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



U. S. Coast Guard Awards Northrop Grumman $480 Million Construction Contract for Fourth National Security Cutter
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.

PASCAGOULA, Miss. --- The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a $480 million fixed-price incentive contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation's Shipbuilding sector for construction of a fourth National Security Cutter (WMSL 753). Construction and delivery will be performed at the company's Pascagoula facility.

"These ships are a significant part of the Coast Guard's recapitalization program," said Irwin F. Edenzon, vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Gulf Coast. "This contract emphasizes the Coast Guard's confidence in the NSC's design and demonstrated performance, as well as the progress we've made with our quality and process improvement initiatives."

The National Security Cutters that comprise the Coast Guard's Legend class are the flagships of the Coast Guard fleet, designed to replace the 378-foot Hamilton class High Endurance Cutters, which entered service during the 1960s.

Two of the eight ships planned in the program USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) and USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) have been commissioned and are executing Coast Guard missions. The third ship in the class, Stratton (WMSL 752), christened on July 23, 2010, is over 65 percent complete and scheduled for delivery next year.

NSC 4 will be 418-feet long, with a 54-foot beam, displacing 4,400 tons with a full load. It will have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of approximately 110.

The Legend-class NSC is capable of meeting a wide variety of maritime security mission needs. 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 multi-mission 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.


China completes upgrade of ex-Soviet aircraft carrier
Source: Military Parity

China completes repair and modernization of aircraft carrier Varyag, reports France Presse. According to western military experts, China plans to build five carrier strike groups; the first one will be formed in 2015.

Reportedly, China rapidly develops its naval power, but there's a lack of some key elements. However, the situation can be changed soon. China has not officially declared the building of aircraft carrier; nonetheless, it is expected that the ship would be put into operation in 2011, although not completed. This aircraft carrier is considered to be former Soviet Varyag.

At present, the ship stays at the port of Dalian undergoing a full-scale modernization. Hong Kong media sources reported last year that China planned to build five or more aircraft carriers, including two nuclear-powered ones.

Although China has already had significant nuclear potential, and second defense budget in the world (after the U.S.), demonstration of its military power is limited overseas. Aircraft carrier looks the most suitable tool for that purpose. Former US president Bill Clinton once said: "When word of crisis breaks out in Washington, it's no accident the first question that comes to everyone's lips is: where is the nearest carrier?"

Chinese official media agencies recently held a poll and found out that 98 per cent respondents say it is the best time to build aircraft carriers; 71 per cent pollees are convinced that China should have at least four carriers in inventory. Most of respondents consider power of Chinese Navy does not meet national needs.




Battle of Ormoc Bay

Today’s is the anniversary of the Battle of Ormoc Bay.




USS Cooper

Today’s website is the USS Cooper. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1775 - Congress orders the first officers' commissions printed.
1908 - Rear Adm. William S. Cowles submits a report to Secretary of the Navy recommending the purchase of aircraft suitable for operating from Naval ships on scouting and observation missions.
1941 - The first Naval armed guard detachment (seven men under a coxswain) of World War II reports to liberty ship SS Dunboyne.
1944 - Two-day destroyer Battle of Ormoc Bay begins.
1965 - USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN 25) become the first nuclear-powered task unit used in combat operations with the launch of air strikes near Bien Hoa, Vietnam.


Photo of the Day



The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) transits the South Pacific Ocean in high seas during the conclusion of a deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

Gator