Saturday, April 2, 2011
Refurbished US Frigate Transferred to Pakistan Navy | Navy News at DefenseTalk
Refurbished US Frigate Transferred to Pakistan Navy Navy News at DefenseTalk Pretty sure - this is the one that went 'boom, pow, bang' and 'oops' when someone put, if memory serves, the ship in gear, not following the proper procedures, pierside, at FULL POWER! Big 'dent' in the bow, and lot's of embarrassment in the Pakastani Navy.
British Minister Advocates British-French Nuclear Deterrent - Defense News
British Minister Advocates British-French Nuclear Deterrent - Defense News Sounds good in theory - but this really is a legacy of social spending that is out of control all over the world. This is just an excuse to cut defense spending. What happens the next time when social spending is not put under control?
Must Every Carrier be a Supercarrier? More GREAT comments at USNI Blog
virgil xenophon Says:
Grandpa Bluewater speak heap big medicine. The sad, horrible, ugly truth is that all the retained expertise in both the active and retired force is all for naught unless our politics get fixed. And to do THAT means doing something which most of us absolutely LOATH–which is to become VERY active 24/7 (in the same manner the communists burrow in–live, eat and sleep it) in both local AND national politics. At the local level the school board is vital. Checked out whats actually being taught in K-12 these days? Its naught but a propaganda/brain-washing exercise to install socialism/eco-fascism in all too many jurisdictions. Not overtly, mind you, most of the teachers are too–how shall I say this politely?–”politically unaware” to realize the source behind much of what is taught in Univ Education Depts and curriculum development associations like the ones William Ayers rides herd on. Latest surveys say 67% of those under 30 have a favorable view of socialism. Where do you think that’s coming from? Unless we get a grip on the culture wars long-term and electoral politics in the short-term, it’s all, as GB says, about re-arranging the deck chairs..
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 am
virgil xenophon Says: PS: Look at the PC rot within our own house. When the CNO of the Navy and the Super at Annapolis say “diversity” is their number one priority, and when the Chief of Staff of the Army states that, if the shooting at Ft. Hood harmed the concept of “diversity” in the armed forces, it would be an even GREATER tragedy than the death of his OWN TROOPS, one has ABSOLUTE living proof of the extent to which the leftist tide of cultural marxism–PC–has overwhelmed even people who should know better. The budget is out of whack because of the attempt of the left to “spread the wealth around” in the best leftist fashion. How do you think the mind-set of those that voted for Obama came to be developed? Did you know that Obama’s approval ratings among the college-age crowd has just hit a new HIGH!?–even as I type this?
Yes, we have big short-term DOD budget problems, but they can ONLY get worse unless we fix/reverse the long-term cultural trends.
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:45 am
Grandpa Bluewater speak heap big medicine. The sad, horrible, ugly truth is that all the retained expertise in both the active and retired force is all for naught unless our politics get fixed. And to do THAT means doing something which most of us absolutely LOATH–which is to become VERY active 24/7 (in the same manner the communists burrow in–live, eat and sleep it) in both local AND national politics. At the local level the school board is vital. Checked out whats actually being taught in K-12 these days? Its naught but a propaganda/brain-washing exercise to install socialism/eco-fascism in all too many jurisdictions. Not overtly, mind you, most of the teachers are too–how shall I say this politely?–”politically unaware” to realize the source behind much of what is taught in Univ Education Depts and curriculum development associations like the ones William Ayers rides herd on. Latest surveys say 67% of those under 30 have a favorable view of socialism. Where do you think that’s coming from? Unless we get a grip on the culture wars long-term and electoral politics in the short-term, it’s all, as GB says, about re-arranging the deck chairs..
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:27 am
Yes, we have big short-term DOD budget problems, but they can ONLY get worse unless we fix/reverse the long-term cultural trends.
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:45 am
Wall Street Journal - We've Become a Nation of Takers, Not Makers
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704050204576219073867182108.html
Absolutely frightening................
Absolutely frightening................
Friday, April 1, 2011
From Powerline - Are We Doomed?
