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



Oslyabya, Peresviet Class

MSW crew-mate Peter Fulgoney (PeterF) sends in his latest chef d'œuvre, this time, we can ogle over the Peresviet Class Battleship Oslyabya, in this "On Display" feature.




Vinson Deploys to Respond to Haiti Earthquake
Source: US Navy

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) has been ordered to deploy to Haiti to conduct Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response (HA/DR) missions Jan. 13. Currently, Vinson is underway in the Atlantic Ocean, and will briefly loiter off the coast of Mayport to receive equipment and supplies.

Along with Vinson, USS Bataan (LHD 5) embarked with Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU 22), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) were ordered to get underway as soon as possible. Additionally, USS Normandy (CG 60), USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) will deploy from their homeports and stand ready to assist, while USNS Comfort (T-AH-20), homeported in Baltimore, Md., is preparing to get underway, if required.

A Navy P-3 Orion aircraft from the Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 detachment operating from Cooperative Security Location (CSL) Comalapa, El Salvador, took off early this morning to conduct aerial surveys of the area affected by the earthquake.

USS Higgins (DDG 76) based out of Naval Station San Diego will arrive on station off the coast of Haiti tomorrow to provide afloat logistical services for the Coast Guard helicopters.

Additionally, various units are prepared to provide assistance with sea-based helicopters, to include H-53 Sea Stallions and H-60 Seahawks.

As the Navy component command of U.S. Southern Command, NAVSO's mission is to direct U.S. Naval forces operating in the Caribbean, Central and South American regions and interact with partner nation navies within the maritime environment. Routine operations include counter-illicit trafficking, theater security cooperation, military-to-military interaction and bilateral and multinational training.


VSE Leads Key Industry Team in Naval Ship Transfer and Repair (N*STAR)
Source: VSE Corporation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. --- VSE Corporation’s GLOBAL Division announces additional industry leaders who have joined its Naval Ship Transfer and Repair (N*STAR) team. New team members include HEBCO Incorporated, Valkyrie Enterprises, LLC; Atlantic Ordnance International; Delex Systems, Inc; and DRS Technologies, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A.

The new teammates join some of the top industry leaders, such as Raytheon, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Thales Naval, Inc., General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), BAE Systems and American Systems Corporation.

The team is structured to provide full life cycle support not only to ex-US Navy ships and systems transferred to foreign clients, but also to the foreign clients’ indigenously acquired ships and systems. In addition to extensive industrial capability in Hull, Mechanical and Electrical systems, the N*STAR Team brings to its clients the industry leaders in Complex Systems Integration, Combat Systems repair and modernization, and overseas logistics support.

International Group President Mike Hamerly said, “Our goal is to build a team that has the capacity, capability and flexibility to satisfy the full range of FMS requirements over the period of the new contract. This team has those attributes as well as the established domestic and foreign networks and relationships necessary to ensure the success of projects with any FMS customer.”

VSE Corporation President/CEO/COO Maurice “Mo” Gauthier commented, “Over the 14 years VSE has been the prime contractor for this effort, we have perfected the processes necessary to ensure optimal customer support whether it is rebuilding a transferred ship, conducting complex depot-level availabilities in overseas locations or installing a coastal surveillance system in Eastern Europe.”

VSE has been the lead firm performing ship transfer work for the Naval Sea Systems Command under the Foreign Military Sales (“FMS”) Program since this function was initially outsourced in 1995. During that time, VSE has managed the successful transfer of 42 ships. The transfer services have included a large variety of ships/systems, from guided missile destroyers to floating dry docks. VSE is currently supporting the transfer of ex-USNS Andrew J. Higgins to Chile at the Atlantic Marine shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

International Group provides global engineering, industrial and logistics services for foreign military sales. GLOBAL Division provides assistance to the U.S. Navy in executing its Foreign Military Sales Program for surface ships sold, leased or granted to foreign countries by providing program management, engineering, technical support, and logistics services for ship reactivations, transfers, and follow-on support.




EADS Defence & Security signs Contract Worth Over 9 Million Euros with Spanish Navy
Source: EADS

EADS Defence & Security (DS) signed a fixed-wing maintenance contract with the Spanish Navy for the AV8B Harrier II, AV8B Harrier II Plus and Cessna aircraft. Worth more than 9 million euros, the contract will run for 4 years and guarantees engineering, logistical support and MRO services as well as technical assistance, continued airworthiness support and airworthiness certification for all fixed-wing aircraft in the Navy’s fleet.

Level 3 maintenance (thorough inspections and structural repairs) will be carried out at the San Pablo Norte facilities in Seville.

The 8 Harrier II Plus aircraft that were incorporated in the Navy’s fleet in 1997 were assembled by EADS, and the new contract testifies to the excellent work performed by the Harrier team in Seville. The team can count on the support of all departments within the Defence & Security Division in Getafe.

Enrique Barrientos, CEO of EADS Defence & Security in Spain, commented: “Our objective is to meet customers’ needs, and the award of this contract confirms our commitment to the Navy. It is an honour to be able to say that this year marks the 30th anniversary of our support services for the Navy’s fleet.”




PBS Video ‘Killer Subs in Pearl Harbor‘

Today’s website is the PBS Video ‘Killer Subs in Pearl Harbor‘. Enjoy and don’t get caught watching it at work.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1813 - U.S. Frigate Chesapeake captures British brig Hero.
1815 - HMS Endymion, Tenedos and Pomone capture USS President.
1863 - Navy General Order 4, Emancipation Proclamation issued.
1943 - In the first submarine resupply mission, USS Gudgeon lands 6 men, 2,000 pounds of equipment and supplies on Negros Island, the Philippines.


Photo of the Day



Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Jonathan McNeil directs the loading of supplies aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). Fort McHenry and several Navy vessels are underway to render humanitarian assistance after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean nation.

Gator