Foro Militar General

Navy NewsStand
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class (SW) Michael Starkey, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

USS RAMAGE, At Sea (NNS) -- The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) is underway in the Navy's 5th and 6th fleet area of operations with new technology added to its arsenal. The guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), part of the Iwo Jima ESG, is the first East Coast ship equipped with a Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system.

The new BMD system not only allows the strike group to defend themselves against missile attacks, but other areas as well.

"This contributes greatly to the ESG operations," said Cmdr. Peter Galluch, Ramage's commanding officer. "It gives our ESG commander and theater commander another capability that's never been deployed from the East Coast. We can detect and identify, track and engage short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles. So whatever theater we go in, we can defend population centers, or assets from attacks from aggressive nations with ballistic missiles. That's never been the case before."

Although there are numerous DDG's homeported on the East Coast, Ramage was specifically selected to be the first to receive the BMD system.

"Ramage, with our base-line Aegis load, makes us eligible to have the BMD software," said Lt. Cmdr. Harry Marsh, Ramage's Combat Systems officer. "With our timeline, the timing of our yard period, and when our deployment was scheduled, we were in the right place at the right time. Our crew has proven that it was also the right ship, we've met all of the requirements and expect to continue to do so."

A vast amount of time was spent in training Ramage's Sailors on the operation of the BMD system.

"The crew underwent very intensive training," said Galluch. "Their rates got them in the ballpark; working on Aegis, working in the combat information center, and their 'A schools' had a lot of it, but then they had a month of specific technical & tactical training on the system."

The training hasn't stopped.

"After the certification we've been running scenarios and drills and technical training to keep up the proficiency and build our operational excellence," Galluch continued. "The Ramage has a great reputation, so they knew what ship to put it on."

The Iwo Jima ESG consists of Ramage; the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7); the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); all homeported at Norfolk; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast-attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768), homeported at Groton, Conn.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2008 – With the off-loading of 17 tons of humanitarian supplies from the USS Mount Whitney over the weekend, the Defense Department’s part in providing relief to Georgia is over, Pentagon officials said here today.

The Mount Whitney – the flagship of the U.S. fleet in the Mediterranean – delivered the supplies to the Georgian port of Poti over the weekend. The USS McFaul and Coast Guard Cutter Dallas had previously delivered supplies to the port of Batumi.

DoD delivered 1,145 short tons of relief to Tbilisi via 62 air sorties since Russia invaded the Caucasus republic in early August. Russia also has recognized the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and still maintains troops in Georgia. “Russia is still not in compliance with the cease-fire agreement,” Pentagon officials said.

DoD personnel delivered only humanitarian supplies to Georgia. Servicemembers delivered cots, tents, bedding, medical supplies, humanitarian daily rations, water and other relief supplies to help Georgia recover from the invasion. The message behind this aid was “that the United States was going to come to the aid of a close ally in this time of need,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

The end of the DoD humanitarian mission does not mean the U.S. government efforts end. “The [U.S. Agency for International Development] efforts will now continue as they look at what needs need to be fulfilled in the mid-term to longer term,” Whitman said.

The next step for DoD personnel will be down the road when a security assessment team will go into the country to “take a look at what their needs might be with respect to that,” Whitman said. “It’s still premature to get in to any of that at this point.”

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received a $5.1 billion, 7-year cost plus incentive fee contract award for detail design and construction of the Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. This new class of carrier is the replacement for the Nimitz-class design that originated in the 1960s.

The company's Shipbuilding sector will perform the work, which includes ship construction, ship design activities, engineering services, procurement of materials and hardware to support construction and logistics activities.

"This contract award is an important and historic milestone for our company, our Navy and our country," said Matt Mulherin, vice president and general manager for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding's Newport News operations. "It represents an incredible opportunity for the great shipbuilders of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding to build the first new aircraft carrier class in more than 40 years. The work we are doing today will play a significant role in America's defense for many generations to come."

