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



Scottish Nationals Model Show 2010

MSW crew-mate Adam Greenwold (Dougiedog) shares his recent visit to the Scottish Nationals Model Show 2010 in this MSW Show Report/Feature.




Is The Era Of U.S. Global Naval Dominance Ending?
Source: Lexington Institute

A new report by the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA) is warning that the U.S. Navy is reaching a “tipping point” after which it will no longer be able to exercise global dominance. According to this analysis, “current strategies based on combat-credible forward presence are unsustainable.”

The basic message behind this classic piece of military-speak is that as the size of the U.S. Navy continues to decline, the costs of operating the Fleet increase and threats proliferate, the United States will not be able to dominate the world’s oceans as it has for decades. This is particularly interesting because the defense of the world’s oceans and the conduct of strategic operations from the sea (under the catchy bumper sticker of AirSea battle) are central elements of the Obama Administration’s new defense strategy.

Based on current shipbuilding plans and the expected life spans of existing ships, the Navy is on a glide path that will reduce its size from nearly 300 ships to around 240. At the same time, the costs of maintaining older ships continues to go up, as does the slice of the Navy’s budget that must be devoted to personnel costs.

New ships are never cheaper than the ones they replace, although the next generation of combatants -- the CVN -21, the DDG-1000, the new variants of the DDG-51, the Virginia-class attack submarines and the Littoral Combat Ship -- will be more capable. Ironically, the demands on the Navy have not declined since the end of the Cold War.

As a result, the CNA study concluded that “the Navy battle force has shrunk by 20 percent in the last decade, while the number of ships on deployment has remained relatively steady. In a period of constant demand, resources to meet those demands, pay for needed future structure, and meet growing demands for spending on people and health care have shrunk. They will not grow in the future. There is a gap that must be addressed.”

Even at 240 ships the U.S. Navy will be able to deploy overwhelming power in any one theater. But as the threat continues to evolve, including new anti-access capabilities such as ship-killing ballistic missiles, ultra-quiet diesel-electric submarines and advanced sea mines, it will become more difficult and potentially costly. Also, even with the planned deployments of new aerial capabilities such as the E-2D surveillance and command and control platform, the F-35 and possibly unmanned combat systems, air defense and strike will be a challenge in the face of more capable defenses.

The central question raised by the study is: can the United States continue to maintain its role as the provider of security for the entire Free World as its military shrinks in size? The situation CNA projects for the Navy also applies to the other Services. Costs are rising, the equipment pools are shrinking and also aging and the demands are going up.

If, as the CNA study suggests, the Navy will have to be more judicious in its deployments and the nation overall more selective in its interventions, how will this affect the peace and stability of the world?


Helicopter Deck and Hangar Modification on ‘Leopold 1' Handed Over
Source: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding

On 7th of April 2010 the helicopter deck and hangar modification on board of the M-Class Frigate ‘Leopold 1' (ex HMNLS ‘Karel Doorman' ) was handed over to the Defence Material Organisation (DMO) of the Netherlands, who acted on behalf of the Belgian Navy.

Effectively, the ‘Leopold 1’ berthed at our shipyard in Vlissingen in July 2009, after which the program immediately started with the aim to modify the helicopter deck and hangar in order to allow future operations with the NH 90 helicopter.

The following main activities have been performed:

--Lengthening of the hangar, including the installation of the helicopter securing and traversing system
--Helicopter deck lengthening, including all required adjustments to the flight deck arrangement (reallocation of existing helicopter grid, steelwork modifications for the installation of the rails in flight deck, new lightning and antenna arrangements)
--Integration of the helicopter traversing control position, including o.a. the installation of the control equipment
--Installation of a new, enlarged hangar door
--Enlarging the Flight Deck Officer Room
--Adjusting the helicopter auxiliary and Damage Control Systems.

Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding delivered the modified ‘Leopold 1' on schedule and within budget to the DMO, whereby the collaboration with Belgium Navy and the Project Team of DMO have positively contributed to this tripartite success.




Green Hornet to Fly on Earth Day
Source: US Navy

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. --- The Green Hornet, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fueled with a 50/50 mixture of biofuel made from camelina oil, will fly on Earth Day, April 22, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

Following the flight, Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus will deliver remarks.

This is one of 15 flights to certify the use of an alternative fuel for U.S. Navy aircraft.

"The flight will demonstrate that our systems can work on biofuel," said Mabus. "After it is successful, and we are absolutely confident that it will be, we will move to expand biofuel testing to our marine gas turbine engines and to the engines of our tactical vehicles."

Navy.mil will provide live video of the U.S. Navy's flight demonstration of the 'Green Hornet,' an FA-18 Super Hornet fueled with a 50/50 biofuel blend, on Earth Day, April 22.

The 'Green Hornet' initiative supports Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus' energy reform targets, which will increase the Navy's warfighting capability by reducing reliance on fossil fuels from unstable locations and reducing volatility associated with long fuel supply transport lines.

The 'Green Hornet' is an environmental and energy concept that reaches beyond the element of alternative fuels and encompasses efforts ranging from operational and policy through technology research and development.




Marine Spill Response Corporation

Today’s website is Marine Spill Response Corporation. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1861 - USS Surprise captures Confederate privateer Savannah.
1898 - Marines land at Cavite, Philippines, and raise U.S. flag.
1949 - First Navy firing of a high altitude Viking rocket at White Sands, NM.


Photo of the Day



Crew aboard the Gulf Coast Responder, used for oil spill clean up, work at anchor in the Mississippi River near Venice, La., Saturday, May 1, 2010. The ships are at anchor due to weather.

Gator