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



Feature - IJN "Super" Yamato - 1/700
MSW crew-mate Erick Navas (ericknavas) sends us a fine photo display of his 1/700 IJN "Super" Yamato.. Enjoy.




Frigate Upgrades A Step Closer to Conclusion
Source: Australian Department of Defense

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science today announced that the project to upgrade our Adelaide Class Frigates (FFG) is now a step closer to its conclusion with the contractual acceptance of HMAS Newcastle three months ahead of the schedule.

Mr Combet officiated at a ceremony at Garden Island for the contractual acceptance of HMAS Newcastle, the fourth and final FFG to undergo the upgrade program.

“The FFG Upgrade program, formally known as Project SEA 1390 Phase 2.1, has been a very complex project involving a high level of sophisticated naval systems integration. The project involved the development of new technology systems and the integration of those systems with legacy FFG equipment,” said Mr Combet.

“It is well known that the FFG Upgrade program has been on the Government’s project of concern list due to the long delays in the delivery of this project. Therefore I am very pleased to see the acceptance of this final frigate.”

“The contractual acceptance of HMAS Newcastle now means that the Defence Materiel Organisation has determined that the material properties of all of the upgraded ships are in suitable accordance with contracted requirements.”

“Given the problems this project faced in the past, it has taken very good leadership by all parties including, Navy, DMO, Thales and its subcontractors to reach this point. It has also highlighted to me the importance of the work being undertaken in the Government’s project of concern unit to remediate problematic projects.”


USNS Safeguard Completes First Navy Voyage Repairs in Vietnam
Source: US Navy

SINGAPORE --- USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50) transited down the Saigon River on Sept. 12, quietly making history as the first U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command ship to utilize a Vietnamese shipyard for voyage repairs.

Safeguard accomplished repairs at Saigon Shipmarin Shipyard from Aug. 27 to Sept. 12, completing work on its davits, transformers, ladder wells and piping, before assuming a new mission in the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility.

The idea to use a Vietnamese shipyard came from Military Sealift Fleet Support Command (MSFSC SSU) Singapore, which routinely contracts with shipyards throughout Southeast Asia to affect emergent and voyage repairs to U.S. Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force Program Ships. By utilizing multiple commercial shipyards throughout the region, the Navy saves both time and money by shortening the time vessels are off mission, and reducing transit times to more distant shipyards.

"This initiative started back in October 2008, when we began trying to establish repair relationships in Vietnam," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Little, officer in charge of MSFSC SSU Singapore. "Ship repair normally doesn't get too exciting, it was great being there when Safeguard came up the river and into the shipyard, and I was even more proud when it left on time with all the work complete."

Safeguard's successful completion of voyage repairs adds capability for the Navy, giving it another possible option for emergent or voyage repairs when port loading conditions at other commercial shipyards make them unavailable.

"The cooperation we received could not have been better," wrote Captain Peter Long, Safeguard's Master, in a note to the shipyard's leadership. "The people we met were talented professionals with an excellent work ethic… and the final result was a most successful voyage repair experience."




First Operational Growler Squadron 'Safe for Flight'
Source: US Navy

NAVAL AIR STATION WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. --- Electronic Attack (VAQ) 132 received the official notification in a Sept. 22 Navy message from Capt. Tom Slais, Commander Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet, that the squadron was certified "safe for flight operations in the EA-18G."

"Your hard work and dedication is exemplary, and I am confident you will continue to display the same pride and professionalism as you execute safe operations and maintain your aircraft," said Slais.

The first operational Growler squadron to attain "safe for flight" status since the first EA-18G arrived Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in June 2008 recently returned from a successful carrier qualification detachment on board USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) with a 100 percent qualification rate.

Operating out of Naval Air Station Oceana, Va., each pilot in the Fleet's first EA-18G "Growler" squadron completed a series of day and night arrested landings to become officially qualified to fly the newest fleet aircraft aboard Navy aircraft carriers.

"Carrier Qualification is a huge milestone in VAQ-132's transition to the Growler," said Bunnay, who was happy with the results of the detachment. "Squadrons build their reputations operating around the carrier, and I feel like we conducted ourselves with a high level of professionalism."

Since February of this year, VAQ-132 has been in the process of transitioning to the EA-18G under the guidance of VAQ-129, the Fleet Replacement Squadron responsible for training transition aircrew.

Along with the Scorpion aircrew, the maintenance personnel in VAQ-132 have been working non-stop to complete their requirements for the squadron's "safe for flight" qualification, which will allow them to operate airplanes autonomously.

Recently the maintenance department underwent a series of rigorous inspections conducted by Electronic Attack Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet and performed above and beyond expectations.




Prinz Eugen.com

Today’s website is Prinz Eugen.com. This site provides the modeler with over 150 photos of the might German cruiser. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1884 - The Department of the Navy establishes the Naval War College at Newport, R.I.
1940 - The fourth group of eight U.S. destroyers involved in the Destroyers for Bases Deal are turned over to British authorities in Halifax, Canada.
1943 - In the Battle of Vella Lavella, three U.S. destroyers attack nine Japanese destroyers to stop evacuation of Japanese troops from Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands.
1958 - USS Seawolf (SSN 575) completes a record submerged run of 60 days, logging more than 13,700 nautical miles.
1962 - USS Bainbridge (DLGN 25), the Navy's first nuclear-powered destroyer, is commissioned.
1997 - NASA Astronaut Cmdr. Wendy B. Lawrence returns from mission with STS-86, when Space Shuttle Atlantis docks with Mir Space Station. The mission began Sept. 25.


Photo of the Day



Forward turrets of heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen in 1940.

Gator