Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Trident Warrior 2010 Aims to Improve Military Technology
Source: US Navy
SAN DIEGO --- Trident Warrior 2010 (TW10), an annual sea trial experiment, that focuses on at-sea experimentation of approximately 100 critical maritime technologies, will be held at commands in San Diego and Hawaii June 14-16.
The primary goal of TW10, the largest and most complex afloat experiment to date, is to improve information dominance capabilities, maritime warfighting policy and procedures, and interoperability between U.S. and coalition partners. The experiment is designed to answer detailed analytical questions about the technologies in order to quickly get them into the hands of the warfighter.
Sponsored by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, and directed by U.S. Fleet Forces Command, TW10 participants also include Space, Naval Warfare Systems Command, Naval Postgraduate School, ships and aircraft from the U.S. Navy and Air Force, program executive offices, and system commands. Multinational participation includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, France, and Chile.
TW10 will assess the land and sea-based technologies organized into nine specific focus areas including networks, coalition, information operations, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare/fires, information assurance/cross domain solutions/distance support, information transport, and maritime domain awareness.
Overall, the results of TW10 experimentation aim to impact future doctrine and enhance the technologies, ultimately allowing the warfighter to keep ahead of its adversary in the rapidly changing environment.
Navy to Christen Amphibious Transport Dock Ship San Diego
Source: US Navy
WASHINGTON --- The Navy will christen the newest amphibious transport dock ship, San Diego, June 12 during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss.
The ship is named for the city of San Diego, principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, and honors the people of "America's Finest City" and its leaders for their continuous support of the military.
Gen. James Amos, assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Linda Winter, wife of former Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter, is the sponsor, and in accordance with Navy tradition, will break a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship.
Designated LPD 22, San Diego is the sixth amphibious transport dock ship in the San Antonio class. As an element of future expeditionary strike groups, the ship will support the Marine Corps "mobility triad,"ť which consists of the landing craft air cushion vehicle, the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle and the Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft.
San Diego will provide improved warfighting capabilities, including an advanced command and control suite, increased lift capability in vehicle and cargo-carrying capacity and advanced ship survivability features. The ship is capable of embarking a landing force of up to 800 Marines.
Three previous ships have carried the name San Diego - an armored cruiser (ACR 6) named in 1914, a World War II-era cruiser (CL 53) commissioned in 1942 and a combat stores ship (AFS 6) that served from 1969 to 1997.
Cmdr. Jon Haydel, of Houston, is the prospective commanding officer and will lead a crew of 360 officers and enlisted Navy personnel and three Marines. The 24,900-ton San Diego is 684 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet and a navigational draft of 23 feet. Four turbo-charged diesels power the ship to sustained speeds of 22 knots.
MD Helicopters Delivers Mexican Navy Refurbished MD Explorer
Source: MD Helicopter
MESA, Arizona --- MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) has delivered the fourth in a fleet of Mexican Navy refurbished MD Explorers from its Mesa, Arizona based Factory Service Center.
The four MD Explorers have now been returned to the Mexican Navy in a ‘like new’ condition and have been converted by the Mexican Navy from an armed configuration to a new Search and Rescue (SAR) configuration to meet a new mission profile.
“Converting the MD 902’s to their new role will improve the safety of Mexican citizens and their visitors,” said Captain Ferdando Aburto of the Armada de Mexico. “The refurbishment is a smart, economical solution for the Mexican Navy and good value for Mexican taxpayers.”
The refurbishment program has been a logical extension of the 10 year relationship with Armada de Mexico, or Mexican Navy, which initially took delivery of six armed MD Explorers in 2000. MD Helicopters has also developed a comprehensive program to support them with spare parts, overhauled components, training and technical support.
The Factory Service Center in Mesa, Arizona is dedicated to supporting the global fleet with repairs to damaged helicopters, conversions and upgrades. The MD Helicopter Factory Service Center is ready to provide high quality repairs and refurbishments to its entire product line. MD’s staff of experienced engineers and technicians is ready to restore any MD helicopter to “as good as new.”
USS Mars (AFS 1)
Today’s website is USS Mars (AFS 1). Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1944 - Fifth Fleet lands Marines on Saipan, under the cover of naval gunfire, in conquest of Marianas.
1963 - Launching of combat store ship, Mars (AFS 1), first of new class of underway replenishment ships.
1991 - Two battle groups and amphibious ships evacuate dependents and Air Force personnel from Clark Air Force Base after Mount Pinatubo erupts in Philippines.
Photo of the Day
A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, assigned to the Marine Attack Squadron (VMA 311), 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), approaches the flight deck.
Gator
