Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - HMS Urge (N17) Scratchbuild
In his debut to ship modeling, and to MSW, António Marranita (tmarranita) shares an extremely impressive display of HMS Urge (N17) Scratchbuild in this “On Display” feature.
Northrop Grumman Awarded $186.6 Million Contract to Continue the Design of Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded a $186.6 million cost plus fixed fee contract from the U.S. Navy to continue the engineering and design effort for the nation's newest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).
The company's Shipbuilding sector is the prime contractor. This planned contract modification funds additional design, planning and system integration activities and analysis to support CVN 78 construction.
"This planned contract modification is essential to continuing the ship design to support construction," said Mike Shawcross, vice president of aircraft carrier construction program. "Now that the design is in the three-dimensional product model our effort is focused on the production of instructions for the shops and ship assembly. We're excited to continue progress on the engineering and construction of CVN 78."
Named after the 38th president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) is the first ship of the new Gerald R. Ford class whose keel was laid Nov. 14, 2009. The Ford class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier ship platforms.
Enhancements incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include new nuclear power plants; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and reduced operating costs for the Navy.
Trinidad & Tobago Vessel Takes to the Sea for Final Tests
Source: BAE Systems
Final testing of the first of three Offshore Patrol Vessels, built by BAE Systems for the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard, is underway around Portsmouth this week ahead of a planned handover later this month.
Port of Spain is part of a contract signed in 2007 to build, integrate, test and commission three ships for the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The 90 metre vessels can remain at sea for 35 days, with a maximum speed of 25.8 knots and will be used for a range of Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) management tasks, from tackling drug smuggling to helping with disaster relief in the region.
Under the agreement, BAE Systems will provide training and a five year in-service support package to the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard after it takes delivery of the vessels, while the UK Ministry of Defence will provide sea training to the crews before returning to the Caribbean.
The first of the ships has been constructed at BAE Systems' Portsmouth facility, while the second and third vessels, set for deliver later this year, are being built at its yard at Scotstoun on the Clyde.
The 300th AW139 Is Delivered to the Italian Coast Guard
Source: Agusta Westland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Italian Coast Guard has taken delivery of its first AW139 medium twin helicopter during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland’s Vergiate plant in Italy. The AW139 will perform a range of missions including maritime patrol, search and rescue (SAR) and emergency medical services.
Three more AW139s will be delivered in the coming months. The first Italian Coast Guard aircraft of this type is also the 300th AW139 delivered so far.
Due to the AW139's outstanding capabilities, the Italian Coast Guard’s maritime patrol and SAR services around the Italian coast line and in its maritime economic exclusive zone will be greatly enhanced.
Alessandro Parrini, Senior Vice President Italian Government Business Unit, said “We are delighted to add the Italian Coast Guard to the long list of coast guard and SAR operators worldwide who are already using the AW139 for these demanding duties. The AW139 has rapidly become the new generation medium twin of choice for such missions. It will allow the Italian Coast Guard to continue to play a key role in monitoring, protecting and assisting people around Italy’s shores.”
The AW139 is equipped with a wide range of SAR equipment including an external rescue hoist, cargo hook, wire strike protection system, search/weather radar, FLIR/LLTV system, NVG compatible cockpit, night sun searchlight, external loudspeaker system, emergency floatation system and external life rafts.
The AW139 design which incorporates a large spacious cabin accessed by two sliding doors, powerful engines and class leading performance and safety, make it the aircraft of choice for SAR in its weight class. Excellent one engine inoperative capability ensures the aircraft can safely accomplish the most demanding rescue missions. The cockpit features the latest technology including a Honeywell Primus Epic fully integrated avionics system, a 4-axis digital Automatic Flight Control System and large flat panel colour displays - reducing pilot workload and allowing the crew to concentrate on the rescue.
Many maritime, border patrol and security agencies from countries around the world, including Japan, Malaysia, the UK, USA, Spain, Estonia, Cyprus, South Korea, UAE and Italy, have selected or are already operating the AW139 to fulfil their requirements.
Over 460 orders have been placed by almost 130 customers from over 50 countries to date, making it the benchmark helicopter in the medium twin category for a wide range of roles including EMS/SAR, offshore transport, VIP/corporate transport, law enforcement, fire fighting and other government duties.
USS England
Today’s website is history of USS England. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1813 - HMS Shannon captures USS Chesapeake, Capt. James Lawrence. As the mortally wounded Lawrence was carried below, he ordered, "Tell the men to fire faster! Don't give up the ship!" These words would live on in naval history. Oliver Hazard Perry honored his dead friend Lawrence when he had the motto sewn onto the private battle flag flown during the Battle of Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1813.
1871 - Rear Adm. Rodgers lands in Korea with a party of Sailors and Marines and captures five forts to secure protection for U.S. citizens after Americans were fired upon and murdered.
1914 - General Order 99 prohibits alcohol aboard naval vessels, or at navy yards or stations.
1915 - First contract for lighter-than-air craft for Navy.
1939 - Director of the Naval Research Laboratory, Capt. Hollis M. Cooley, proposes research in atomic energy for future use in nuclear powered submarine.
1944 - ZP-14 Airships complete first crossing of Atlantic by non-rigid lighter-than-air aircraft.
1954 - First test of steam catapult from USS Hancock (CV/CVA 19).
Photo of the Day
Ships participating in UNITAS LANT 2010 navigate into a formation on the first day of multi-national naval exercise.
Gator