Advance construction of the Gerald R. Ford began in 2005 under a separate contract valued at $2.7 billion. This advance work allowed shipbuilders to test the design-build strategy, exercise new processes, prototype new features used on this ship before the overall construction contract was awarded, and to build a sufficient backlog of ship units to support production, undocking and delivery. About one third of the ship's 1,200 structural units are currently under construction. The ship's keel will be laid in the fall of 2009 and delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2015.

The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship platforms. Enhancements being incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include a new nuclear power plant; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and lower operating costs for the Navy.

Carlos Martín escribió:ADJUDICADO AMPLIACION CONTRATO PARA CONSTRUCCION DEL CVN78

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Sept. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Advance construction of the Gerald R. Ford began in 2005 under a separate contract valued at $2.7 billion. This advance work allowed shipbuilders to test the design-build strategy, exercise new processes, prototype new features used on this ship before the overall construction contract was awarded, and to build a sufficient backlog of ship units to support production, undocking and delivery. About one third of the ship's 1,200 structural units are currently under construction. The ship's keel will be laid in the fall of 2009 and delivery to the Navy is scheduled for 2015.
The Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) class will continue the legacy of highly capable U.S. Navy aircraft carrier ship platforms. Enhancements being incorporated into the design include flight deck changes, improved weapons handling systems, and a redesigned island, all resulting in increased aircraft sortie rates. It will also include a new nuclear power plant; increased electrical power generation capacity; allowance for future technologies; and reduced workload for the sailors, translating to a smaller crew size and lower operating costs for the Navy.

BAE Systems, Armament Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded a $19,718,151 firm-fixed-price definitive contract for the procurement of 5,082 57mm Mk 295 MOD 0 Pre-Fragmented, Programmable, Proximity (3P) cartridges. The procurement of these rounds includes 82 first article units and 5,000 production units in support of the 57mm Gun Ammunition Program. Work will be performed in Karlskoga, Sweden, (60 percent); Raufoss, Norway, (23 percent); and Lindesberg, Sweden, (17 percent), and is expected to be completed by Sept. 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-C-JM21).

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Sept 10, IRNA
India-Canada-Navy Exercise
Two Canadian warships will be visiting Indian waters for four days from Wednesday and carry out an exercise in the sea off the Chennai coast on Saturday.

The two ships -- HMCS Calgary and HMCS Protecteur -- will dock at the Chennai port while the Canadian Naval officers and men interact with their Indian counterparts there during the visit, Indian Navy sources said in New Delhi.

Before the ships leave the Indian waters, the two navies would conduct a Passage Exercise in the Bay of Bengal involving
communication, maneuvering, station keeping, Visit-Board-Search-Seize operations and exchange of personnel.

HMCS Calgary is a Halifax-class frigate with a complement of 215 men including 25 officers.

It has a maximum displacement of 4,770-tonnes and is equipped with Electronic Counter Measures capability.

It carries Harpoon missiles, Sea Sparrow Surface-to-Air Missile, 57-mm Bofors Gun and suitable Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities, along with a Sea King helicopter.

HMCS Protecteur is an Auxiliary ship (tanker) with a complement of 365 men including 27 officers. It has a maximum displacement of 24,700 ton and carries a Sea King helicopter.

USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- The U.S. ambassador to Spain and his distinguished guests visited the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) while underway Sept. 9.

Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre and the group visited Iwo Jima to familiarize themselves with the U.S. military, and to learn about the capabilities and assets the U.S. brings to a multinational force.

"I wanted to bring these 18 Spanish leaders here because it is important that the Spanish population, represented by these individuals, understand the high quality of professionalism, patriotism, and the excellence of the American fighting men and women," said Aguirre.

"They get to see a ship underway, during operations, preparing to go into theater and also observe the young men and women who carry out their responsibilities in a stellar fashion."

Adm. Juan Munoz-Delgado, admiral of the Spanish Navy Fleet Forces, participated in the visit and was impressed by Iwo Jima's capabilities.

"I look at this ship with envy," said Munoz-Delgado. "The Spanish and U.S. navies have a long tradition of working together, and I am happy to have the opportunity to be here and learn more about how the U.S. Navy operates."