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/04/028739.php
Dependency on foreign oil?...................
Dependency on foreign oil?...................
Record Page Views Today - here's where they're from - 153 and counting
| United States | 77 |
| Germany | 45 |
| Cuba | 4 |
| United Kingdom | 4 |
| Japan | 3 |
| Romania | 3 |
| Australia | 2 |
| Denmark | 2 |
| France | 2 |
| Canada | 1 |
Read this comment - SPOT ON! http://blog.usni.org/2011/03/31/must-every-carrier-be-a-supercarrier/comment-page-1/#comment-269242
Grandpa Bluewater Says:
Here’s the deal. The government is broke and in unsustainable debt. The Congress is functionally deadlocked, having overpromised everybody to the point of inability to cut anything in the line of a social program for fear of loss of (the horror!) seats long considered safe.
The nation’s will to fight has been sapped by forces obvious to anyone who watches the news and has read 2 history books about wars fought before 1955.
Folks were told there was to be a “peace dividend” from transfer of funds from military readiness to income redistribution at the end of the cold war, and cut the armed services in half, and then in half again. The current “plan” in some quarters is to back away from any conflict in progress, ASAP… and do it again.
At the same time deindustrialization proceeds apace, justified by the rush to “free” trade. The green’s environmental agenda has placed in-country natural resources increasingly out of reach, sopping up capital beyond that available to import resources, most notably energy.
It’s all economics kids, and we’re in a death spiral. Thus the pressure for cheaper, less capable combatants and the snuffing out of auxiliaries. Not to mention jettisoning personnel with irreplacable expertise like a drunk lighting cigars with the cash in his wallet.
Admirals, we’ve got lots of, and all problems are defined as failures of leadership and trust on the part of the jo’s (which includes anybody not an Admiral.) Summary relief is the universal remedy. That’ll fix it. Decisive career termination with prejudice, that’s the ticket! No straw for the bricks, it’s a failure of trust/leadership, pack your bags.
We’re just imitating the decline of the Royal Navy, but 40 years behind. Only worse.
Should present trends continue, what will the US Navy look like in 2111?
Ozmandias.
Look upon the destiny set for you by the powers that be today, ye seamen, firemen, airmen, constructionmen, and commissioning aspirants….and despair.
Don’t mind me, though. Feel free to return to rearranging deck chairs.
April 1st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Here’s the deal. The government is broke and in unsustainable debt. The Congress is functionally deadlocked, having overpromised everybody to the point of inability to cut anything in the line of a social program for fear of loss of (the horror!) seats long considered safe.
The nation’s will to fight has been sapped by forces obvious to anyone who watches the news and has read 2 history books about wars fought before 1955.
Folks were told there was to be a “peace dividend” from transfer of funds from military readiness to income redistribution at the end of the cold war, and cut the armed services in half, and then in half again. The current “plan” in some quarters is to back away from any conflict in progress, ASAP… and do it again.
At the same time deindustrialization proceeds apace, justified by the rush to “free” trade. The green’s environmental agenda has placed in-country natural resources increasingly out of reach, sopping up capital beyond that available to import resources, most notably energy.
It’s all economics kids, and we’re in a death spiral. Thus the pressure for cheaper, less capable combatants and the snuffing out of auxiliaries. Not to mention jettisoning personnel with irreplacable expertise like a drunk lighting cigars with the cash in his wallet.
Admirals, we’ve got lots of, and all problems are defined as failures of leadership and trust on the part of the jo’s (which includes anybody not an Admiral.) Summary relief is the universal remedy. That’ll fix it. Decisive career termination with prejudice, that’s the ticket! No straw for the bricks, it’s a failure of trust/leadership, pack your bags.
We’re just imitating the decline of the Royal Navy, but 40 years behind. Only worse.
Should present trends continue, what will the US Navy look like in 2111?
Ozmandias.
Look upon the destiny set for you by the powers that be today, ye seamen, firemen, airmen, constructionmen, and commissioning aspirants….and despair.
