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



On Display Feature - 1/350 IJN Nachi

Crew-mate Veniamin (litvin70) as he shares his build of Aoshima's 1/350 IJN Nachi in this MSW Feature.




Alion Awarded $4.6M Navy Contract to Develop PC-based Training System for Littoral Combat Ship-2
Source: Alion Science and Technology

MCLEAN, Va. --- Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, was awarded a three-year, $4.6 million task order from the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) to design a high-fidelity serious game to train sailors for the Littoral Combat Ship-2 (LCS) Readiness Control Officer (RCO) position.

Alion will expand its PC-based Virtual Maintenance Performance Aid (VMPA) from the current system developed for the LCS-1 RCO to an updated solution designed for the LCS-2 environment. This design approach demonstrates the reconfigurable nature of the simulation architecture and yields a more cost effective solution. Since each vessel has different training requirements, Alion’s VMPA RCO for LCS-2 trainer will include a ship-specific Electronic Control System graphical user interface, an instructor station that can control the training environment, the ability to integrate with the Surface Warfare Officers School’s LCS Bridge Training System and the virtual ship simulation that allows the trainee to learn the new equipment in a 3-D environment.

Ultimately, it is intended that the LCS-2 RCO will integrate with the LCS Shore Based Training Facility (SBTF) in San Diego.

“Alion is continuing its support of the VMPA Readiness Control Trainer program by building off of the existing trainer to provide a fully interactive, PC-based virtual ship environment to teach individual and team training on the LCS-2 hull,” said Rear Adm. Richard E. Brooks (USN, Ret.), Alion Senior Vice President and Manager of the Distributed Simulation Group. “Our trainer represents the capability to provide a total ship training environment, from tactical and force protection to damage control and maintenance training.”

Alion will provide the updated hardware and software for LCS-2 RCO to the Surface Warfare Officers School and the Littoral Combat Ship Class Squadron. VMPA was developed in partnership with the Office of Naval Research and NAWCTSD to bridge the gap between training, skills and performance. NAWCTSD is the Littoral Combat Ship Training System Executive Agent.


Curtiss-Wright Receives Multi-Million Dollar Contract from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command
Source: Curtiss-Wright Corporation

PARSIPPANY, N.J. --- Curtiss-Wright Corporation today announced that it has received a contract from the Naval Air Systems Command for the manufacture of Recovery Assist, Secure and Traverse (RAST) systems to support the DDG 51 Flight IIA forward-build program. The multi-million dollar contract includes initial authorization for one RAST system to support hull number DDG 113 with options for follow-on systems for hull numbers DDG 114 and DDG 115.

"We are very pleased to continue our support of this important ship program for the U.S. Navy," said Martin R. Benante, CEO and Chairman of Curtiss-Wright Corporation. "The RAST system demonstrates our engineering expertise in providing advanced performance, innovative equipment designs and increased operational efficiency. It is another example of the depth of our technology portfolio and the benefits it brings to our customers."

INDAL Technologies, a business unit of Curtiss-Wright's Flow Control segment, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, will perform the work for this contract, with the first delivery scheduled for December 2012.

RAST is a helicopter handling system that fully integrates all of the functions required to safely operate and stow large ship-borne helicopters. In addition to enabling safe launch and recovery, RAST facilitates the securing and maneuvering of helicopters, particularly in adverse weather and sea conditions up to sea state 5. Curtiss-Wright has delivered more than 200 of its integrated aircraft handling systems to navies around the world.




Battle of the Coral Sea

Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.




Battle of the Coral Sea - Lest We Forget documentary

Today’s website is Battle of the Coral Sea - Lest We Forget documentary. Enjoy.


This Day in U.S. Naval History

1917 - First Navy ships, Destroyer Division 8, arrive at Queenstown, Ireland, to provide convoy escorts against German U-boats.
1942 - Battle of Coral Sea, first carrier vs. carrier battle, begins.
1945 - Japanese attempt to land on Okinawa repulsed; kamikaze attacks damage 6 U.S. Navy ships.
1961 - Cdmr. Malcolm D. Ross, USNR, and medical observer Lt Cmdr. Victor A. Prather Jr., ascended in two hours to over 11,000 feet in Strato-Lab 5, a 411-foot hydrogen filled balloon launched from the deck of USS Antietam. This was the highest altitude attained by man in an open gondola. Tragically, Prather drowned during the recovery.
1994 - Operation Restore Hope begins in Somalia.


Diorama Idea of the Day



Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class John Elopre paints the island of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73). To see the original high resolution photo, click here.

Gator