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



Feature - HMS Jupiter

MSW Crewmember Bob Cicconi [bobcicconi] passes along a nice build of the HMS Jupiter in this "On Display" build feature.


Feature - Peruvian Monitor Huáscar

MSW crew-mate Erick Navas (ericknavas) shares his latest work, a 1/100 scale paper model of the Peruvian Monitor Huáscar in this "On Display" build feature.




Construction of New Support Vessel to Proceed
Source: Netherlands Ministry of Defense

The Lower House of Parliament today approved the construction of a new support vessel for the Royal Netherlands Navy. A majority of MPs gave approval to the project, after earlier resistance due to a budget overrun was overcome.
The tasks of the so-called Joint Logistics Support Ship (JSS) are to carry supplies at sea, sea basing and strategic sea lift. The former task is to base a ship at sea for conducting and supporting operations on land.

The ship, with a length of 190 meter and a width of approximately 30 meters, will be equipped with a crane and an elevator capable of lifting heavy equipment.

The ship is big enough to transport Leopard 2 battle tanks, self-propelled guns and Chinook helicopters. It will also have a rear landing deck for helicopters, and a hospital with two operating rooms.

In a few years, the JSS will replace the supply ship HMLS Zuiderkruis.


Mistral Acquisition: Russia to Decide by Year-End
Source: defense-aerospace.com

Russia’s decision on the possible purchase of French Mistral-class Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement (BPC) amphibious ship is imminent. "There will be a clear answer before the end of the year on the purchase or not a Mistral," said General Makarov, Chief of Staff of the Russian army, in remarks quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency.

During its late November visit to St. Petersburg, the Mistral received a very enthusiastic reception from Russian officials, who were highly appreciative of its capabilities.

Many on-board tours were organized for Russian military groups, and various deck handling trials were conducted with Russian helicopters, including the Ka-52, Ka-27 and Ka-29.

Designed by DCNS and delivered to the French Navy in 2006, the Mistral is 199 meters long and has a loaded displacement of 21,500 tonnes. Capable of carrying four landing craft and 16 heavy helicopters, the ship can accommodate 450 troops and 70 vehicles.

If a contract is signed with Russia, the ship will be built at the Saint-Nazaire shipyards, where the third BPC for the French Navy is currently under construction. Russia could then locally assemble additional ships at its own shipyards, with French technical assistance.


Northrop Grumman Receives Contract to Supply Radar Systems for U.S. Navy Submarines
Source: Northrop Grumman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation's Sperry Marine business unit has been awarded a contract to supply navigation radar systems for eight new U.S. Navy nuclear attack submarines.

The firm, fixed-price contract, valued at $20.9 million, was awarded to Sperry Marine by Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C.

The contract calls for Sperry Marine to produce and deliver eight AN/BPS-16(v)5 radar sets to be installed on eight Virginia-class Block III submarines. The scope of work will include manufacturing, fabrication, assembly and testing.

The AN/BPS-16(v)5 is an advanced submarine navigation radar and electronic navigation system, which provides naval electronic chart display and information system (ECDIS-N) capability running on Sperry Marine's Voyage Management System (VMS) software.

"The AN/BPS-16(v)5 with VMS software will permit the new submarines to be certified to use ECDIS-N as their primary navigation tool," said J. Nolasco DaCunha, vice president of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine. "With this contract, the submarine community continues to make rapid progress toward the U.S. Navy's goal of converting the entire fleet to ECDIS-N."

The Virginia-class Block III submarines are being built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and General Dynamics Electric Boat. The lead submarine in the Block III build, North Dakota (SSN 784), is scheduled to be delivered in 2014.




Royal Navy Sea Kings - Flying Over Afghanistan for Two Years
Source: UK Ministry of Defense

It's a long way from their natural stomping grounds over the world's oceans but after two years of successful service in Afghanistan Royal Navy Sea Kings are showing they are more than at home in the hot and dusty conditions of Helmand province.

For two years the green Sea King Mk4s of the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) have been heavily involved in flying operations in Afghanistan as part of the Joint Helicopter Force.

Mainly based at Kandahar Airfield, with elements also based at Camp Bastion, they regularly fly missions over the volatile Helmand region, 80 miles (129km) to the west of Kandahar.

Regional Command (South) readily call on the 'Jungly' squadrons because of their considerable operational experience and the aircraft's increased performance and capability, which has earned them an enviable reputation for reliability in the face of adversity. The nickname 'Jungly' evolved during the Borneo Campaign of 1963-66, as it was within the Indonesian jungle that squadrons of the Royal Navy proved their versatility.

