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



Unmanned Surface Vessels
Source: Kockums AB

Kockums’ Piraya project has recently attracted attention in the media. The Project has also been highlighted in conjunction with a conference on naval security, attended by some one hundred experts from all over the country.

“This in-house development project aims to study ways in which many Unmanned Surface Vessels can be managed simultaneously,” states Project Manager Jens-Olof Lindh. “To do this, you need some USVs that you can use for trial purposes. For this reason, we have worked on developing both USVs and software during 2008 and 2009, to enable us to conduct these tests. The fourth Piraya vessel was completed and became operational at the end of September. Kockums now has four USVs that can be deployed for testing and trials, such as with communications and control systems.”

The seminar on the Piraya project attracted keen interest, a project in which many have already previously expressed interest. The Swedish Navy and representatives from civil port authorities wish to be updated on how this type of vessel might be used for surveillance and security applications. The Piraya USV can operate independently or in conjunction with other land-based or seaborne systems.

“We recently operated three vessels with the same control system,” states Jens-Olof Lindh. “As well as technical trials, we’re developing methods for handling a range of functions, such as vessel preparation, transfer between the team and tactical management and surveillance of the marine sector in which we operate, to secure marine safety.”

A feature article in Swedish technology journal Ny Teknik headlined the project in the following terms: “Kockums’ unmanned miniature vessels are a smuggler’s nightmare.” The article noted that Kockums has been quietly engaged in developing brand new technology for the control of unmanned vessels over the past two years, adding that the Piraya project’s four prototypes can be controlled as a small and partially automated fleet by a single operator.


General Dynamics' Littoral Combat Ship Independence Completes Builder's Trials
Source: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

MOBILE, Ala. --- Independence (LCS 2), the innovative high-speed trimaran combatant ship being constructed by shipbuilder Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., as part of the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team, successfully completed a series of tests known as builder's trials on October 18 in the Gulf of Mexico. The trials included more than 50 demonstration events that rigorously test the ship and all of its systems in preparation for final inspection by the Navy before delivery.

Notable achievements during the trials included reaching a sustained speed of 44 knots during the required four-hour full-power run, with a top speed in excess of 45 knots.

Many of the test events were conducted in high sea-state and wind conditions (8-foot waves and winds in excess of 25 knots). Despite the weather, the ship repeatedly reached speeds of over 45 knots with propulsion and ride-control systems operating in full automatic mode, proving the effectiveness of the control systems and the highly efficient and stable characteristics of the trimaran hull form.

A series of high speed ahead and astern maneuvers in these sea state conditions proved the effectiveness of the ship's four steerable water jets. During the repeated high-speed turns the ship demonstrated excellent agility and stability characteristics.

The ship's flight deck remained stable despite sea state conditions and maneuvers.

The ship's open architecture computing infrastructure (called OPEN CI), a highly flexible information-technology backbone that integrates the ship's combat, damage control, engineering control, mission package and other onboard computing functions, also proved its effectiveness during the trials. The OPEN CI 'any display, anywhere' capability was extremely valuable in enabling the LCS 2 crew to electronically reconfigure the bridge area and, at long range, the Core Mission System successfully detected, engaged and eliminated a simulated cruise missile attack by a small, fast-moving jet aircraft.

In addition, the LCS 2 crew was able to access detailed performance and operation data from the bridge while the ship was operating, thereby providing them with real-time insight as to how the ship systems were performing.

Jeff Geiger, president of team-leader Bath Iron Works, was on-board for the ship's high-speed trials on October 15. He said, "Independence exceeded our expectations in terms of maneuverability, stability, handling and speed. We are very pleased to be one step closer to delivering this highly capable, versatile and lethal platform to the United States Navy."

In addition, Geiger praised the builder's trials team for a job well done: "I'm proud of this entire team of professionals, including Navy representatives from SUPSHIP, Bath and Washington, D.C., who were beside us every step of the way, for their hard work and perseverance."

Upon returning from the full-power trial, Joe Rella, president and chief operating officer of Austal USA, remarked: "The LCS did extremely well. Mobile and Alabama can be justifiably proud of their shipbuilders."

