Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
Navy Christens Guided Missile Destroyer Michael Murphy
Source: U.S Department of Defense
The Navy christened the newest guided-missile destroyer, Michael Murphy, Saturday, May 7, 2011, during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine. The new destroyer honors Navy SEAL (Sea, Air, Land) Lt. Michael P. Murphy who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan June 28, 2005.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead delivered the ceremony's principal address. Maureen Murphy served as sponsor of the ship named for her late son. In accordance with Navy tradition, she broke a bottle of champagne across the ship’s bow to formally christen the ship.
Designated DDG 112, Michael Murphy, the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. Michael Murphy will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare in keeping with “A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower.”
Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz, a native of El Cajon, Calif., is the prospective commanding officer of the ship and will lead the crew of 279 officers and enlisted personnel. The 9,200-ton Michael Murphy is being built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.
Army Tranfers High Speed Vessels to Navy
Source: U.S Department of Defense
The Department of the Navy signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) May 2 with the Department of the Army transferring all five of the Army’s Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) to the Navy.
The intent of this MOA is to clarify relationships, identify the roles and responsibilities, and provide an implementation plan. In addition, this MOA formalizes and delineates the management, leadership, and requirements sponsorship roles required to deliver the capability encompassed by the JHSV to the combatant commanders.
“This agreement with the Army demonstrates our commitment to reducing redundancies and saving money for the taxpayer,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. “This is a responsible step that will ensure our military remains the most formidable fighting force the world has ever known.”
Initially, the JHSV program was envisioned to have five of the first 10 JHSVs assigned to the Army and the remainder to the Navy. However, at the Army/Navy Warfighter Talks in December 2010, both services agreed to transfer the Army’s five JHSVs upon signing of this MOA; all 10 JHSVs will now be assigned to Navy.
"The transfer of the JHSV is about aligning our core competencies, while at the same time realizing a measure of managerial efficiency,” said Army Secretary John McHugh. “We look forward to continued cooperation with the Navy as we determine how to ensure this capability can best support the combatant commanders.”
The Military Sealift Command will crew the JHSVs with civilian mariners or contract mariners. Joint High Speed Vessels will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment.
Battle of Heligoland (1864)
Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Heligoland (1864).
World War II Royal Navy Fleet Carriers
Today’s website is World War II Royal Navy Fleet Carriers. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1926 - LCDR Richard Byrd and Chief Machinist Mate Floyd Bennett make first flight over North Pole; both receive the Medal of Honor.
1942 - USS Wasp in Mediterranean launches 47 Spitfire aircraft to help defend Malta.
Diorama Idea of the Day
A Royal Navy aircraft carrier making its way through heavy seas. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
