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



Review - Tamiya 1/700 Z Class (Z37-39)

New MSW crew-mate Scott Espin (SPIFF) gives us his thoughts and views on Tamiya Models, 1/700 scale Waterline Series Z Class Destroyer (Z37-39) Project Barbara kit in this inbox review.




Warship Business Gives Boost to UK Economy
Source: BAE Systems

Portsmouth, UK – A report published today has revealed that BAE Systems Surface Ships, formerly BVT Surface Fleet, added almost £600 million to the UK economy and supported almost 15,000 jobs last year, demonstrating the economic and social value of the warship industry to the UK.

The study by the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute examines the direct and indirect economic impact of the warship business, recently brought under full ownership of BAE Systems. It covers employment, wages, turnover and contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for BAE Systems Surface Ships’ operations in Glasgow, Portsmouth and Filton for the year 2008/09*.

Key findings for BAE Systems Surface Ships:

-- Total turnover generated amounted to £1.12 billion
-- Its operations contributed £231 million directly to GDP, with an additional £366 million created in the wider economy through the knock-on effects of wage and supplier payments
-- It employed around 6,700 people directly across its UK sites, with a further 8,200 supported elsewhere in the UK
-- This means that for every 100 people employed directly, a further 122 jobs were supported in the wider economy
-- The business generated a total of £426 million worth of wages across the UK, including £199 million paid directly and re-expenditure accounting for a further £227 million
-- Every £100 paid directly in wages to its employees supported a further £111 worth of wage income elsewhere in the UK

Alan Johnston, Managing Director of BAE Systems Surface Ships, commented: “The findings of the study demonstrate that our business and the warship industry continue to thrive in the UK and the number of people who benefit from the shipyards continues to increase year on year.

“Despite the current economic climate, we have seen significant growth in the past year and have the strongest future order book that this industry has seen in many years. Our long-term partnering agreement with the Ministry of Defence will help to sustain key industry capabilities in the UK and we will continue to invest in our people and facilities to ensure that, as part of BAE Systems, we remain at the heart of British industry.”

The report reinforces the importance of BAE Systems’ commitment to working closely with its supply chain and industrial partners to drive innovation, enhance efficiencies and develop the skills necessary to ensure the long-term contribution of the warship industry to the UK economy. Its Surface Ships business has quadrupled its commitment to research and development to £2.5 million and continues to invest in skills to provide a strong base for its future domestic and export business.

The Fraser of Allander Institute is a research unit of the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. The Institute carries out research on regional issues generally and the Scottish economy in particular, including forecasting and the analysis of short-term and medium-term movements in Scottish economic activity.


£55M Boost for Shipbuilding on the Tyne
Source: UK Ministry of Defence

Tyneside shipbuilders A&P are celebrating the return of Naval shipbuilding to the North East today with the award of a £55M contract to construct a section of the Royal Navy’s giant new aircraft carriers.

The massive construction project, which will provide around five years’ work for A&P and support the 210-strong workforce, will see A&P construct a 1,000 tonne section that will form part of the first of the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers. At 65,000 tonnes, these will be the largest warships ever constructed in the UK.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies said:

“Companies right across the UK are involved in delivering this project which represents a step change in defence’s capability, enabling Britain to deliver airpower from the sea wherever and whenever it is required. The excellent progress being made by A&P here on the Tyne is evidence of the absolute commitment to delivering this vital capability.”

Head of Capital Ships at the MOD Tony Graham said:

“This is an historic day for shipbuilding in the North East, marking its involvement in the biggest shipbuilding programme the Navy has seen. It is fantastic that the young apprentices who have been taken on by A&P are learning their trade on these Carriers, which will be the cornerstone of the future Navy.

“The Aircraft Carrier Alliance has been impressed by the commitment of A&P management to upgrading their facilities and providing confidence in their ability to meet important delivery milestones. We know and trust that A&P management and workforce will deliver their promises.”

