Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Feature - Kirov/Admiral Ushakov Battlecruiser
MSW crew-mate Chuck Bauer (DieselDog) shares his first submission with us, Trumpeter Models 1/350 scale Kirov/Admiral Ushakov Battlecruiser in this "On Display" feature.
France to Build 2 Mistral LHDs for Russia
Source: French Ministry of Defense
The French head of state [President Nicolas Sarkozy] told employees of the STX shipyards that they would build the imminent Russian order. The procurement contract for two ships of the Mistral-class is to be signed by year-end.
“Together with our Russian friends, you are going to build two Mistral-class BPCs (Bâtiments de Projection et de Commandement). We are negotiating the contract, bt the final decision to go ahead is certain,” the President told employees of the STX shipyard (the former Chantiers de l’Atlantique).
Sarkozy’s statement will reassure the firm’s 2,280 employees. For the past year, the shipyard has suffered from a drop in production orders, which have led to temporary layoffs for some employees.
The new order for two ships would be in addition to that of the Dixmude, a third BPC-class ship ordered by the French navy and financed by the government’s economic recovery plan. It is to be delivered in April 2011 at a cost of 300 million euros.
The BPC-class ships are about 200 meters long, displace 21,300 tonnes and can transport up to 900 men as well as a substantial volume of ground vehicles, helicopters and amphibious transports. At the same time, they can host a complete headquarters for an international operation, as well as a full-scale hospital.
Successful Launch of First Multi Mission Frigate for the Royal Moroccan Navy
Source: Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
On 12 July, the green light was given to launch the first Multi-Mission Frigate under construction for the Royal Moroccan Navy.
The 105 metre long ship has been constructed entirely on land at the DSNS yard at Vlissingen East and is now ready, on schedule, to be completed at the Vlissingen-City shipyard.
Heavy Lifting and Transport company Mammoet, then moved the 2000 ton vessel initially from the hall towards the water. It was then placed on a pontoon and taken to deeper water where the pontoon was allowed to sink so that the frigate could be allowed to float unaided. The frigate was then towed by tug boats to Vlissingen-City where it will be completed over the coming year. This "direct launch" method is unique to this whole operation.
DSNS has made various investments over the course of the past two years in order to facilitate this unique construction method at the shipyard in Vlissingen-East. The site has undergone a complete metamorphosis whereby the existing production hall was extended by 120 m and a Ro-Ro ‘path' was created, upon which the ships ‘drive' from the hall to the pontoon.
The second and third frigates for the Royal Moroccan Navy, both 98 metres long, are planned to be launched to water in exactly the same manner next year.
USS Wasp
Today’s website is the USS Wasp. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1953 - Korean War armistice signed at Panmunjon, Korea and Korean cease-fire went into effect at 10:00 PM.
Photo of the Day
The Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) and other ships assigned to the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 combined task force transit the Pacific Ocean during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise 2010.
Gator
