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



IJN Kongo (September 1944)

MSW Crew-mate Kym Knight (Rab) sends in another artful presentation of his build of IJN Kongo (September 1944), in this "On Display" feature.


USS Missouri

MSW Crew-member Louis Carabott [loucar] takes us along for a cruise with the USS Missouri, in this "On Display" feature.


Victory at Sea - Battle of the Paracel Islands

Step back in time to 1974 when naval forces of South Vietnam and China clashed at the Battle of the Paracel Islands.




German Navy lacks munitions
Source: Vzglyad

German Navy's officials stated that the fleet had faced serious deficiency in munitions which allegedly could not be eliminated soon, reports Spiegel.

Formerly, ammunition unused in expired year was divided between Army, Navy and Air Force for the next year; however, this time it is impossible. "2010 seems to be a hard year", said the source in German Navy.

One of the reasons for munitions shortage is increase in amount and intensity of Bundeswehr's overseas missions. First of all, they spent huge number of ammunition in Afghanistan and to train soldiers for combat operations abroad.

Nevertheless, lack of munitions will not affect key missions, said German Navy's officials. It is primarily referred to naval operation Atalanta aimed against Somali pirates, and patrolling Lebanese coast along with multinational peacekeeping force UNIFIL.


Royal Navy Minehunters Look Ahead to 2010 in the Arabian Gulf
Source: Royal Navy

After a demanding 2009, the four Royal Navy Mine-Counter Measures Vessels (MCMVs) based in the Arabian Gulf are ready for an equally intense 2010.

During 2009, HMS Atherstone, HMS Chiddingfold, HMS Grimsby and HMS Pembroke conducted Maritime Security Operations as part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to security and counter-terrorism in the region. In addition, the ships also conducted survey operations and took part in several international exercises alongside regional naval forces.
Operating alongside the four United States MCMVs of CTF 52, the ships also participated in a series of US/UK exercises designed to improve the coordination of both Mine-Counter Measures communities.

HMS Chiddingfold, having been the first Royal Navy ship to conduct a live firing of the Seafox Mine Disposal System in 2008, was once again involved in proving the capability of the system in theatre by firing live Seafox rounds at dummy mine targets in October.

In November HMS Atherstone and HMS Chiddingfold, along with the Type 23 Frigate, HMS Monmouth and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lyme Bay, took part in exercises off Kuwait as part of the celebrations thanking Kuwait for its continued support. Events involved Task Group Manoeuvres with Kuwaiti Naval and Coast Guard vessels, as well as enjoying the celebrations ashore on completion of the exercises.

Looking ahead to 2010, the ships will continue to operate in the Gulf, offering reassurance and support to UK interests and the UK’s Gulf Partners.




AAI Conducts Successful Shipboard Trials of the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 Small Unmanned Aircraft System
Source: Textron Inc.

HUNT VALLEY, Md. --- AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that its Aerosonde Mark 4.7 small unmanned aircraft system (SUAS) successfully completed a week of flight operations aboard the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s M-80 Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Test Bed.

AAI conducted a series of Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS flight tests at sea, concluding with multiple successful launches and recoveries aboard the Stiletto vessel.

The Stiletto shipboard trials established AAI’s unique, integrated launch and recovery system at technology readiness level (TRL) 7 during multiple successful aircraft recoveries in a maritime operational environment. The shipboard Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS includes the integrated launch and recovery system; the Mark 4.7 aircraft with enhanced, leading-edge wings; on-the-move navigation; automatic takeoff and landing capability; and shipboard integration to the command and control center. AAI’s integrated, one-piece launch and recovery system easily fits aboard small ships without necessitating shipboard alterations.

In fact, the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS has a streamlined, expeditionary footprint that requires a minimum crew and amount of equipment overall. The Aerosonde Mark 4.7, AAI’s entry for the joint U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS)/Tier II competition, was designed to operate from confined areas on land and at sea.

The system delivers unsurpassed multi-mission capability to meet warfighter requirements. A single Aerosonde Mark 4.7 aircraft provides both long-endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance using its combined electro-optic/infrared payload, as well as simultaneous beyond-line-of-sight communications relay.

“Our Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS delivers powerful benefits for the maritime services including long endurance and unmatched multiple-payload flexibility with superior video and communication relay capabilities,” says AAI Division Vice President, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Stephen Flach. “In addition, its single-piece launch and recovery system enables the aircraft to execute missions from even the smallest ships.”

“We have been able to leverage our years of experience designing, manufacturing, fielding, operating and supporting unmanned aircraft systems to develop a highly adaptive system suitable for multiple mission profiles,” says AAI Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid. “Our Aerosonde Mark 4.7 SUAS provides immense capability with the logistical and operational flexibility of an expeditionary footprint.”




USS Indianapolis

Today’s website is the USS Indianapolis. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1840 - Lt. Charles Wilkes, aboard the sloop Vincennes, is the first American to discover the Antarctic coast.
1929 - The 3rd Marine Corps Brigade is disbanded at Tientsin, China, and all units, except the 4th Marines and the Peking legation guard, are withdrawn from the country.
1972 - A Navy F-4 Phantom from USS Constellation (CVA 64) downs a Vietnamese MiG-21. This is the first aerial victory since March 1970.


Photo of the Day



The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) maneuvers off the coast of Haiti.

Gator