Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Link - Kirishima Sinking Analysis
New MSW crew-mate Karl Zingheim (CaptSonghouse) shares with us a link detailing the sinking of the battleship Kirishima.
Navy Commissions Guided-Missile Destroyer Gravely
Source: U.S Navy
WASHINGTON --- The Navy has commissioned its newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, Gravely, during an 11 a.m. EST ceremony Nov. 20 in Wilmington, N.C. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead delivered the ceremony's principal address.
Alma Gravely served as sponsor of the ship named for her late husband. The ceremony was highlighted by a time-honored Navy tradition when she gives the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!"
Designated DDG 107, the new destroyer honors the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Gravely was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922. After attending Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in September 1942. In 1943, he participated in a Navy program (V-12) designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers. On Dec. 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps. He was released from active duty in April 1946, but remained in the Naval Reserve.
Gravely was recalled to active duty in 1949. As part of the Navy's response to President Harry S. Truman's executive order to desegregate the armed services, his initial assignment was as a Navy recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C., area. Gravely went on to a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments.
Gravely's performance and leadership as an African American Naval officer demonstrated to America the value and strength of diversity. Gravely's accomplishments served as watershed events for today's Navy. He was the first African American to command a warship, USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717); to command a major warship, USS Jouett (DLG/CG-29); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet, which was U.S. 3rd Fleet.
Gravely is the 57th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management, to sea control and power projection. Gravely will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with "A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower," which postures the sea services to apply maritime power to protect U.S. vital interests.
Cmdr. Douglas Kunzman will become the first commanding officer of the ship and lead the crew of 276 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Gravely was built at Northrop Grumman's Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Queen's Commissioner Christens Patrol Ship “Zeeland”
Source: Netherlands Ministry of Defense
The Commissioner of the province of Zeeland, Karla Peijs, today christened “Zeeland,” the latest offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The ceremony at the Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding shipyard in Vlissingen was attended by guests from home and from abroad.
Earlier this year two other ships of the same class, “Holland” and “Friesland,” were christened in similar ceremonies. The fourth ship, “Groningen,” will follow next year and, like “Friesland,” will be built in Romania.
The new vessels have more and better sensors allowing them to better detect and identify small boats used by pirates or for drug smuggling. The ship is also built to be operated by a crew of 50 men, instead of 150 as on similar-sized ship of the previous generation. The smaller crew is possible because many on-board systems are remotely operated.
The new vessels will contribute to anti-piracy missions and counter-drug operations. In addition, they will perform coastguard missions first in the Netherlands and later in the Caribbean.
In the next six months “Zeeland” will be prepared for the its initial sea trials, that are scheduled to take place in mid-2011.
Sinking of the Shinano
Today’s is the anniversary of the Sinking of the HIJMS Shinano.
USS Archerfish (SS 311)
Today’s website is the USS Archerfish (SS 311). Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1775 - Capt. John Manley in schooner Lee captures British ordnance ship Nancy with large quantity of munitions.
1890 - First Army-Navy football game (Navy won 24-0).
1929 - Cmdr. Richard Byrd makes first flight over South Pole.
1944 - USS Archerfish (SS 311) sinks Japanese carrier Shinano, world's largest warship sunk by any submarine during World War II.
Photo of the Day
The U.S. Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter Rush (WHEC 723) departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to support Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises.
Gator
