On Display - 1/700 BB/CV Ise Hybrid
MSW Crew member Alec Cap is back with his wonderful 1/700 BB/CV Ise Hybrid.
Feature - Building an A/B Waterbase
Jorge Martinez gives us a step by step of an interesting base making method. This allows you to display the ship in full hull, not just waterline.
Keel Laying Ceremony Held for Newest Submarine
Source: Naval Air Systems Command
NEWPORT NEWS, Va --- Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), hosted a keel laying ceremony May 20, for the new submarine USS Minnesota (SSN 783), the third U.S. Navy ship named for the North Star state.
Ellen Roughead, wife of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, served as the ship's sponsor and keel authenticator for the ceremony. Roughead authenticated the keel by chalking her initials onto a metal plate. Her initials were then welded onto the plate, which will be permanently affixed to the ship.
Minnesota will be the 10th of a projected 30 Virginia-class submarines. Construction began in February 2008 and her name was announced July 15, 2008. The name Minnesota was selected to honor the state's residents and their continued support of the U.S. military. The state is home to 46 Medal of Honor recipients spanning the Civil War to the Vietnam War.
HII designs, builds and maintains nuclear and non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard and provides after-market services for military ships around the globe.
Minnesota is being built under a teaming arrangement between HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat. Upon completion, the submarine will be 7,800-tons and 377-feet long, which is slightly longer than a football field. She has a 34-foot beam, will be able to dive to depths greater than 800 feet and will operate at speeds in excess of 25 knots submerged.
Minnesota is designed with a nuclear reactor plant that will not require refueling during the planned life of the ship, reducing lifecycle costs and increasing underway time.
RAF Strikes Gaddafi's Navy
Source: UK Ministry of Defense
RAF jets participated in a major NATO strike against Colonel Gaddafi's Navy last night as part of the UK's ongoing support to the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR, protecting Libyan civilians under threat of attack.
Yesterday's RAF strikes were mounted against the naval base at Al Khums, the nearest concentration of regime warships to the port of Misurata, which Colonel Gaddafi has repeatedly attempted to close to humanitarian shipping.
Major General John Lorimer, the Chief of the Defence Staff's Strategic Communications Officer, said:
"As well as hitting two corvettes in the harbour, the Royal Air Force Tornados successfully targeted a facility in the dockyard constructing fast inflatable boats which Libyan forces have used several times in their efforts to mine Misurata and attack vessels in the area.
"Although prompt action each time by Royal Navy and other NATO warships has prevented any damage being caused by these attacks, the destruction last night of the facility and a significant stockpile of the boats will reduce the regime's ability to sustain such tactics.
"Before the start of the NATO naval patrols, Colonel Gaddafi had used his conventional warships, such as the corvettes, to shell coastal towns; last night's operation will have had a very significant impact on his ability to do so again."
Earlier this week, intensive air patrols were maintained following Monday's successful attacks on Colonel Gaddafi's intelligence agencies.
RAF Tornado and Typhoon ground attack aircraft struck a command bunker on Tuesday near Tarhunah, south east of Tripoli.
The jets also patrolled the skies around Misurata, destroying a multiple rocket launcher and armoured vehicle south of the city. Further west, two main battle tanks and two armoured personnel carriers, spotted near Yafran, were destroyed.
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force precision attacks have damaged or destroyed some 330 regime targets since the start of operations to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.
World War 2 Cruisers
Today’s website is World War 2 Cruisers. Enjoy.
This Day in U.S. Naval History
1900 - Sailors and Marines from USS Newark and USS Oregon arrive at Peking, China, with other Sailors and Marines from Britain, France, Russia, Italy and Japan to protect U.S. and foreign diplomatic legations from the Boxers.
1919 - NC-4's transatlantic flight ends at Plymouth, England.
1944 - USS England (DE 635) sank a record sixth Japanese submarine in 13 days.
Diorama Idea of the Day
An unknown naval vessel ploughs through heavy seas. To see the original high resolution photo, click here.
Gator
