Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
On Display Feature - große Unruhe breitet sich aus!
Crew-mate Augusto Martinez (rea00cy) shares an action packed diorama of fabulous modeling, große Unruhe breitet sich aus! in this "On Display" Feature.
HMS Albion Assumes Role of Fleet Flagship
Source: U.K Ministry of Defense
Amphibious assault ship HMS Albion has assumed the role of fleet flagship of the Royal Navy.
HMS Albion, the amphibious assault ship based in Plymouth, becomes the flagship now that the previous flagship HMS Ark Royal is in the process of being decommissioned.
The decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal was announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review. She entered her home port of Portsmouth for the last time on 3 December 2010 flying a decommissioning pennant.
HMS Albion becomes the first Devonport-based ship in living memory to hold the prestigious responsibility of fleet flagship.
The Commanding Officer of HMS Albion, Captain James Morley, said:
"It gives all in Albion great pride to assume the mantle of flagship of the Royal Navy.
"Albion is an ideal platform for this role given her versatility and unique capability as a floating command centre."
HMS Albion is currently held at very high readiness for unexpected operations around the world.
She is at the vanguard of the Armed Forces' contingent capability for unforeseen events that may require a maritime response from the UK.
Notwithstanding the defence main effort in Afghanistan, her high state of readiness is a reminder that the UK's Armed Forces must remain prepared for events elsewhere.
She is capable of commanding and controlling a major operation at sea or on land, landing an amphibious fighting force, providing humanitarian assistance, and evacuating civilians to safety, as she demonstrated at Santander during the volcanic ash cloud incident earlier this year.
Since early 2010, HMS Albion has been the flagship of the Royal Navy's Amphibious Task Group - a designation she will retain in addition to her new fleet flagship role.
Littoral Combat Ship Miracle Bids Likely To Be Accepted By Congress
Source: Lexington Institute
Recent testimony by senior officials of the Department of the Navy before the Senate Appropriations Committee reveal the source of their new-found enthusiasm for buying both variants of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
Apparently both bidders, Lockheed Martin and Austal, came in with bids one-third lower than the price being charged for the initial set of four vessels. At $440-460 million a copy for the sea frame, the opportunity to acquire a mixed fleet of LCS is almost irresistible. Moreover, these “miracle bids” do not reflect further cost savings that could result as both builders move up the learning curve, take advantage of a multi-year procurement contract to reduce supplier costs and refine their cost estimating methodologies. The Navy’s experience with cost reduction in the Virginia-class submarine program, a collaborative effort by General Dynamics’ Electric Boat and Northrop Grumman’s Newport News shipyards, is illustrative of possible savings once production is underway.
If the new acquisition strategy is approved both bidders will be challenged to make good on their promises. This may be particularly difficult for Austal which no longer has the level of support from General Dynamic (GD) that existed when the two were partners on their construction of the first LCS. Unquestionably, Lockheed Martin will be working closely with Marinette Marine, the Wisconsin shipyards, to ensure both quality and cost controls.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that considerable risks remain in the LCS program. A recent GAO review of the LCS programs noted that the Navy believes that experience to date on the program, coupled with fixed price contracts and a sufficient budget for ship changes, mitigates this risk. This same study went on to point out that a second ship design and source provided under the dual award strategy could provide the Navy an additional hedge against risk.
In their testimony, senior Navy leaders discussed the evolution of the program and their overall level of confidence. They perceive the risks noted by the GAO as manageable. Sean Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition, declared that “this program has done a complete turn-around.”
Building both variants of the LCS opens up new possibilities for further design modifications to one or both to meet specific mission requirements. Allies in the Persian Gulf have been looking seriously at the Lockheed Martin design as a potential missile defense ship. The addition of a more powerful gun and long-range missile launchers could turn the Austral/GD design into a “gunship” to support amphibious operations.
The explosion of research and development in the area of unmanned systems also will create new options for both LCS designs.
West Indies Squadron
Today’s website is West Indies Squadron. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1822 - Congress authorizes the 14-ship West Indies Squadron to suppress piracy in the Caribbean.
1941 - Adm. Ernest J. King is designated commander-in-chief in charge of all operating Naval fleets and coastal frontier forces, reporting directly to the president.
1964 - USS Richard E. Kraus (DD 849) completes a successful emergency mission, aiding the disabled American merchant ship SS Oceanic Spray in the Red Sea.
1974 - Clearance of the Suez Canal for mines and unexploded ordnance completed by joint task force.
1989 - Operation Just Cause begins in Panama.
1998 - Operation Desert Fox in Iraq ends.
Photo of the Day
The guided-missile frigates USS Underwood (FFG 36) and USS Halyburton (FFG 40) are decorated with lights for a holiday lighting contest at Naval Station Mayport.
Gator