Don’t mind me, though. Feel free to return to rearranging deck chairs.
April 1st, 2011 at 2:42 pm
Must Every Carrier be a Supercarrier?
Great discussion at USNI blog - my take is that its good to have options. Nothing prevents the US Navy from using a LHD as a 'harrier carrier' right now for hot spots that don't need a super carrier. But I don't want people to think that this should in anyway take place of funding for super carriers. We don't have enough of them.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
To President George W. Bush, From Barack, With Apologies - Investors.com
To President George W. Bush, From Barack, With Apologies - Investors.com I admit this strays from the Navy mission a bit - thought it was an article that will draw reactions from both sides....
Port clearance in Miyako - March 30 - from 7th Fleet Facebook - update from Japan
Port clearance in Miyako - March 30
by U.S. 7th Fleet on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 6:23am
Divers from Underwater Construction Team 2 ride a rigid-hull inflatable boat into Miyako harbor
Seventh Fleet forces continue support of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) in Operation Tomodachi. With Sendai airport now open for military flights – and soon to be opened for commercial flights as well -- 7th Fleet’s focus has shifted to harbor clearance, consolidating relief supplies at airfields ashore, and preparing to assist with clean-up of debris.
USNS Safeguard (ARS 50) and USS Tortuga (LSD 46), Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 and Underwater Construction Team 2 conducted additional surveys in preparation for port clearance operations at the port of Miyako. Visual surveys show extensive damage including commercial and pleasure craft sunk, concrete pier supports washed ashore and a permanent pier destroyed. Tortuga launched a Landing Craft Unit (LCU) equipped with side scan sonar to survey additional areas of the port. The side scan sonar provides detailed visuals of the harbor bottom to identify and prioritize dive sites for clearing. During today’s survey, the dive team discovered the remains of a victim of the tsunami of March 11. The Navy team immediately communicated the discovery to the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, whose divers retrieved them.
Sailors and Marines from the USS Essex amphibious ready group and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are planning for Operation “Field Day”, a clearing and clean up mission on the remote island of Oshima off the coast of Kessennuma. In conjunction with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, the effort will include clearing the port, and clearing debris from local schools and government buildings. The island is dependent upon ferry service to and from the mainland, is the primary method for travel to/from the island and clearing the port allows this vital lifeline to resume. Clearing and opening of schools and government buildings is a significant step towards restoring the island to normal.
Helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 moved an additional 13 pallets of relief supplies from USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Germantown (LSD 42) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) to Misawa, where they will moved via C-130 aircraft to Sendai. From there, JGSDF and civilian relief authorities will able to distribute the items to disaster areas as needed. The JGSDF has opened most roads in the disaster areas, and are able to move most goods to displaced persons via ground transportation.
USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) and USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) arrived at the port of Yokosuka today. The Rappahannock transported 312 pallets of water it picked up from the port city of Gwangyang, South Korea. The water will be used by Fleet Industrial Supply Center (FISC) to support ongoing relief efforts. USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7) arrived in Sasebo. Both Pecos and Carl Brashear are taking on fuel and ships stores prior to returning to the fleet to support relief operations.
A P-3 “Orion” aircraft from the Skinny Dragons of Patrol Squadron Four (VP-4) conducted a search and rescue flight down the east coast of Japan to search for debris or objects at sea that could interfere with shipping. The P-3 returned to Kadena Air Force Base (AFB) upon completion of the mission and will stage from there for continued relief efforts.
The first of two U.S. Navy barges containing 500,000 gallons of fresh water from Commander, Facilities Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) was moved to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant today. The second will arrive tomorrow. Japanese authorities will use the fresh water to replace salt water currently in some of the reactors.
USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10) conducted resupply at sea (RAS) activities with USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Cowpens (CG 63), and USS Shiloh (CG 67), ships of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) Carrier Strike Group (CSG), supplying fuel and additional supplies. Most of the relief supplies on these ships have been moved ashore to airfields in Misawa or Sendai where the JSDF can better access them to deliver to people in need.
