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



India and Singapore Hold Annual Naval Exercise
Source: Source: Naval Technology

India and Singapore have commenced an annual joint naval exercise off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in the Bay of Bengal.

The two-week exercise, from 3-16 April, codenamed SIMBEX (Singapore Indian Maritime Bilateral Exercise) will be carried out in two separate theatres, initially in the Andaman Sea and then in the Bay of Bengal.

An Indian Navy official said the exercises have graduated from purely training-oriented anti-submarine warfare exercises to complex exercises involving multiple facets of operations at sea.

The Indian Navy's Rajput-class destroyer INS Ranvir, the landing ship tank INS Mahish, the patrol craft INS Batti Malv, the tanker INS Jyoti and a submarine from the Eastern Fleet are participating in the exercise.

The Singapore Navy is fielding its Formidable-class multi-role stealth frigate RSS Intrepid and the missile corvette RSS Victory.

The two ships will make port calls at Port Blair on South Andaman Island and Visakhapatnam in India during the exercise.
Having started in 1994, SIMBEX 2010 is the 17th iteration India-Singapore naval cooperation.


Keel Laid for First Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft
Source: US Navy

WASHINGTON --- The keel for the first Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft (FMC) was authenticated April 7 during a ceremony at VT Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

Adm. Gary Roughead, chief of naval operations, and Vice Adm. Mohab Mameesh, commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Navy, delivered remarks highlighting the continued cooperation between both navies.

Authenticating the keel on behalf of the Egyptian Navy, Mameesh verified that it was truly and fairly laid.

The Egyptian FMC program is being managed as a foreign military sale by the Auxiliary Ships, Small Boats and Craft Program Office (PMS 325) in the U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.

"Our foreign partners rely on PEO Ships' expertise in ship design and acquisition," said Frank McCarthey, PMS 325 program manager. "Since the beginning of this year, PEO Ships has delivered more than 30 boats and combatant craft to allied navies and coast guards."

VT Halter Marine started fabrication of the first craft, Nov. 30, 2009, in a newly constructed fabrication facility at their Pascagoula shipyard. The keel laying for the first craft represents the official unveiling of the new facility, which will allow the shipyard to perform 75-80 percent of production work indoors. Production of the first craft is progressing on schedule, and the ship is expected to join the Egyptian fleet in 2012.

The primary mission of the FMC is to conduct independent and joint operations, primarily against armed surface adversaries. The Egyptian Navy has a requirement for a ship with the capabilities of an FMC to combat these threats and to patrol and defend its coastal waterways of the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and, in particular, the Suez Canal.

Each 63-meter craft will carry a 76mm Super Rapid Gun, Harpoon Block II missiles, MK49 Rolling Airframe Missiles and the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) Block 1B. These high-speed, agile ships will reach speeds of greater than 34 knots, provide berthing for a crew of up to 40 sailors and will be able to operate up to eight days independently at sea.

Egypt signed an FMC case for the purchase of three FMCs in September 2004. After extensive functional design and long lead item procurement and design efforts, the construction contract was placed with VT Halter Marine in September 2008. A fourth vessel was requested by the Egyptian Navy and was put under contract in March 2010.

PEO Ships will continue to assist with acquisition and oversight efforts throughout the construction process and will provide follow-on technical and training support to the Egyptian Navy upon delivery of the vessels.

PEO Ships is currently managing the design and construction of all U.S. Navy surface ships and a wide range of small boats and craft for U.S. agencies and allied nations. Since its creation in November 2002, PEO Ships has delivered 38 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 20 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.




Navy T-39 Crashes Near Blue Ridge, Georgia
Source: US Navy

ELLIJAY, Ga (NNS) -- A T-39N Sabreliner crashed near Ellijay, Ga., at approximately 4 p.m. April 12. There were four personnel aboard the aircraft assigned to Training Air Wing Six based out of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla.

Rescue crews have recovered three bodies from the crash. The status of the fourth crew member is unknown.

The aircraft was conducting a routine cross-country training mission.

An investigation board has convened to investigate the cause of the mishap.

Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.




Ironclads and Blockade Runners

Today’s website is An Overview of the Navy Navigation Satellite System. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1847 - Naval Forces begin a five-day battle to capture several towns in Mexico.
1861 - Fort Sumter surrenders to Confederate forces.
1960 - The Navy's navigation satellite, Transit, is placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Fla., and demonstrates ability to launch another satellite.


Photo of the Day



The amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21) is at sea and anchor at Rudy's Inlet.

Gator