During the visit, the guests toured Iwo Jima's medical facilities, viewed static displays of Navy and Marine Corps assets, and observed an AV-8B Harrier air demonstration. The visit also highlighted the camaraderie and close working relationship between the Navy and Marine Corps.

"The teamwork between the Sailors and Marines is a very effective weapon, and yet, at the same time, a very peaceful tool," said Munoz-Delgado.

Other guests agreed.

"The Navy and Marine Corps do an impressive job," said Luis Cuesta, Secretary General for Defense Policy at the Spanish Ministry of Defense. "The Iwo Jima is a very impressive ship, and I wish we had a ship like this in the Spanish Navy."

Before departing, Aguirre concluded the visit by addressing the Sailors and Marines of Iwo Jima.

"I am particularly proud of you and the job you are doing," said Aguirre. "Being aboard Iwo Jima and seeing our Sailors and Marines makes me proud to be an American."

Iwo Jima is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) in support of maritime security operations in the Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. The Iwo Jima ESG consists of Iwo Jima; the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50); the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72); the guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61); all homeported at Norfolk; the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), homeported at Mayport, Fla.; and the fast attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN 768), homeported at Groton, Conn.

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy announced that the amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) will be decommissioned March 31, 2009, at Naval Base San Diego.

Tarawa completed her 14th and final Western Pacific deployment in June and returned from her last operational exercise -- Fuerzas Aliadas Panamax 2008 in the Panama Canal zone -- to her homeport of San Diego Aug. 29.

"I think it hit heavy on the way back [to San Diego] when [the crew] realized they would not be doing this again," said Capt. Brian Luther, Tarawa's commanding officer.

Panamax was the final chapter for Tarawa, which has readily served as a key asset in the defense of the United States for 32 years.

"It's going to be tough knowing that my ship will no longer be in service," said Damage Controlman 1st Class (SW/AW) Jerry Wirth, Tarawa's damage control work center supervisor.

"Because of the ship's obvious age, it takes quite a bit of energy and personnel to maintain damage control measures to the Navy's standards. We try and exceed them. That's why the 'Big T' has been around longer than any other LHA in her class. I'm sad to see her go."

Tarawa, named in remembrance of the Battle of Tarawa that began Nov. 19, 1943 and lasted for 76 hours, was the first of the LHA class of ships and is the third to be decommissioned. During Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, Tarawa played a major role.

Tarawa was also called upon to aid with humanitarian assistance operations during Sea Angel and Sea Angel II following the deadly cyclones that affected Bangladesh in 2007. These humanitarian assistance efforts were instrumental in the ship being awarded the 2007 Battle Efficiency Award.

12/09/2008 16:14 PETROPAVLOVSK KAMCHATSKY, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - Strategic submarines from the Russian Pacific Fleet will conduct test launches of ballistic missiles at the Kura test site in Kamchatka on September 15-20, a fleet source said on Friday.

"The launches will be conducted from the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea," he said.

The source did not specify the class of the submarines or the type of missiles to be launched. He said however the Pacific Fleet had informed authorities in the Kamchatka Territory that the fleet would conduct on September 15-20 test launches of ballistic missiles whose trajectory would pass over the region.

According to open sources, Russia's Pacific Fleet has 4-5 active Delta-class strategic missile submarines.

One of the submarines, the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Delta III class SSBN, conducted a successful test firing of a ballistic missile from the Pacific Ocean at a target in the Arctic in August 2007.

Sep 12, 1:59 PM EDT

Syrian-Russian naval cooperation grows

By SAM F. GHATTAS
Associated Press Writer

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Russia said Friday it was renovating a Syrian port for use by the Russian fleet, signaling an effort to establish a firmer foothold in the Mediterranean at a time of tensions with the United States over Georgia.

Syria was Moscow's strongest Mideast ally during the Cold War. The alliance largely waned after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union, though Russia has continued some weapons sales to Damascus.

But Syrian President Bashar Assad has increasingly reached out to Russia recently, including seeking weapons and offering broader military cooperation.

