Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - Hood VS. Bismark, in 1/350
MSW Crew-mate Kostas Katseas (angeleyes) sends in a duo build in 1/350 scale, channeling the Battle of the Denmark Strait, Hood VS. Bismark, in 1/350, in this "On Display" feature.
Ike Takes Part in Dramatic Rescue at Sea
Source: US Navy
USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- Only hours after departing for its 2010 deployment, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) diverted from flight operations to assist the U.S. Coast Guard in a rescue at sea the night of Jan. 2, saving the life of a stranded mariner.
Responding to a vessel-in-distress call, the U.S. Coast Guard requested Eisenhower's aid in the successful extraction of a man whose sailboat had capsized in rough waters approximately 300 miles off the coast of Elizabeth City, N.C. Eisenhower immediately changed course and sailed at high speed toward the distressed mariner.
Initially, a Coast Guard Helicopter planned to only land on board Eisenhower to refuel before proceeding to the scene, but more immediate action became necessary when news came that the boat's main mast had broken and was taking on water, explained Lt. j.g. Randolph Moyer, one of Eisenhower's tactical action officers.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. 2nd Fleet Maritime Operations Center coordinated to identify the Eisenhower and its air assets as the quickest and safest way to rescue the mariner.
The "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 5, launched a search and rescue (SAR) team to extract the mariner from 18 to 21 foot seas and winds peaking at 45 knots.
A Coast Guard C-130 dropped two life rafts for the mariner after the waves destroyed the sailboat's mast. The mariner abandoned his sinking boat and struggled for nearly an hour in the high seas to reach one of the life rafts. The Coast Guard airplane offered aerial support by directing the SAR helicopter through both snow and rain to the life raft.
Lt. Cdmr. Scott Pichette, the helicopter aircraft commander, said the experience and professionalism of the crew made it possible to complete the challenging mission.
"Most of us have been in for almost 18 years, and those were some of the biggest waves any of us had seen," Pichette said. "Mother Nature threw bad weather, ice, snow and hail making it a stretch for us and the helicopter."
Naval Air Crewman 1st Class David Brandon, the SAR crew chief, said the rescue swimmer, Naval Air Crewman 2nd Class Kyle Need, completed the extraction in only six minutes in spite of the intense conditions.
Need said it was the collective effort that made the extraction possible.
"We went over every possible scenario during the transit. The communication made the mission go smoothly," he said.
The copilot for the SAR mission, Cmdr. Byron Ogden, explained that while the conditions were treacherous, the cooperation between the SAR team and the Coast Guard made the mission a success.
"This is honestly one of the most varsity things we could do as far as SAR goes," said Ogden, "I didn't hear one bit of panic in anybody's voice; the whole crew was very calm, cool and collected."
The mariner was treated briefly aboard Eisenhower before being transferred to a Coast Guard helicopter and flown to an Elizabeth City medical facility.
According to Brandon, even after the ordeal, the mariner was in good spirits and grateful to have survived. "With those conditions, he was lucky he made it."
Turkmenia gets two Russian-made patrol boats
Source: Russian Navy Website
Turkmenian Navy received two Sobol patrol boats made by OJSC Almaz Shipbuilding Company (St. Petersburg). They moored Tuesday at Caspian port Turkmenbashi, says press service of Turkmenian government.
Purposeful steps on strengthening naval infrastructure at Caspian Sea are aimed at protection of sea border and active countering international terrorism and trans-border criminality, says the press service.
At August session of National Security Council the President Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov declared necessity to consolidate positions of Turkmenistan at sea, in particular, to create permanent military and coast guard base at Caspian Sea. Turkmenian Coast Guard will purchase "two modern ships armed with missiles"; Turkmenian Navy will regularly conduct exercises in the waters of Caspian Sea, said the president at the same time.
In 2008 Russia delivered Molniya-type guided missile boat to Turkmenian Navy under long lease contract.
Patrol boat Sobol is hugely popular at the world market. Rosoboronexport jointly with Almaz shipyard carries on negotiations with great amount of potential orderers of this fast-speed vessel with high navigability. Among the countries wishing to purchase Sobol are China, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, countries of Middle East, Central America, Southern Africa, Brazil. The contract with Azerbaijan is being elaborated.
Basic features of new boat are high speed (up to 50 knots) provided by German small-power motor and "practically full automation". Sobol may be controlled by the crew of two.
Lead ship of Project 12200 was built in 2006 and handed over FSB Coast Guard for trial operation. Upon trial results it was decided to launch serial production of 30 ships. Sobol demonstrated unique performance and high combat buoyancy. The vessels sail to the destination under their own power.
For the purpose of unification, in perspective Sobol will substitute all boats of that class in Russian Coast Guard. The boat variant delivered to Russian frontiersmen is armed with machinegun, although installation of gun and missiles is possible as well
USS Michigan
Today’s website is USS Michigan from the Naval History and Heritage Command website. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1863 - Blockading ship USS Quaker City captures sloop Mercury carrying despatches, emphasizing the desperate plight of the South.
1910 - Commissioning of USS Michigan (BB 27), the first U.S. dreadnought battleship.
1989 - F-14 Tomcats from Fighter Squadron 32 embarked aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) shoot down two hostile Libyan MiGs.
Photo of the Day
Aircraft embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on the flight deck midnight, New Year's Day. The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is on a routine deployment to the region.
Gator