Currently 16 ships, 130 aircraft and 13,076 personnel are actively engaged in operation Tomodachi. Those ships include USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50), USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Germantown (LSD 42), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS McCampbell (DDG 85), USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), USS Mustin (DDG 89), USS Cowpens (CG 63), USS Shiloh (CG 67), USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) and USNS Richard E. Byrd (T-AKE 4).
Since Operation Tomodachi started, U.S. 7th Fleet forces have delivered more than 250 tons of relief supplies to survivors of the tsunami and earthquake in support of Japan Self Defense Force efforts.
Please "Like" U.S. 7th Fleet to receive future updates in your news feed.
Ship building news - http://www.coltoncompany.com/
The Navy took delivery of the USNS Washington Chambers, (T-AKE 11), in San Diego on Wednesday. Read the announcement from MSC here. Only three T-AKEs still to go. Bring on the T-AO program ASAP. February 26, 2011.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN DELIVERS DDG 110
The Navy took delivery of the USS William P. Lawrence, (DDG 110), today in Pascagoula. Read the announcement from Northrop Grumman here. NGSB now has no DDGs left to build. Three more were authorized in FY 2010 - two for NGSB and one for BIW - but as we all know, there has been no 2010 appropriation yet. Unbelievably disruptive: major lay-offs seem inevitable, just as NGSB is about to become HuntIng Industries. February 24, 2011.
AN SSBN THAT ONLY COSTS $6 BILLION
Defense News reports that the Navy thinks it can get the cost of a new SSBN down from the original estimate of $7 billion to a mere $6 billion. Read the story here. Well, that's certainly great news. That means that, all being well, we'll be able to afford a Navy with maybe 60 ships. Whoopy-doo.
Let's see now. According to the CBO, the Ohio class of SSBNs, which the new boats would replace, cost about $1.4 billion each, in 1983 dollars. $1.4 billion to $6 billion over 28 years, that's an average growth rate of about 5.4%. Over the same period, the Producer Price Index grew at 3.0%, giving a present value for $1.4 billion of $3.2 billion, roughly half what the Navy is aiming for. What do we conclude? First, shipbuilding costs are still going up, even in constant dollars, and, second, the Navy is still specifying gold-plated systems. Why do we need these monsters, anyway? Here's one program that is definitely going to be delayed, scaled down and stretched out. February 23, 2011.
NO FANFARE FOR LAUNCH OF LPD 23
Last week, NGSB delivered DDG 110 and started fabrication of CVN 79. Both these events were announced with the usual overblown press releases. Not so the launch of LPD 23, which took place the week before. Not only no press release, the event wasn't even covered by the New Orleans Times-Picayune. It did, however, make it into NGSB's employee newsletter, a copy of which you can read here. So, how long before she is moved to Pascagoula? Note that it took Avondale 176 weeks to erect this ship and based on past experience, as shown below, it will be another 90 before she's delivered. Disgraceful. February 27, 2011.
| # | Name | Builder | Contract Award | Keel Laying | Launch | Delivery | KL-L (weeks) | L-D (weeks) | KL-D (weeks) |
| 17 | San Antonio | Avondale | 17-Dec-96 | 9-Dec-00 | 12-Jul-03 | 20-Jul-05 | 135 | 105 | 241 |
| 18 | New Orleans | Avondale | 18-Dec-98 | 14-Oct-02 | 11-Dec-04 | 22-Dec-06 | 113 | 106 | 219 |
| 19 | Mesa Verde | Ingalls | 29-Feb-00 | 25-Feb-03 | 19-Nov-04 | 28-Sep-07 | 90 | 148 | 238 |
| 20 | Green Bay | Avondale | 30-May-00 | 11-Aug-03 | 11-Aug-06 | 29-Aug-08 | 157 | 107 | 264 |
| 21 | New York | Avondale | 25-Nov-03 | 10-Sep-04 | 19-Dec-07 | 21-Aug-09 | 181 | 87 | 268 |
| 22 | San Diego | Ingalls | 1-Jun-06 | 23-May-07 | 7-May-10 | 154 | |||
| 23 | Anchorage | Avondale | 1-Jun-06 | 24-Sep-07 | 12-Feb-11 | 176 | |||
| 24 | Arlington | Ingalls | 6-Nov-06 | 18-Dec-08 | 23-Nov-10 | 101 | |||
| 25 | Somerset | Avondale | 21-Dec-07 | 11-Dec-09 | |||||
| 26 | John P. Murtha | Ingalls | |||||||
| 27 | Ingalls |
NASSCO DELIVERS T-AKE 11
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Deja Vu all over again - great post at Lex's place on arming the rebels in Libya
http://www.neptunuslex.com/2011/03/30/deja-vu/
Intelligence here would be a good thing.................
