Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Chief of Navy Outlines the RAN’s Strategic Vision
Source: Australian Department of Defense
The Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane, AO, CSM, RAN, has unveiled the blueprint for Navy’s future, launching the new edition of Australian Maritime Doctrine in Canberra.
While the recent Defence White Paper outlined what’s in store for Navy and the rest of the ADF in terms of hardware, the Australian Maritime Doctrine details the philosophical and strategic concepts needed to meet the many future challenges to our maritime security.
The maritime sector is already worth $48 billion annually to the Australian economy. The continuing expansion in our use of the sea will see this amount grow further in the years ahead.
“It is an inescapable strategic reality that as Australians we live within a huge maritime realm,” Vice Admiral Crane said.
“Unfortunately, not many of us are aware of it. We are surrounded by three great oceans that control our climate, generate enormous wealth and provide our most important transport medium. Too many Australians still see the sea as a barrier rather than as our highway to the world.”
First released in 2000, this new edition of Australian Maritime Doctrine provides an authoritative guide to current naval thinking, describing the importance of the sea to all Australians and setting out the RAN’s unique place in our national security.
Taking into account the many changes which have occurred in the past decade, this latest doctrine focuses on the need for international cooperation in dealing with global maritime threats both here and abroad. It also places added emphasis on the requirements of a joint approach to defending Australia and its interests.
“The ADF cannot operate effectively unless everyone works together,” Vice Admiral Crane said. “Australian Maritime Doctrine formalises a strengthening partnership across Navy and the ADF, and is a key element in our work to ensure all Australians better understand the importance to their nation of the sea and sea power.”
The Australian Maritime Doctrine can be found at: http://www.navy.gov.au/Publication:Australian_Maritime_Doctrine
BAE Systems Announces Agreement to Acquire Atlantic Marine
Source: BAE Systems
ARLINGTON, Va. --- BAE Systems today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Atlantic Marine Holding Company (Atlantic Marine) from JFL-AMH Partners, LLC, a portfolio company of the private equity firm J.F. Lehman & Company for a cash consideration of $352 million.
Atlantic Marine is a privately held vessel maintenance, repair, overhaul and conversion (MROC), marine fabrication, and ship construction services provider with operations at Mayport and Jacksonville, Florida; Moss Point, Mississippi; and Mobile, Alabama. The acquisition does not include Atlantic Marine’s Boston and Philadelphia operations, which will be retained by JFL-AMH Partners, LLC. The acquisition will be funded from BAE Systems’ existing cash resources.
“BAE Systems’ strategy for our ship repair business is successfully growing marine sustainment activities in surface ship repair, as well as migrating our capabilities into naval modernization and upgrade. The acquisition of Atlantic Marine’s operations, highly skilled workforce, and marine fabrication capabilities will enhance BAE Systems’ ability to serve customers in the naval support and upgrade sector,” said Linda Hudson, President and CEO, BAE Systems, Inc.
Atlantic Marine employs approximately 1,000 people and will become part of BAE Systems’ Ship Repair business. The acquisition will complement BAE Systems’ existing ship repair and upgrade capabilities to further serve the U.S. Navy and other maritime customers.
The acquisition is consistent with BAE Systems’ strategy to address anticipated growth in Readiness & Sustainment activity within its home markets. The addition of Atlantic Marine will enhance BAE Systems’ ability to support current and future U.S. Navy home-porting strategies and broaden its customer base.
The proposed acquisition is conditional, among other things, upon receiving certain U.S. regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010.
Atlantic Marine is a privately held company that provides MROC, marine fabrication, and ship construction services. Founded in 1964, Atlantic Marine has expanded its operations and capabilities to meet the vessel MROC and marine fabrication needs of a diverse customer base including Navy Surface Combatants, as well as the commercial, offshore, other government ship-types and mega-yacht segments.
FRC East Delivers Last AMARG H-53
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
Fleet Readiness Center East delivered the last H-53E to come out of desert retirement to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302, May 7.
When the depot inducted Bureau Number 161181 in August 2008, it marked the end of the depot pulling H-53E aircraft from the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, for repair, special rework, and return to the Fleet.
Since the start of the program in August 2005, FRC East H-53 artisans have inducted and completed 10 of the heavy-lift helicopters – eight CH-53Es and two CH-53Ds.
The program wasn’t without its challenges. AMARG aircraft had been idle for as much as 11 years and artisans had no idea which systems might work. Even with these variables, the H-53 team managed to complete most of the aircraft ahead of schedule and under budget.
Sikorsky stopped manufacturing the H-53 in 1999, which made refurbishing AMARG aircraft the only way of adding to the Sea and Super Stallion inventories. The rejuvenation of each aircraft encompassed dozens of airframe modifications, hundreds of inspections, and more than 25,000 work hours.
The depot sold its last CH-53D Sea Stallion, April 16.
USS Liberty Veterans Association
Today’s website is USS Liberty Veterans Association. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1830 - Sloop-of-war Vincennes becomes first U.S. warship to circle the globe.
1853 - Commodore Matthew Perry arrives at Uraga, Japan, to begin negotiations for a treaty with Japan.
1880 - Congress authorizes the Office of Judge Advocate General.
1937 - Observation of total eclipse of the sun by U.S. Navy detachment commanded by Navy Capt. J. F. Hellweg, participating in the National Geographic Society - United States Navy Eclipse Expedition at Canton Island in the Phoenix Islands, Pacific Ocean. USS Avocet (AVP 4) was assigned to this expediton.
1958 - Navy and post office deliver first official missile mail when USS Barbero (SS 317) fired Regulus II missile with 3,000 letters 100 miles east of Jacksonville, Fla., to Mayport, Fla.
1960 - Helicopters from USS Yorktown (CVS 10) rescue 54 crewmen of British SS Shunlee, grounded on Pratus Reef in South China Sea.
1962 - Medical team from Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Md.; Naval Medical Research Institute, Bethesda, Md.; and Naval Preventative Medicine Unit No. 2 Norfolk, Va., sent to San Pedro Sula, Honduras to fight epidemic of infectious gastroenteritis.
1967 - USS Liberty (AGTR 5) attacked by Israeli forces in Mediterranean.
1990 - Cmdr. Rosemary Mariner becomes first Navy women to command fleet jet aircraft squadron.
Photo of the Day
Midshipmen practice proper team hose handling techniques at the Fire Fighting Trainer at Naval Base San Diego.
Gator