Now with the increased tempo of operations, the support helicopters have an enduring and critical role to play in Afghanistan and the Sea Kings of 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons have successfully satisfied the surge of activity over the summer months.

Captain Jon Pentreath Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of the CHF, explained: "The CHF is an extremely dynamic unit and has been involved in front line operations almost continuously since the first Gulf War in 1991.

"The flying tasks for the aviators are diverse and challenging, calling for tactical low-level flight by day and night in all weather.

"Aircrew and ground crew alike are taught the military skills and fieldcraft needed to cope in environments such as the desert or arctic.

"The sweltering conditions in Afghanistan, where temperatures reach well above 50 degrees C in July, through to sub-zero temperatures, will see their capability tested to the limit. Such high temperatures affect both aircrew and engineers alike.

"Maintaining helicopters in such conditions requires careful use of personnel to avoid heat exhaustion and performing major servicing routines during cooler periods such as overnight and at first and last light.

"For the aircrew, diligent use of the correct flying techniques and stringent planning ensure their Sea King helicopters will still carry out their missions and that forces on the ground remain fully supported."

CHF Sea Kings have been modified to operate in the demanding Afghan environment with Carson rotor blades and a new tail rotor to provide greater lift, an extra door gun for improved all-round defence, and a significantly enhanced night-flying capability system along with an upgraded defensive aids suite.

Due to these upgrades the aircraft can cope with the very high altitudes during the summer and can now survive extreme temperatures, talcum-powder-like dust, and pitch-black nights.

However, as Chief Petty Officer Paul Worton, an avionics engineer with 846 Squadron, explains, the harsh conditions do still offer some challenges for the aircraft: "The weather is quite favourable at the moment but we are at altitude and the aircraft work a lot of hours and are pushed to their limits.

"They do come back covered in dust so you can see they have been working hard in an arduous environment, so it does take its toll.

"The rotor blade system was changed to a Carson system and they modified the tail rotor and main head; it helps as the air is thinner and it offers more lift.

"All the aircraft struggle in the heat but the Sea Kings are holding up and offering a good capability. Our people like it, it's a good and reliable airframe that is proven to be able to do its job."

For Royal Marine Corporal Lee Hegerty, a Sea King crewman also of 846 Squadron, it is not just the dust and the heat that pose problems but the pitch-black nights when there is no moon - operations have to continue though.

Cpl Hegerty said: "Throughout the month you get different moon states and when there is no moonlight you get something called 'red illum' [red illumination] and it is only the Sea Kings that will operate in it due to the size of the cab; it is medium-lift and also we are trained on DNVG [display night-vision goggles].

"In fact our experiences here have led us to develop a training programme for crews of Lynx and Chinook helicopters as it's very hard to fly in red illum, it's pitch-black with no ambient lighting and the dust on landing sites can make things even worse.

"It's tough but the pilots are spot on and I would say are the best trained pilots in the military. We practise dust landings and do night-training a lot so it all comes together when we are out on sorties."

For Lieutenant JD Edwards, a Royal Navy pilot with 845 Squadron, the increase in night-flying has proved challenging but ultimately very rewarding: "We have been doing more night-flying than ever," he said. "There are tactical reasons for that as you get more performance out of the aircraft when it's cooler at night and obviously it is harder for the insurgents to see you.

"However, night-flying brings challenges, especially landing on sites you haven't seen before. It really does test your skills as a crew and means you all have to work together to ensure a safe approach."

After two years of successful service in Afghanistan the Sea Kings and their crews are proving to be a valuable asset to British forces in the country and look set to be deployed on many more vital sorties before they return home to their UK base of Yeovilton.




USS Swordfish (SS-193)

Today’s website is the Wikipedia article about the USS Swordfish (SS-193).


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1821 - Lt. Robert F. Stockton and Dr. Eli Ayers, a Naval surgeon and member of the American Colonizing Society, induce a local African king to sell territory for a colony, which eventually became the Republic of Liberia.
1907 - The Great White Fleet departs Hampton Roads, Va., to circumnavigate the world.
1922 - USS Bainbridge (DD 246) rescues 482 people from the burning French transport Vinh-Long.
1941 - USS Swordfish (SS 193) sinks Japanese cargo ship Atsutasan Maru.
1942 - Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Harry B. Roby performs an appendectomy on Torpedoman 1st Class W.R. Jones aboard USS Grayback (SS 208). It is the second appendectomy ever performed aboard a submarine.
1998 - In Operation Desert Fox, Navy cruise missiles attack Iraq.


Photo of the Day



Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman William Buck, from Virginia Beach, Va., mans the bow safety watch as an F/A-18 Hornet launches from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

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