Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Russia launched the first series-built corvette
Source: Russian Navy
Launching ceremony of the first series-built corvette Soobrazitelny of Project 20380 was held at Severnaya Verf shipyard (St. Petersburg), informs Interfax. Among attendants was Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, Baltic Fleet Commander.
It should be pointed out that Project 20380 vessels are first Russian-built corvettes. Previously, neither Soviet nor Russian navies classed corvette as a separate type of warships.
Built by stealth technology, the corvette was designed by Almaz Central Design Bureau for Marine Engineering. The ship was laid down at Severnaya Verf in 2003. At present, other ships of Project 20380 are being constructed at different levels of completeness in the shipyard – Sovershenny, Boiky and Stoiky.
Lead ship of this project – Stereguschiy – was laid down in Dec 2001, launched in Feb 2008 and commissioned into Russian Navy in Oct 2008. Soobrazitelny is the first Project 20380 corvette built under serial order of Russian Navy.
Project 20380 corvettes are designed for operations in littoral zone, antisurface and antisubmarine warfare, and also for gunfire support of landing troops. Ship's displacement is 2,200 tons; length is 100 meters; beam is 13 meters.
Max speed of Soobrazitelny is 27 knots; operating range is 4,000 nm. The corvette is armed with 100-mm multipurpose artillery systems, antiaircraft missile/gun systems, supersonic missiles, automatic gun mounts. Shipborne air group includes one ASW helicopter Ka-27PL.
It was previously stated by the Navy command that Russia needs 30 corvette-class warships. Order for Project 20380 implies construction of 20 corvettes.
Albania to sell sinking subs
Source: Russian Navy
Albanian defense ministry intends to sell two out of four Soviet subs for further scrapping, reports Reuters. By this means the ministry plans to prevent their sinking. "One sub has already sunk", said Mento Beka, spokesman for Albanian Ministry of Defense having concealed, however, why the country would not dismantle the subs by itself.
The question is Projects 613, 644 and 665 diesel electric submarines (on NATO classification Whiskey, Whiskey Twin-Cylinder, and Whiskey Long Bin respectively) built in '50s. Albanian authorities are about to transform one of the subs into museum. It was not reported whether it is planned to pick up sunken submarine.
Yet it is uncertain at what price Albanian defense ministry intends to sell obsolete subs. Unserviceable equipment is normally sold at the price of scrap. Weight of each submarine is about 1,200-1,300 tons.
In '50s the USSR established naval base in Albania and dispatched there 12 submarines. They carried out patrols in the Adriatic and the Ionian seas. When Albania withdrew from Council for Mutual Economic Assistance in 1962, the USSR called off most of subs except four remained at Albania upon mutual agreement of the countries.
For the first time the question of subs sale was emerged in 1997. The obsolete submarines were heavily rusty by that time. Besides, most of equipment containing precious metals was stolen.
It should be pointed out that since 2008 Albania permanently participates in NATO's Operation Active Endeavour conducted in the Mediterranean. On Apr 3, 2008 the country was invited to join the alliance; and on Apr 1, 2009 Albania became NATO member. At present, the country is being rearmed in accordance with NATO standards.
USS Lake Champlain
Today’s website is USS Lake Champlain. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1776 - Sloop-of-war Ranger, the frigate Queen of France and the frigate Warren capture the British vessel Hibernia and seven other vessels.
1862 - Naval gunfire from the warships Tyler and Lexington help save Union Troops at the Battle of Shiloh.
1909 - Cmdr. Robert E. Peary reports reaching the North Pole.
1917 - The United States declares war on Germany.
1945 - The first heavy kamikaze attack occurs on ships at Okinawa.
1961 - USS Lake Champlain (CVS 39) brings oxygen to aid stricken passenger of British liner Queen of Bermuda.
1968 - USS New Jersey (BB 62) is recommissioned for shore bombardment duty in Vietnam.
1989 - The President orders Department of Defense to assist in the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup.
1993 - Branch Navy Hospital Adak, Alaska, responds to crash of civilian Chinese airliner by providing lifesaving treatment and medical evacuation of 89 injured passengers. Only one passenger out of 265 passengers died.
Photo of the Day
USS Missouri about to be hit by a Japanese A6M "Zero" Kamikaze, while operating off Okinawa on 11 April 1945.
Gator
