Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
On Display – ORP Orzel
MSW Crewmember Adam Greenwold (dougirdog) offers us his build of the ORP Orzel in this Model On Display Feature.
Review – Alliance Model Works 1:350 WWII IJN Watertight doors
MSW Managing Editor Jim Adams (goldenpony) offers us his First Look style Review of Alliance Model Works 1:350 WWII IJN Watertight doors and Hatch Shutters.
Trident Nuclear Fleet Cuts Ruled Out by Liam Fox
Source: British American Security Information Council
A cut in the number of Trident submarines is not possible if the UK's nuclear deterrent is to be maintained, the defence secretary has said.
Dr Liam Fox told BBC Scotland that the current technology required the retention of all four submarines.
The Royal Navy currently operates 58 nuclear-armed ballistic missiles and about 200 nuclear warheads on four Vanguard-class submarines at Faslane.
His comments follow speculation the fleet could be cut from four to three.
Britain operates a "Continuous At Sea Deterrent", which means a fully-armed submarine is on patrol in the Atlantic at all times.
However, the fleet is ageing and in 2005 the Labour government pledged to build four new submarines at a cost of £20bn.
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said in 2009 that he would be willing to cut the number of submarines from four to three in a bid to save money and contribute to global arms reduction.
In a speech last summer, Dr Fox said he would be prepared to follow suit, as long as the move did not compromise the UK's defences.
'Rogue regimes'
But speaking to a BBC Scotland documentary team, Dr Fox said: "At the moment the assessment is we need four.
"If you reduce the number you take an increased risk in your ability to deploy that deterrent at all times.
"So at the moment the technology says four. That's something that can always be kept under review."
Dr Fox said the coalition was committed to reducing the size of the UK's nuclear weapons stockpile, and the next generation of submarines would carry fewer warheads.
But he insisted that while other states were developing nuclear weapons, the UK needed to retain an independent deterrent.
He added: "We have rogue regimes like North Korea who are actually trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"We are seeing other countries potentially trying to develop nuclear weapons. And we cannot gamble with Britain's future security."
The coalition government has opted to delay work on the next generation of submarines until 2016.
Opponents of Trident believe the delay is an opportunity to get rid of Britain's entire nuclear deterrent.
The SNP's defence spokesman, Angus Robertson, said: "It's a weapon system which is unjustifiable.
"We can never use it. It's immoral, it's illegal, and frankly, we should be spending our money on more important things."
CND Scotland's Alan Mackinnon said the government's own security review found that the UK was far more at threat from terrorism, cyber attack or even natural disaster.
He added: "Nowhere down the line was there the threat of a nuclear attack from another country because that's just not on the horizon. It's just not going to happen."
Northrop Grumman Fire Scout Completes First Unmanned Test Flights on Littoral Combat Ship
Source: Northrop Grumman
SAN DIEGO --- The Northrop Grumman Corporation--built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone in November when it flew its first test flights from the U.S. Navy's littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS-1).
The Navy conducted the activity, known as dynamic interface (DI) testing, off the coast of southern California to verify Fire Scout control systems have been integrated on the ship properly. DI testing started Nov. 13 and concluded Nov. 24.
"This was a great opportunity to witness the pairing of the LCS with Fire Scout because it represents what the Navy will use for future littoral security missions," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for tactical unmanned systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "We used the opportunity to demonstrate system performance capabilities with the ship, maintenance crew and other key logistical support functions."
Northrop Grumman is the Navy's Fire Scout prime contractor. A team of nine company engineers and air vehicle operators were on the ship to conduct DI testing with the Freedom's crew.
During DI testing, Fire Scout conducted a series of shipboard takeoffs and landings from various approaches. The testing also included subjecting the system to various wind directions and ship speeds. This process validated installation of equipment on the Freedom for future operations. It also allowed the team to identify any enhancements that can be made to improve use of Fire Scout systems on the LCS.
Fire Scout is intended to be a key intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset in LCS mission packages for mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare. These mission packages allow an LCS to rapidly adapt to new assignments. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for LCS mission packages.
With the successful DI testing, the Navy is closer to fully incorporating the VTUAV into LCS operations. Additional DI testing will be conducted on the USS Independence (LCS-2) next year.
The USS Freedom is the fourth ship and the third ship class from which Fire Scout has flown. Previous flight operations have been conducted from the USS Nashville (LPD-13), the USS McInerney (FFG-8) and USS Halyburton (FFG-40).
Battle of the Java Sea
Yesterday was the anniversary of the Battle of the Java Sea.
Fatal Cruise of the Princeton, explosion of the “Peacemaker”
Today’s website is the Fatal Cruise of the Princeton, explosion of the “Peacemaker”. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1844 - The Peacemaker, an experimental 14-inch gun, explodes aboard USS Princeton.
1893 - USS Indiana (BB 1), the first true battleship in the U.S. Navy, is launched.
1959 - USS Strong (DD 758) rescues 13 Arab fishermen from Bahrain when their fishing boats flounder in a storm.
1980 - The blue crew of USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657) launches four Trident I (C-4) missiles in the first C-4 operational test.
Diorama Idea of the Day
Russian submarines pier side.
Gator
