lockheed Martin began design work and testing of a portion of the inboard hardware and software for ISIS in 2004 that was first installed in a U.S. Navy submarine in 2006. In total, Lockheed Martin has delivered components for 20 ISIS systems for Los Angeles-class attack submarines and four configurations for Ohio-class guided missile submarines.
ISIS is also scheduled to become the image processing system for the Virginia-class submarine. Under the new contract, Lockheed Martin will continue to provide design, development, testing, technology insertion/refreshment, production engineering, field engineering and system support services for ISIS. Some industry partners include 3Phoenix, In-Depth Engineering Corporation and SONALYSTS.
Newest U.S. Navy Logistics Ship Christened, Launched
Source: US Navy
SAN DIEGO --- USNS Matthew Perry (T-AKE 9), which will be the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was christened and launched Aug. 16, during a late afternoon ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.
Perry is expected to be delivered to the Navy's Military Sealift Command in early 2010 following a series of tests and sea trials.
The 689-foot ship slid into the water for the first time as Hester G. Evans – a great, great, great granddaughter of the ship's namesake and the ship's sponsor – broke the traditional bottle of champagne against the ship's bow, christening it USNS Matthew Perry.
The ship honors Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794 – 1858), whose distinguished naval career spanned 50 years. In 1853, Perry led a squadron of ships to Japan, where he successfully negotiated a landmark trade treaty with the Japanese. Perry also served during the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War and sailed off the coast of Africa to suppress the slave trade.
"I am confident this fine vessel will well represent the spirit, tenacity and fortitude of her namesake," said Vice Adm. Richard W. Hunt, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, as he addressed the nearly 2,000 people present at the event, including distinguished guests from the U.S. military, maritime industry, and state and local government.
"USNS Matthew Perry and her sister ships represent the lifeline of our Navy and are absolutely a vital underpinning of our maritime strategy," said Hunt. "These ships' ability to carry a wide range of critical supplies and equipment and to operate independently at sea for extended periods of time, translates into a higher state of readiness for our combatant ships."
Perry is the ninth ship in the Navy's T-AKE class. These ships are owned and operated by MSC and deliver ammunition, provisions, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to U.S. Navy and other navy ships at sea, allowing them to stay underway and combat ready for extended periods of time. The ships are crewed by 124 civil service mariners working for MSC along with 11 U.S. Navy sailors, who provide supply coordination.
"The ship has a great crew, and we are all ready to get on board, get settled and get going with the work we do for MSC," said Capt. William Baldwin, Perry's civil service master. "We're off to a really good start."
Construction began on Perry in October 2008. Once delivered to MSC, Perry is slated to operate out of San Diego. The Navy plans to build 14 dry cargo/ammunition ships, all of which will be owned and operated by MSC.
MSC operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, conduct specialized missions, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military cargo and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces and coalition partners.
Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Completes 2nd Year of Flight Testing
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.
BETHPAGE, N.Y. --- In the two years since Northrop Grumman Corporation's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye took flight at the company's East Coast Manufacturing and Flight Test Center in St. Augustine, Fla., the program has continued on a steady and successful course with an end goal of delivering this revolutionary Airborne Early Warning weapons system to the warfighter.
"Since our first flight in August 2007, the joint Advanced Hawkeye team has continued to demonstrate its commitment to deliver this state-of-the-art airborne early warning capability to the U.S. Navy," said Jim Culmo, Northrop Grumman vice president of Airborne Early Warning and Battle Management Command and Control Programs. "The team's solid performance and strong momentum has resulted in the program achieving, or exceeding, all major milestones."
Culmo said that E-2D pilot production continues ahead of schedule on the first three aircraft, and production of the first Low-Rate Initial Production aircraft began June 15 under a $432 million contract from the U.S. Navy. "The first two E-2D System Development and Design (SDD) aircraft have transitioned to NAS Patuxent River, Md., where they are undergoing additional testing in preparation for Initial Operational Test & Evaluation, scheduled to begin 1Q FY12," he added. "Each progressive phase of testing brings us that much closer to delivering this significantly expanded battlespace and situational awareness capability to the carrier fleet."
In addition to accumulating more than 1,000 flight hours, over half of which have involved in-flight radar testing, in the past year the Advanced Hawkeye program has successfully completed a Production Readiness Review, Operational Assessment, a Technology Readiness Assessment and a Milestone C.
"The E-2D program continues to be a great success story," said Capt. Shane Gahagan, program manager, Hawkeye Greyhound program office, PMA-231. "Not only is the weapon system meeting or exceeding our expectations, but the U.S. Navy has recognized the excellent performance of the joint program management team, evidenced by the Naval Air Systems Commander's award. Also, with the recent successful Office of Naval Research live-fire event, the commitments the E-2 program is making to the family of systems architecture known as Naval Integrated Fire-Control-Counter Air, or NIFC-CA, are also being met."
As the U.S. Navy's carrier-based airborne early warning and battle management command and control system, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, with its newly developed AN/APY-9 radar, works in concert with surface combatants equipped with the Aegis combat system to detect, track and defeat cruise missile threats at extended range.
Erie Maritime Museum
Today’s website is the Erie Maritime Museum. Discover the rich maritime heritage of Lake Erie and Erie itself. The Erie Maritime Museum will take you through the Battle of Lake Erie, the history of the Flagship Niagara, the USS Wolverine, Lake Erie lighthouses, Erie’s fishing industry, and much more. Enjoy.
Website
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1952 - In inter-service air operation at Chang Pyong-ni, Korea, U.S. Navy, Marine and Air Force aircraft destroy 80 percent of assigned area.
1959 - USS Thetis Bay (LPH 6) completes six-day humanitarian operation after floods in Taiwan.
1969 - Navy Seabees and Sailors from Helicopter Training Squadron (HT) 8 evacuated 820 people from Pass Christian, Miss., after Hurricane Camille.
Photo of the Day
Guided-missile destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG 85) steams in formation with ships participating in the Indonesian International Fleet Review off the coast of Manado, Indonesia. McCampbell is one of five U.S. ships participating in the fleet review, which celebrates sixty-four years of Indonesia's independence.
Gator
