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



On Display Feature - IJN Battleship Yamato, 1/700 Scale

Crew-mate David J. Salvin (djandj) sends in this gallery of images of one of his latest builds, NNT Models German Bremen class frigate, Koln F211 in this "On Display" Feature.




Navy Sets New World Record with Electromagnetic Railgun Demonstration
Source: US Navy

NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER DAHLGREN, Va --- The Office of Naval Research (ONR) achieved a milestone Dec. 10 when it successfully conducted a world-record 33-megajoule shot of the Electromagnetic Railgun aboard Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.

"Today's railgun test demonstrates the tactical relevance of this technology, which could one day complement traditional surface ship combat systems," said Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, chief of naval research.

"The 33-megajoule shot means the Navy can fire projectiles at least 110 nautical miles, placing Sailors and Marines at a safe standoff distance and out of harm's way, and the high velocities achievable are tactically relevant for air and missile defense," he said. "This demonstration moves us one day closer to getting this advanced capability to sea."

Besides the extended ranges, the railgun also improves safety for Sailors and Marines because it will eliminate the need for a high-energy explosive warhead and traditional gun propellants. Removing explosives and chemicals will reduce the munitions logistic chain.

A megajoule is a measurement of energy associated with a mass traveling at a certain velocity. In simple terms, a one-ton vehicle moving at 100 mph equals a megajoule of energy.

In 2008, ONR conducted a 10-megajoule shot for media and visitors at Dahlgren. Today's demonstration showed researchers are steadily progressing toward developing a gun that could hit targets almost 20 times farther than conventional ship combat systems. A 33-megajoule shot, for example, could potentially reach extended ranges with Mach 5 velocity, five times the speed of sound.


DCNS Presents New-Generation Support Vessels
Source: DCNS

PARIS --- Speaking to international experts gathered in London on 9 and 10 December for the Afloat Support and Naval Logistics conference, DCNS gave a presentation on its new-generation BRAVE (Bâtiment RAVitailleur d'Escadre) underway replenishment tanker and support vessel under development for both the French Navy and international customers.

By increasing export sales, the Group hopes to increase revenues by 50 to 100% over the next ten years.

The BRAVE support vessel is the latest addition to DCNS’s product portfolio. The concept was unveiled at the Euronaval 2010 show in Paris in late October, where it attracted considerable attention, presumably for the simple reason that underway replenishment is the key to naval logistic support.

The multi-purpose BRAVE concept covers caters for missions currently performed by up to three types of French Navy ships. These include the underway replenishment of dry goods, munitions and fuels along with at-sea maintenance and repairs. According to DCNS studies, four BRAVE vessels would enable the French Navy to reduce its support fleet and crews by 50% while increasing total payload by 30% and cutting operating costs.

The BRAVE concept has been designed from the outset with international customers in mind. The basic design can be adapted to yield versions with a length overall ranging from 165 to 195 metres. Shipboard volumes and areas can also be readily tailored to increase tank capacities or accommodate a naval force command team, troops and equipment or additional hospital beds for humanitarian missions.

All navies need to get heavier payloads to distant locations more quickly while reducing the risks associated with underway replenishment. This is precisely the reason the BRAVE design features two mixed rigs, each designed to handle both fuels and dry cargo.

In recent decades, DCNS has designed and built a dozen support vessels for the French Navy as well as the Navy of the Argentine Republic, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. Most of these vessels are still in service.




Virtual tour of the BPC Mistral and FDA Forbin

Today’s website is a virtual tour of the French naval vessels BPC Mistral and FDA Forbin . Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1821 - Lt. Robert F. Stockton and Dr. Eli Ayers, a Naval surgeon and member of the American Colonizing Society, induce a local African king to sell territory for a colony, which eventually became the Republic of Liberia.
1907 - The Great White Fleet departs Hampton Roads, Va., to circumnavigate the world.
1922 - USS Bainbridge (DD 246) rescues 482 people from the burning French transport Vinh-Long.
1941 - USS Swordfish (SS 193) sinks Japanese cargo ship Atsutasan Maru.
1942 - Pharmacist's Mate 1st Class Harry B. Roby performs an appendectomy on Torpedoman 1st Class W.R. Jones aboard USS Grayback (SS 208). It is the second appendectomy ever performed aboard a submarine.
1998 - In Operation Desert Fox, Navy cruise missiles attack Iraq.


Photo of the Day



Sailors prepare a C-2 Greyhound assigned to the Rawhides of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40.

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