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



On Display - USS Arizona

MSW crew-mate David J. Salvin (djandj) sends us his second submission, a fine build story of DML's 1/700 scale USS Arizona in this "Build Story" feature.


On Display - Battleship Tirpitz

MSW crew-mate Kostas Katseas (angeleyes) shares his build of Trumpeter Models 1/700 scale Battleship Tirpitz in this "On Display" feature.




Lynn Visits Australia’s ‘Shipyard of Future’
Source: US Department of Defense

ADELAIDE, Australia --- Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III observed the opening of the heart of one of the most modern shipbuilding plants in the world here today.

Techport is a $300 million investment in Australia’s defense. The shipyard is where the nation of 22 million people will build the country’s next class of air warfare destroyers and its next-generation submarine fleet.

The shipyard – on the banks of the Port River – is a state-of-the-art facility. Lynn observed the opening of Techport’s common-user facility – a huge expanse that includes a wharf, a ship runway, a dry berth, a transfer system and the largest shiplift in the Southern Hemisphere.

To symbolize the opening of the facility, South Australia Premier Mike Rann pushed a button starting the shiplift. A klaxon sounded, and the more-than-500-foot lift began descending into the water. The lift has a capacity of 9,300 tons, and may in years to come expand to nearly 700 feet with a lift capacity of 22,000 tons, officials said.

“Great to see such a fabulous facility and see the enormous capability that you have here in an area so important to your security,” Lynn said during a short media availability following the opening. “It’s very hopeful that our closest allies are moving in such strength in the naval area. We’re just glad to be a part of it.”

Lynn put on a hard hat and a yellow reflective vest to tour the facility. He saw buildings and shops where plates of steel will turn into the hulls of new ships. He saw where skilled workers will put together the modules of Australia’s next-generation warships.

Everything was new and gleaming. There wasn’t a speck of rust or misplaced brick in the whole shipyard, and the Australian workers in the area obviously are proud of what they have built.

The plan to build three destroyers is part of an Australian push to replace about 80 percent of the equipment in its military forces that stems from the Australian Defense White Paper published in May.

“They’ve got a financial plan that matches their strategy,” Lynn said during a later interview. “It’s got 3 percent real growth. Even with that kind of growth, it’s an aggressive plan, but they have thought it through.”

Techport – and many other decisions – backs up the defense White Paper, Lynn said. Techport is part of “a really strong industrial foundation that supports the maritime emphasis in the strategy,” he said.

While the shipyard is an Australian capability, it integrates U.S. defense industry partners. Bath Iron Works and Lockheed are working with the Australians, “and I’m sure if the U.S. Navy needed it to support our operations, it would be available, and it’s an option for the Pacific Command to examine,” Lynn said.

Australian reporters asked Lynn about the U.S. program to build the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter for use by its Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and its allies. “We’ve taken some steps to strengthen the program,” Lynn said. “We took a look at it when we came into office last year. We thought the costs were underestimated in terms of production, and we thought the development was going to last longer than originally projected.”

The U.S. Defense Department “re-costed” the production to a better estimate, Lynn said. Officials also strengthened the aircraft’s development with additional test aircraft.

“With those steps, the F-35 will continue on the path to be the backbone of tactical aviation for both the United States and Australia,” he said.


Thales Launches Vigile LW - a New Maritime Radar ESM for Small Vessels
Source: Thales Australia

DEFEXPO 2010 --- Thales today announces the launch of Vigile LW, a new, lightweight, naval radar Electronic Support Measures (RESM) system set to redefine situational awareness for small vessels.

Vigile LW detects, identifies and displays air and surface threats in real time, providing tactical situational awareness wherever needed for small vessels. Whether protecting national coastlines or protecting EEZs and shipping lanes, Vigile LW also draws on Thales’s cutting edge pulse deinterleaving and signal processing technologies, to provide immediate, automatic warning of high priority threats.

Leveraging key Thales technologies in Radio Frequency and the latest advances in digital software, Thales has developed a new lightweight system designed specifically for small vessels such as patrol boats and attack craft. Its compact size means that it can be smartly integrated and rapidly fitted to any type of vessel.

Vigile LW is the core element of a Self Protection Suite and can be operated as a standalone RESM or as a central Electronic Warfare controller. It can control the communication and Radar ESM, Laser Warning, Missile warning and programmable decoying functions. Installed across several vessels, Vigile LW can provide a network-centric compatible solution for
increased protection.

Pierre-Eric Pommellet, Thales Senior Vice President, in charge of defence mission systems, commented: “This new member to the Vigile family meets a true requirement in the market and aims to fill a very real capacity gap – at a lower acquisition and possession cost. It is the perfect maritime surveillance solution for small, fast vessels carrying out vital tactical missions.”

The system operates automatically and therefore is autonomous and easy to support. Tracks can optionally be overlayed onto the radar picture, removing the need for a dedicated Electronic Warfare operator and thereby keeping through-life costs low and easing crew workloads.

Vigile LW draws on Thales’s excellent pedigree in Naval Electronic Warfare systems both for the British and French Navies and for many export customers worldwide.

BACKGROUND NOTES:
-- Vigile LW is the 5th product in the Vigile family of advanced naval ESM/ ELINT systems.

-- The Vigile range is designed to respond to the ever-increasing complexity and density of electronic emitters in the modern operational maritime environment, particularly in littoral and inshore areas.

-- As a primary sensor, Vigile is the key component of the EW suite. It is fully integrated into the Combat System and plays a vital part in the platforms situation awareness, self-protection and ELINT capabilities.


Northrop Grumman Awarded $41.3 Million Life Cycle Support and Engineering Services Contract on U.S. Navy LPD 17
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $41.3 million cost-plus-fixed fee contract for life cycle engineering and support services on the U.S. Navy's USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class of amphibious transport dock ships.

With options, the contract has the potential value of $249.4 million.

This is the second contract award to Northrop Grumman for LPD ship services. The first contract was awarded in 2005.

"The efforts associated with this expanded-services contract will provide the Navy a broad range of post-delivery support for these exceptional amphibious ships," said Tim Farrell, vice president of the LPD 17 program for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. "This contract continues to reaffirm the Navy's confidence in the ability of the men and women of Northrop Grumman to manage and deliver quality products and services."

Services provided in this contract include post-delivery planning and engineering, systems integration and engineering support, research engineering, material support, fleet modernization program planning, supply chain management, maintenance and training for certain LPD 17-class shipboard systems.




WWII Campaigns of the Italian Navy

Today’s website is the WWII Campaigns of the Italian Navy. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1846 - General order on port and starboard is issued. Port replaces the term "larboard."
1944 - An amphibious force under Rear Adm. Harry W. Hill lands troops on Engebi Island, Eniwetok, in the South Pacific.
1955 - The first of 14 detonations takes place during the Operation Teapot nuclear test.


Photo of the Day



Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini standing aboard Royal Navy ship "Pola"

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