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



Feature - Ting Yuen

MSW crew-mate Alec Cap (bigal07) shares a fine gallery of images of his build from Bronco Models Imperial Chinese Beiyang Fleet Ting Yuen in this “On Display” feature.




SSGN Force Reaches Historic Milestone
Source: US Navy

BANGOR, Wash. --- The Submarine Force announced it has achieved another first with all four guided-missile submarines (SSGN) deployed for the first time simultaneously June 10.

Although the West Coast SSGNs, USS Ohio (SSGN 726) and USS Michigan (SSGN 727), and East Coast SSGNs, USS Florida (SSGN 728) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729), have previously been underway at the same time, this milestone marks the first time all four SSGNs have been forward deployed away from their homeports.

"I think it is remarkable they are all deployed at once because back in the mid 90's this was just a Power Point presentation," said Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, Commander, Submarine Group 9.

"We have transitioned from an idea on paper to an actual capability to the nation. Their capabilities are revolutionary in what a typical submarine can do because they can carry multiple Tomahawk missiles, special operating forces, improved sonar processers, and a battle management center. It is truly one of the most capable platforms in the Navy today."

Through stealth, speed, agility, payload and persistence, the SSGNs remain a lethal deterrent force capable of precision strike, special operations, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It is with these capabilities, the SSGNs have accomplished numerous exercises and missions with Naval Special Warfare, experimented with unmanned aerial vehicles, and completed several theater security cooperation engagements with foreign countries enhancing international relationships and partnerships. As the SSGNs operate in the world's oceans their forward presence continue to provide maritime security and power projection.

"Four SSGNs capable of carrying and launching a combined total of 616 Tomahawk cruise missiles and deploying up to 264 Special Operation Forces, are forward-deployed in position to identify and respond to diverse threats on short notice and with scalable force," said Capt. Tracy Howard, commander, Submarine Squadron 16 in Kings Bay, Ga. "Additionally, with each SSGN possessing the firepower of multiple surface ships, deployed SSGNs provide the Navy and theater commanders with tremendous flexibility with respect to the deployment and redeployment of other assets."

The submarines deploy for approximately 12 months, with some deployments lasting up to 15 months. While deployed from its homeport, U.S. Navy bases in Diego Garcia and Guam provide ideal locations for crew exchanges and Voyage Repair Periods. Maintenance periods and crew exchanges occur approximately every three months and allow the SSGNs to maintain a continuous presence in the areas of operation for 70 percent of the year.

"The transformational capabilities (of the SSGN) are impressive and provide the combatant commander a significant increase in war fighting ability, and options for resolving and deterring conflict," said Capt. John Tammen, commander, Submarine Squadron 19 in Bangor, Wash.

Ohio, the first of the SSGNs to be converted, was the first to deploy Oct. 14, 2007 and Georgia, the last SSGN conversion, began its maiden deployment Aug. 6, 2009. A key element of the Navy's future fighting force, the four SSGNs have completed seven successful deployments and a combined 1,995 days underway.

New capabilities are constantly being added to the SSGN and the mission continues to expand. The SSGN will continue to be a powerful submarine asset needed to execute and accomplish the maritime strategy and Navy's goals.

"The submarine force has always been on the forward edge and has always been innovative in the way we use our platform, and this has taken innovation to a whole new level," said Caldwell.

"The ship by itself is nothing but a big piece of metal and electronics, but it is the people who bring the submarine to life. It is the people who make this platform so capable by taking the submarine and fully employing it in challenging situations, and they deliver fabulous results."


Successful First Firing of Naval Cruise Missile
Source: Direction Generale de l’Armement

On May 28, Direction Generale de l’Armement (DGA), the French defence procurement agency, successfully carried out the first test firing of a Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN) naval cruise missile.

The firing took place at DGA’s missile test range at Biscarosse, in south-western France, and used a vertical launcher similar to those used by French navy surface ships. The MdCN missile will equip the French Navy’s FREMM multimission frigates from 2014 and its Barracuda nuclear attack submarines from 2017.

All test objectives were reached during this first flight. In particular, it validated the missile’s ejection from a vertical launcher and its achievement of cruise configuration after successive separation of its container and of its pivoting and acceleration module.

This initial success demonstrates the technical maturity gained during the first three years of development, during which several of the missile’s subsystems were successfully tested.

As specified in the French defence White Paper, DGA has ordered 200 MdCN missiles from prime contrtactor MBDA, 150 for the FREMM frigates and 50 for the Barracuda SSNs.

With a range of the ordre of 1,000 mkilometers, the MdCN is intended to strike targets deep inside enemy territory. It complements the Scalp EG missile from which it is derived. Deployed on naval ships steaming at stand-off distances in international waters, and either visible (frigates) or stealthy (submarines), the MdCN is well-suited to disabling high-value enemy infrastructure and targets, whether lightly or well-hardened.




Boeing P-8A Poseidon Completes 1st In-flight Test of Mission Systems
Source: Boeing Co.

SEATTLE --- Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft T2 successfully completed the program's first mission systems test flight on June 8 in Seattle. T2 will be used to verify integrated mission systems performance during flights in Seattle and at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.

During the three-hour flight, the joint Boeing and Navy test team exercised mission computing on all five operator workstations and successfully demonstrated key systems -- including acoustics, mission planning, tactical data-link, communications, electronic support measures and flight test instrumentation -- for the first time.

"This successful flight moves us a step closer to getting the Poseidon and its next-generation radar and sensors into the hands of the warfighter," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. "Future flights will demonstrate the state-of-the-art systems that will provide the Navy superior performance well into the 21st century."

T2 is one of five test aircraft that are being assembled and tested as part of the U.S. Navy System Development and Demonstration contract Boeing received in 2004. Boeing's T1 airworthiness-test aircraft entered flight testing in October 2009 and arrived at the Navy's Patuxent River facility in April 2010.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.




CSS Shenandoah

Today’s website is CSS Shenandoah. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1807 - HMS Leopard attacks USS Chesapeake.
1865 - Confederate raider Shenandoah fires last shot of Civil War in Bering Strait.
1884 - Navy relief expedition under Cmdr. Winfield S. Schley rescues Lt. A.W. Greely, USA, and six others from Ellesmere Island, where they were marooned for three years on Arctic island.
1898 - Adm. Sampson begins amphibious landing near Santiago, Cuba.


Photo of the Day



The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Training Squadron JS Yamagiri (TV 3515) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH).

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