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



Keel Laid for First Joint High Speed Vessel
Source: US Navy

WASHINGTON --- The Army and Navy authenticated the keel for the future U.S. Army Vessel (USAV) Spearhead (JHSV 1) July 22, at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., symbolically recognizing the beginning of ship construction.

Spearhead is the first ship to be built as part of the DoD's Joint High Speed Vessel program, managed by the Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.

Though in development for less than four years - a relatively brief time for a major acquisition program - the ship underwent a rigorous production review process prior to the start of construction, where the ship's design maturity, the availability of materials and components and the shipbuilder's ability to successfully start fabrication were all closely evaluated.

"Our commitment to fully maturing the design prior to the start of construction has already paid huge dividends," said Capt. George Sutton, strategic and theater sealift program manager for PEO Ships. "Additionally, the use of proven commercial technologies and the shipbuilder's improvements to their production processes have paved the way for an already very successful program."

This commercially designed, non-combatant vessel leverages commercial technology and merges the previous Army Theater Support Vessel and the Navy High Speed Connector to decrease costs by taking advantage of the inherent commonality between the existing programs.

Leveraging the Navy's extensive experience in surface ship acquisition, PEO Ships has taken the lead on acquisition of both the Army and Navy high speed transport vessels. The future Spearhead is expected to be delivered to the Army's 7th Sustainment Brigade in 2012. The second ship of the class, the future USNS Vigilant, will be delivered to the Navy the following year.

"The JHSV's aggressive and streamlined acquisition process and the service's ability to leverage commercial investments has allowed us to provide a more maneuverable and flexible vessel to our warfighters," said Army Col. R. Eric Fletcher, the Army's project manager for Force Projection. "As a multiuse platform, the JHSV will provide our nation's warfighters with the capabilities to operate in a variety of missions, across the globe."

The vessels will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment for missions ranging from contingency operations and humanitarian assistance, to disaster relief and emerging seabasing concepts in austere port environments. The ships will be capable of transporting 600 short tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots. They will be capable of operating in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2).

Other joint requirements include an aviation flight deck to support day and night air vehicle launch and recovery operations.

To further improve production efficiencies, JHSV shipbuilder Austal has constructed a Modular Manufacturing Facility (MMF), completed in November 2009, which provides a five-fold increase in existing capacity and reduces construction duration.

PEO Ships is responsible for the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships and is currently managing the design and construction of 10 major surface ships classes and small boats and craft.

The PEO is committed to ensuring that prior to the start of ship construction, each program completes an exhaustive production readiness review to demonstrate that design is mature and the requirements are well understood. Fully maturing the design prior to the start of construction is one of a number of initiatives the PEO is undertaking to reduce costs in shipbuilding.


First Lady Michelle Obama Christens the Newest Northrop Grumman-built National Security Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752)
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- First Lady Michelle Obama christened the Northrop Grumman-built U.S. National Security Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) in front of 3,000 guests today calling the ship "truly magnificent."

Stratton is the third of eight planned National Security Cutters being built at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for the U.S. Coast Guard. With its 418-foot length and 4,700 ton full load displacement and state-of-the-art command and control systems, the NSC is the largest and most technologically advanced of the new multi-mission cutters.

"Here in Pascagoula, you've been building ships for centuries," said Mrs. Obama. "It's in your blood--a proud tradition passed from generation to generation. Your hands have given us some of the greatest ships in the United States Navy and Coast Guard. So whether you're a welder or a fitter or a burner--whatever your craft--today is also a tribute to you and your families, and America thanks you."

Stratton is named in honor of Captain Dorothy C. Stratton (1899-2006), the U.S. Coast Guard's first female commissioned officer and director of the SPARS ("Semper Paratus - Always Ready"), the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve during World War II. SPARS mainly replaced men in shore stations during most of the war; however as the war progressed SPARS were placed in charge of greater areas of previously male-only control--including as parachute riggers, aviation machinists' mates and air control tower operators. Several former SPARS attended the ceremony.

In his ceremony remarks, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding president Mike Petters recognized all of the shipbuilders who are building Stratton and added, "Captain Stratton was truly a trailblazer -- and I know that her passion and energy will be embodied in this great ship named for her, built by the best shipbuilders in the world."

U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Baffer is the ship's prospective commanding officer and will lead a crew of 120 U.S. Coast Guard sailors.

"Christening of Stratton is an important step in advancing our Coast Guard mission," said Admiral Robert Papp, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) is capable of meeting all maritime security mission needs. Powered by a twin propeller combined diesel and gas turbine power propulsion plant, the NSC is designed to travel at 28 knots maximum speed. The cutter includes an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats, and a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircrafts. It is the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the U.S. Coast Guard, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defense missions. This class of cutters plays an important role enhancing the Coast Guard's operational readiness, capacity, and effectiveness at a time when the demand for their services has never been greater.

"Cutter Stratton...embodies our drive to constantly innovate and evolve our maritime capabilities and leverage technology to our greatest advantage. It also reflects our desire to create a more modern, agile and forward-leaning Coast Guard capable of handling a new era of national security threats," said Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.




USS BonHomme Richard

Today’s website is the USS BonHomme Richard. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1846 - Sailors and Marines from U.S. sloop Cyane capture San Diego.
1918 - Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt, visits Queenstown, Ireland.
1945 - U.S. warships bombard Hamamatsu, Japan.


Photo of the Day



Ships from participating nations are underway in formation during exercise Sea Breeze 2010. Sea Breeze is the largest exercise this year in the Black Sea.

Gator