Intelligence here would be a good thing.................
Last time arriving, United States Ship Nassau LHA 4, Naval Station Norfolk after a 7 month deployment
USS Nassau (LHA-4) returns to Naval Station Norfolk after a seven-month deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
US Navy photo # 100815-N-0634R-002 NORFOLK (Aug. 15, 2010) by MC2 Kristan Robertson.
US Navy photo # 100815-N-0634R-002 NORFOLK (Aug. 15, 2010) by MC2 Kristan Robertson.
USS Nassau LHA 4 - Update - Decommissioning tomorrow March 31, 2011 - Fair Winds to this grand lady
http://www.lha4.com/31_march__2011.html
Interesting information on decommissioning details...............
Interesting information on decommissioning details...............
USS Nassau (LHA-4) underway in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo by Mario Mederos, crew chief Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM-263) was taken during the Blue Eagles cruise to the Mediterranean in 1983.
USS Nassau (LHA-4)underway, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo
US Navy photo
USS Nassau (LHA-4) pierside, Naval Station Rota Spain, date unknown.
Right Call - Mayport is still important - bringing back a carrier
http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2011/03/buying-round-at-singletons.html
Great post over at Sal's place..........................
Great post over at Sal's place..........................
Repair, Maintenance Facility Assists with Japan Relief
Repair, Maintenance Facility Assists with Japan Relief It pays to have the US Navy around..............outstanding support
Rebels Retreat From Libya Oil Port Under Attack
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/30/qaddafi-forces-pressure-rebels-key-oil-port/
We continue to wonder who these rebels are..................some good? some bad?
We continue to wonder who these rebels are..................some good? some bad?
America Returns to sea! In June 2007 the USS America Carrier Veterans Association got their wish - returning 'America' back to sea.
Artists Rendoring of Precommissioning Unit America LHA 6
Naming Ceremony of USS America LHA 6 with Board of Directors of USS America Carrier Veterans Association, Walt Wait, President (dark suite to right of placard). SECNAV just to left of placard, Ships Sponsor Lynne Pace just left of SECNAV. Wharf Rat is last one on the right.
SECNAV, Miss America 2008, Mrs. Lynne Pace, Ships Sponsor, and General Peter Pace, former Chair of the Joint Chiefs
Miss America 2008 with Wharf Rat's daughter
Keel Authentication Ceremony, July 2009, Pascagula, MS
Commissioning a US Navy Warship - The Great Start of American History. I've had the good fortune of attending 3 ceremonies in the last two years.
USS Gravely DDG 107 Commissioning Day - Wharf Rat on deck!
Commissioning Day, January 2009, USS George H W Bush with the oldest on the flight deck right above the date stamp on the photo
Every US Navy Ship I've ever been on has been tied to a wharf, museum or active duty. I need to get my sea bag and get to see the sea!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Workers at Japan Nuke Plant 'Lost the Race' to Save Reactor, Expert Says
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/29/workers-japan-nuke-plant-lost-race-save-reactor-expert-says/
The question I have is now what are the implications for the Japanese people in and around the area, and the relief workers, including US Military members who are in the area?
The question I have is now what are the implications for the Japanese people in and around the area, and the relief workers, including US Military members who are in the area?
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