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



Feature - HMS Dreadnought 1906

New MSW crew-mate Colin Swager (cswager) shares his first submission with us, in this fine gallery of images of his build of HMS Dreadnought 1906 in this “On Display” feature.




A Good Gig for Campbeltown
Source: Royal Navy

The Type 22 Frigate, HMS Campbeltown sought respite from post-Refit sea trials over the May Bank Holiday by visiting the Isles of Scilly as Guardship for the 21st Gig World Championships. Anchored in St Mary’s Roads, she provided a fitting backdrop to this annual maritime festival, as well as deploying her own Gig rowing crews and hosting many of the local islanders onboard.



Seeking every opportunity the busy ship’s programme yielded over the previous month, to train for the event and master gig-rowing, the ship’s crew was fortunate to be loaned one of BRNC Dartmouth’s gigs, BACCHANTE. Training took place exclusively on the River Dart under the watchful eye of Gail Woodgate - an employee of the college and ace Cox.

A total of 7 teams represented the Royal Navy in the Gig Worlds: 3 from Campbeltown; 2 from HMS Raleigh, and one each from RNAS Culdrose and BRNC, Dartmouth. Competition was fierce with 133 gigs on the start line, and the rough waters around the Scillies posed a new challenge after the relative calm of the River Dart.

Race 1 saw the Veterans take to the water, comprising most of the ship’s Command Team (CO, XO, EWO…). They finished the long race back from St Agnes to rapturous applause – but undeniably last. The Ladies’ Team fared better, ending the weekend in 110th place and runners up in their group – ably coxed by PO Tony Rendle from BRNC. The ship’s Commanding officer, Cdr Keri Harris rejoined the Men’s Team to finish 101st out of 127 crews (and 2nd Navy team behind RNAS Culdrose). Summing up the racing, he said, ‘This has been a brilliant opportunity to compete in a world class maritime event, very much in the public eye. It has exposed my crew to handling small craft on open water, in tune with the elements, and all the rigours of teamwork and effort a tough rowing competition entails’.

‘The islands are a beautiful venue - particularly welcoming to the Royal Navy – and the festival atmosphere surrounding the gig event kept the visit lively’. For HMS Campbeltown, the weekend provided a welcome break from trials as she prepares to return fully to the Fleet.


Moscow to help Kiev complete cruiser Ukraina
Source: Russian Navy

Moscow and Kiev came to terms that Russia would assist Ukraine to finish construction of cruiser Ukraina, said Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich at the press conference summarizing talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

"We reached an agreement with him [Medvedev] that Russia will complete...cruiser Ukraina. To us, this project is of fundamental importance as it has been frozen for years", said Yanukovich.

According to him, the cruiser is 95% completed, "although we have not any opportunity to complete the ship without Russia", added Ukrainian president.




Historic Sea Hurricane
Source: Royal Navy

A unique historic aircraft will be one of the star attractions at this year’s RNAS Yeovilton Air Day, which celebrates the base’s 70th anniversary. The Shuttleworth Collection’s Hawker Sea Hurricane 1b is the only example of its kind flying anywhere in the world and is representative of the very first Royal Navy types to have been based at Yeovilton after its creation in 1940.



The Sea Hurricane’s induction into Fleet Air Arm service occurred as a result of the RAF’s positive experiences with the original Hawker Hurricane in the Battle of Britain. To ensure it could be successfully operated on and off aircraft carriers, the basic Hurricane design was adapted with the addition of an arrester hook and other measures. In all, 443 Sea Hurricanes served with the FAA, of which the majority were Mark 1bs, as per the example appearing at Air Day.

The Shuttleworth Collection’s Sea Hurricane left the production line in 1940 as a standard Hurricane, but was navalised to Sea Hurricane standard one year later. Post-war, it was used as a ground-based instructional airframe before an epic restoration took place to get it back in the air: the culmination of years of hard work being realised in September 1995.
The Sea Hurricane will provide Air Day’s anticipated crowd of up to 40,000 people with an evocative link back to both the Fleet Air Arm of WW2 and RNAS Yeovilton’s own past, and will join other historic and modern aircraft representative of the base’s seven decades of naval airpower.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1882 - Commodore Shufeldt (USS Swatara) lands in Korea to negotiate first treaty between Korea and Western power.
1912 - Navy establishes North Atlantic Ice Patrol following RMS Titanic disaster.
1965 - 30th Naval Construction Regiment activated at Danang, Vietnam.


Photo of the Day



Sailors move ordnance across the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69).

Gator