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



Photo Walkaround - USS Wisconsin

MSW crew-mate Tim Parker (pzkw) took a recent trip to Norfolk, Virginia, and took the opportunity to tour one the USS Wisconsin, BB-64.




Northrop Grumman Announces Procurement Contract for LHA 7
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- The U.S. Navy awarded a $175 million cost-plus-fixed fee contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation for advance procurement of long-lead materials and performance of engineering/planning efforts for LHA 7, the second in the Navy's newest class of large-deck amphibious assault ships. The first ship, America (LHA 6) is currently 25 percent complete.

The funds will be used to purchase long-lead time materials and major equipment, such as the main reduction gears, in support of the new ship and to perform initial design and planning. The work will be performed at the company's Gulf Coast facilities. With all contract options exercised, the contract value could reach $193 million.

"This contract marks the first milestone for the Navy's newest large-deck amphibious ship," said Kevin Jarvis, vice president of large deck programs. "Procuring long-lead material in advance of starting construction helps the shipbuilder manage cost and schedule, and managing our supply chain is one of our top priorities in shipbuilding. This contract is a first step to transition to the ship construction contract. There is a great team in place ready to perform and build another quality amphibious ship."

LHA 7 will be 844 feet long and 106 feet wide and weigh 44,854 tons. Its hybrid propulsion system will drive it to speeds in excess of 22 knots on its gas turbines, but also will run cost efficiently on its auxiliary electric propulsion motors. It will accommodate 1,204 crew and 1,871 troops.

LHA 7 will have an extended hangar deck with two higher hangar bay areas, each fitted with an overhead crane for aircraft maintenance. The ship will also provide increased aviation fuel capacity, stowage for aviation parts and support equipment. In addition, LHA 7will be able to embark and launch the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, cargo and attack helicopters, and the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) variant F-35B Lightning II Strike Fighter.


Northrop Grumman-Built Aegis Destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) Performs Well in the Ship's Acceptance Trial
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built Aegis guided missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) returned successfully from her first-ever sea trial last week in the Gulf of Mexico. Reaching this milestone paved the way for delivery to the U.S. Navy later this summer. The destroyer is being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss.

DDG 107's super trial, normally combining builder's and U.S. Navy acceptance trials, was modified to an integrated acceptance trial to mitigate the impact of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"We made a commitment to take DDG 107 to sea and we were able to do that despite the current situation in the Gulf," said Richard Schenk, test and trials vice president for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding. "The Northrop Grumman/Navy sea trial team worked extremely well together to test the ship's systems, which performed very well. Any testing that could not be accomplished because of the oil spill will be achieved at a later date. I couldn't be more excited of our team's efforts."

During the trial, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) tested the ship's communications and propulsion systems, and conducted several other inspections including habitability.

"We're pleased with the flexibility of Northrop Grumman and the entire team in making the sea trial a success," said U.S. Navy Capt. Steve Mitchell, deputy for operations, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast. "In the areas of focus such as propulsion and damage control, among others, we're happy with the improving trends in these areas. I was proud to be teammates with the shipyard on this trial."

"The shipbuilders and Navy team worked well together, and despite the short time at-sea, we were able to perform necessary tests in a quality manner," said George Nungesser, Northrop Grumman's DDG 51 program manager. "The response we've received from the Navy has been excellent and we greatly reduced the number of trial cards from the last sea trial."

U.S. Navy Commander Doug Kunzman is the ship's first commanding officer and will lead a crew of over 300 officers and sailors. The 510-foot, 9,500-ton Gravely has an overall beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas-turbine propulsion plants will power the ship to speeds above 30 knots.

This highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection, all in support of the United States' military strategy. Gravely will be capable of simultaneously fighting air, surface and subsurface battles. The ship contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.




Northrop Grumman Mine Detection System Flying Towards Operational Evaluation
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

MELBOURNE, Fla. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Navy have begun the next phase of the flight test program leading to the "final exam" Operational Evaluation and potential approval next year for full-rate production of the Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS). The Navy is conducting the Developmental Flight Test-IIE (DT-IIE) program from its Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division site in Florida. The first flight occurred on June 8.
ALMDS is an airborne mine countermeasures system, one of several systems in development by Northrop Grumman to address the threat posed by mines to U.S. and allied ships. ALMDS uses its pulsed laser light and streak tube receivers to image in 3-D, day or night, the near-surface of the ocean.

The system is housed in a pod that is mounted on the port side of an MH-60S helicopter and measures just under nine feet long with a 21-inch diameter. ALMDS will be a key component of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures Mission Package. Northrop Grumman also is the LCS Mission Package Integrator for the Navy.

"Mines are worldwide, inexpensive, and readily available to terrorists and rogue nations for use against military and commercial ships," said Dan Chang, vice president of Northrop Grumman Maritime and Tactical Systems. "Being able to find them rapidly, without slowing the pace of our fleet, is the purpose of ALMDS. It's about getting the sailor out of the minefield wherever possible."

The Navy will fly ALMDS approximately 40 times during the DT-IIE evaluation. A technical evaluation will follow and will lead to the full-scale Operational Evaluation late next year.

"We've had four flights to date and, though I can't go into details, the feedback we've gotten is that the system is performing well and reliably," said Chang. "The flight test data have allowed us to make a few minor software adjustments that have sharpened the capabilities of the system."

Northrop Grumman has delivered five ALMDS pods to the Navy, all on or ahead of schedule, under LRIP phase-1 and -2 contracts. An LRIP phase-3 contract is expected later this year.

In addition to ALMDS, Northrop Grumman is developing the Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS) for the U.S. Navy, which will use ALMDS data to relocate and then destroy the mines from a safe distance. The company is testing its Airborne Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS) for the U.S. Army, and its Coastal Battlefield Reconnaissance and Analysis (COBRA) for the Marine Corps.




Captain John Paul Jones

Today’s website is the biography of Captain John Paul Jones. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1747 - Birth of John Paul Jones at Arbigland, Scotland.
1898 - Armed Auxiliary Dixie captures Spanish Three Bells, Pilgrim and Greeman Castle.
1908 - Cmdr. Robert Peary sails in Roosevelt from New York to explore Arctic.
1911 - First naval aviation base established at Annapolis, Md.
1920 - Test and first use of radio compass in aircraft off Norfolk, Va.
1943 - Night Battle of Kula Gulf results in loss of two Japanese destroyers and USS Helena (CL 50).
1976 - First women enter U.S. Naval Academy.


Photo of the Day



Fireworks at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) explode over two Aegis-class cruisers, USS Chosin (CG 65) and USS Lake Erie (CG 70).

Gator