Investment has been made in new equipment including a state-of-the art plasma cutter and new panel line at the Hebburn site which will equip A&P Tyne with the facilities to deliver their parts of the aircraft carriers.

The aircraft carriers are being constructed in sections at locations around the country and will be shipped to Rosyth in Scotland where they will be fitted together. Contracts for the equipment that will furnish the ships worth over £1Bn to date have also been placed around the UK.

Aircraft Carrier Alliance Programme Director Geoff Searle said: “This is a fantastic day for A&P Tyne and the Aircraft Carrier Alliance. These carriers will be this country’s future flagships so our primary focus and that of our contractors is ensuring we deliver the best vessels possible to the Royal Navy.

“The commitment of the Tyneside workforce to building these ships for the UK Armed Forces is very evident and I am delighted that A&P Tyne is now officially on contract and has started to make great progress on the first ship.”

A&P Group Managing Director David Skentelbery said: “Our Hebburn workforce has a proud tradition of delivering a first rate job and I have no doubt that they will continue to do so on this hugely prestigious project.

“At A&P Tyne, we are set to deliver a substantial part of these ships and I am delighted that we can represent the North East on the project.”


BACKGROUND NOTES:
The ships will be the largest warships ever built in the UK. Dimensions:
--Weight: 65000 tonnes
--Length: 280m
--Width: 70m
--Aircraft: 40 (including Short Take-Off Vertical Landing strike aircraft and helicopters)
--Complement: 1,450 (including embarked aircrew and support staff).
--Power generation: 109MW
--Range: 8,000 to 10,000 nautical miles

Prime contractors BAE Systems Surface Ships have recruited 78 new apprentices on the Clyde and 42 in Portsmouth in 2009, taking the total number of apprentices in the business to 504. In Rosyth, Babcock recruited a further 52 apprentices in 2009, which boosted the company’s total number of apprentices to 157.

The innovative Aircraft Carrier Alliance is a single integrated team formed from, BAE Systems, Thales UK and the MOD (which acts as both partner and client.) It is responsible for delivering the Queen Elizabeth Class ships to time and cost. Alliancing allows for the collaborative delivery of the aircraft carriers by bringing together all interested parties with a vested financial interest to make decisions to achieve what is best for the project, as well as providing the most effective way of managing risk and reward.




Northrop Grumman Completes First Production Deliveries of the MQ-8B Fire Scout to the U.S. Navy
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

SAN DIEGO --- Northrop Grumman Corporation completed the first three MQ-8B Fire Scout production deliveries to the U.S. Navy, which completes the first year of Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) for the Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle (VTUAV) program.

Two of the three Fire Scouts were deployed aboard the USS McInerney for use on a scheduled operational deployment to complete a Fire Scout Military Utility Assessment (MUA). Prior to the current deployment, Fire Scouts have been aboard the USS McInerney four times since December 2008, completing 110 ship takeoffs and landings and 45 landings with the harpoon grid, accumulating over 47 hours of flight time.

"Fire Scout's performance aboard the USS McInerney has continued to provide us with invaluable operational insight and enhance our ability to support the U.S. Navy," said George Vardoulakis, vice president of Tactical Unmanned Systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "And we are excited about the opportunity to work alongside the sailors of the USS McInerney for Fire Scout's first operational deployment."




Project Liberty Ship

Today’s website is Project Liberty Ship. Project Liberty Ship is dedicated to the preservation of the Liberty Ship S.S. JOHN W BROWN as a living memorial to the men and women who built the great Liberty Fleet and to the merchant seamen and Naval Armed Guard who sailed the ships across the oceans of the world. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1942 - In Battle of Tassafaronga, last major naval action in Solomons, U.S. forces stop the Japanese attempt to reprovision the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal. Six U.S. ships are damaged in the action.


Photo of the Day



The Australian frigate HMAS Anzac at sea.

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