Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.
HMS Diamond Joins the Fleet
Source: U.K. Ministry of Defence
The latest of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 air defence destroyers has been formally commissioned into the fleet today.
HMS Diamond is one of six multi-role vessels being built to provide air defence using the Sea Viper missile system.
She can embark 60 troops and their equipment, supported by a modern medical facility that can deliver a surgical capability. She could also carry up to 700 people to support a civilian evacuation.
The Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, said:
"The Type 45 programme is an example of how we are investing in capabilities for the future. This ceremony marks another step in the delivery of six of the most powerful air defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. These new ships will provide the UK with a world class military capability that will form a key part of the Future Force 2020."
Hundreds of guests including families of the 190-strong ship's company attended the ceremony at Portsmouth Naval Base which was conducted by the Reverend Scott Brown, Chaplain of the Fleet.
During the ceremony the ship's sponsor, Lady Johns, who launched the ship at BAE Systems' Govan shipyard on the River Clyde in November 2007, inspected the members of the ship's company on parade.
HMS Diamond's Commanding Officer, Commander Ian Clarke, read out a Commissioning Warrant and the ceremony was rounded off in traditional Royal Navy fashion with the cutting of a commissioning cake.
Performing the honour was the Commanding Officer's wife Joanne and Engineering Technician Ross Hindmarch, who, at 17, is the youngest member of the ship's company.
Commander Clarke said:
"This is a proud moment for all on board HMS Diamond. As she nears the end of her trials phase, this ceremony marks our transition to front line service.
"Thereafter, the emphasis will be on combat readiness in preparation for our first deployment next year. I'm thrilled that so many families, friends and affiliates, some from overseas, were part of our momentous day."
All the Type 45s will be based in Portsmouth. The first, HMS Daring, was commissioned in July 2009, followed by HMS Dauntless in June last year.
The fourth, Dragon, is due to arrive in Portsmouth for the first time in September. All six are scheduled to be in service by the middle of the decade.
Gun systems and communications for 10 Littoral Combat Ships to be provided by BAE Systems
Source: BAE Systems
Ten U.S. Navy Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), built by an Austal USA-led team, will have their external communications systems and primary gun systems from BAE Systems. The LCS fleet will be a new generation of high-speed Navy warships designed to carry out a range of operations in shallow waters close to shore.
BAE Systems will design, install, integrate, and test various communications systems for the 10 ships. These include radio and antenna systems, baseband switching systems and associated cabinets, and other types of specialized equipment and hardware. Communications work will be conducted at BAE Systems' facility in California, Maryland, and at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
The gun systems will be 57-millimeter Mk 110 gun systems. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems along with General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products will install and integrate the gun systems.
The 6-mode 57-mm Mk 295 programmable, pre-fragmented and proximity-fused (3P) ammunition allows the system to perform against an aerial, surface, or ground threat without requiring multiple round types. Sailors can switch from warning to live fire to engage a target in seconds, and the servo-controlled electro hydraulic gun laying subsystems provide robust endurance and extreme pointing accuracy, even in high sea-state conditions.
Gun system work will be conducted at BAE Systems' facilities in Louisville, Kentucky, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in Karlskoga, Sweden. Production of the gun systems is expected to run through calendar year 2017. BAE Systems announced in January that it will also build and install the primary gun systems on 10 Lockheed Martin-built Littoral Combat Ships.
BAE Systems is a subcontractor to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems for external communications and a supplier to General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products for the gun systems. The company will support the Austal-led team on this work as a subcontractor to General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems. Earlier this year, General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems was awarded a contract from Austal to be the Platform Systems Engineering Agent for the ships.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1775 - Force under Ethan Allan and Benedict Arnold cross Lake Champlain and capture British fort at Ticonderoga, New York.
1800 - USS Constitution captures Letter of Marque Sandwich.
1862 - Confederates destroy Norfolk and Pensacola Navy Yards.
1949 - First shipboard launching of LARK, guided missile by USS Norton Sound.
1960 - USS Triton (SSRN 586) completes submerged circumnavigation of world in 84 days following many of the routes taken by Magellan and cruising 46,000 miles.
Diorama Idea of the Day
A U.S. Coast Guardsmen aboard a security patrol craft escort the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) out of San Diego Harbor as the ship heads to sea. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