The Littoral Combat Ship is a major part of the Navy's plan to address asymmetric threats in the 21st century. Intended to operate in coastal areas, the ships will be fast, highly maneuverable and equipped to support mine detection/elimination, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare mission.

The ship's highly flexible OPEN CI design, developed and integrated by a General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems team, allows "plug and play" integration of both the core systems and the LCS mission modules. It meets Navy open architecture requirements, strictly adheres to published industry standards and facilitates the integration of commercially available products.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works is the prime contractor for the General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team. Partners include shipbuilder Austal USA (Mobile, AL); General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems (Fairfax, VA); BAE Systems (Rockville, MD); L3 Communications Marine Systems (Leesburg, VA); Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (Baltimore, MD); and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems (Baltimore, MD).

Bath Iron Works employs approximately 5,700 people. Since 1991, BIW has manufactured and delivered 31 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers; the shipyard is also building the lead ship of the Navy's Zumwalt (DDG 1000) class of guided missile destroyers.

Austal USA's Mobile facility currently employs almost 1,000 workers and is the largest aluminum shipyard in the world. In addition to the LCS, recent projects have included construction of the largest-ever aluminum ferry in the United States. Austal is also in the pre-construction design phase on the first Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) for the U.S. Department of Defense.

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a provider of end-to-end mission solutions in systems integration, development and operations support to customers in the defense, intelligence, space and homeland security communities. The company integrates land, air, sea, space and cyber assets to facilitate the collection, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of mission-critical intelligence information.




Ospreys Launch From Bataan to Support OEF
Source: US Navy

USS BATAAN, At Sea --- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) launched 10 MV-22B Ospreys from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit to fly into Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, Nov. 6, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The aircraft, part of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced), will be transferred to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261 and serve as part of 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade's Aviation Combat Element.

The 22nd MEU was the first Marine Expeditionary Unit to conduct a ship-based deployment with the tiltrotor aircraft. VMM-263 (Rein) attached to the MEU in September, 2008, and was also the first squadron to deploy with the aircraft to Iraq in 2007.

"It is a great honor for us to support 2nd MEB, and we are proud to be the first unit to bring this aircraft into Afghanistan," said Col. Gareth F. Brandl, 22nd MEU commanding officer. "We have spent more than a year working with the MV-22B and know that the added capabilities this aircraft brings will benefit the Marines currently engaged against the enemy."

"This historic mission has been one of the highlights of our deployment," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "We did all we could to make sure they had all the material and logistic support necessary to have a safe and successful fly-off."

The Ospreys launched in three waves making the 510 nautical mile flight in just over two hours. During the aircraft's first amphibious deployment, it flew in support of theater security cooperation events in three countries, including U.S. Central Command's largest exercise, Bright Star 2009 in Egypt.

The Osprey was also used to conduct multiple medical evacuations from ship to shore and was employed to conduct logistics flights to Rota, Spain; Naval Air Station, Sigonella (Sicily); Djibouti, Africa and Bahrain. For more than a month, the squadron supported desert training when the MEU trained ashore in Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

"The men and women of the squadron performed admirably in support of this mission," said Lt. Col. Paul P. Ryan, commanding officer of VMM-263. "I am convinced that this weapon system will serve the operating forces well for decades to come."

Ryan added that the MEU has learned a great deal about operating with the Osprey and has captured lessons learned throughout the deployment to support future tiltrotor squadrons as they begin to deploy with other MEUs.

The 22nd MEU, led by Brandl, is a scalable, multipurpose force of more than 2,200 Marines and Sailors. The unit is composed of its Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22 and its Command Element.

The Bataan ARG is composed of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce (LPD 15), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Fleet Surgical Team (FST) 6, Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 2, ACU 4 and Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 2.

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd MEU embarked, deployed May 13, 2009 to conduct maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations.




The Columbus Foundation

Today’s website is The Columbus Foundation. The Columbus Foundation is the home of the historically accurate Nina and Pinta. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1912 - Lt. Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard.
1940 - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Harold R. Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on four plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific.
1942 - First day of the three days of fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB 61) to go to the Allied conferences at Teheran, Iran, and Cairo, Egypt.


Photo of the Day



Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (31st MEU) unload assault vehicles from a landing craft, air cushion from the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) during an amphibious integration training exercise.

Gator