Friday's announcement was the first tangible sign of any new cooperation. The Itar-Tass news agency reported a vessel from Russia's Black Sea fleet had begun restoring facilities at Syria's Mediterranean port of Tartus for use by the Russian military.

The two countries' naval chiefs also met in Moscow on Friday and discussed "further strengthening mutual trust and mutual understanding between the two states' fleets," a Russian naval official, Igor Dygalo, told Itar-Tass.

The Tartus renovations could signal an intention to have a long-term Russian naval presence there. In late August, Russia's ambassador to Damascus, Igor Belyev, said Russian ships already patrol the area, but "a new development is that the Russian presence in the Mediterranean will become permanent."

The Russian navy's closest access to the Mediterranean is through the Black Sea, where they have a strong naval presence. But that area has seen an increase in NATO naval activity after the Georgia conflict, prompting Russian complaints that NATO has exceeded ship numbers permitted there under international agreements.

The move comes at a time of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia after last month's brief war in Georgia. The rift has raised concerns Moscow might start reaching out to U.S. rivals around the world to beef up military alliances.

Russian bombers this month arrived in Venezuela for training exercises and the two countries are to hold joint exercises in the Caribbean in November.

In Moscow, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that Russia would build economic and military ties with nations willing to do so even if the West dislikes some of these alliances.

"There are many other interesting places in the world with governments maintaining friendly ties with us," he said. "And if they like developing economic, humanitarian and military ties with us, we won't say no."

Syrian media made no mention of the Russian announcement Friday, and Syrian officials could not be reached for comment. In Syria, military activities are rarely discussed or divulged by authorities who keep a tight lid on state security matters.

Russian military experts said Tartus would be a considerable boost for operations in the Mediterranean.

"It is much more advantageous to have such a facility than to return ships patrolling the Mediterranean to their home bases," former Black Sea Fleet commander Adm. Eduard Baltin said, according to the Russian Interfax-AVN service.

The former first deputy commander the Russian Navy, Adm. Igor Kasatonov, said Tartus "is of great geopolitical significance considering that it is the only such Russian facility abroad."

The former Soviet Union had a maintenance and supply facility in Tartus under a 1971 agreement with Damascus, but the deal ended with the fall of the Communist regime in Moscow. Currently the facility at Tartus consists of three floating piers, one of which is currently operational, one floating repair shop, warehouses, barracks and other facilities, according to Russian press reports.

Security expert David Hartwell cautioned against reading too much into a connection between the Russia-Syria ties and the Georgia crisis.

"Talks about naval cooperation have been ongoing for several years. It would wrong to suggest this is a reaction to NATO's action in Georgia," said Hartwell, Middle East and North Africa editor for Jane's Country Risk in London.

The Tartus move may be as much aimed at placating Syria's appeals for greater cooperation.

Assad made a visit to Moscow last month, and before the trip told the Russian business daily Kommersant that Syria was "ready to cooperate with Russia in any way," including discussing deploying missile defense systems on Syrian territory.

Assad also said Syria was ready to help Moscow respond to the planned U.S. missile defense shield in Europe, although the Russians have not asked for such help, the newspaper said.

Syria's government later denied that Assad had made such an offer - apparently wary of overly antagonizing the United States.

By agence france-presse
Published: 10 Sep 09:14 EDT (13:14 GMT)

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon said Sept. 9 it has notified the U.S. Congress of a possible sale to India of two dozen Harpoon air-to-ground anti-ship missiles.

Such a deal would be worth as much as $170 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.

"India intends to use the Harpoon missiles to modernize its air force anti-surface warfare mission capabilities and improve its naval operational flexibility," the agency said in a statement.

Boeing would be the prime contractor.

The 84L Harpoon Block II missiles are designed primarily as satellite guided anti-ship missiles.

HMS Intrepid makes final journey

A former Royal Navy assault ship, which served during the Falklands War, has left a Hampshire port for the last time prior to being broken up.

HMS Intrepid - which played a key role during the war in the 1980s - was towed out of Portsmouth on Friday evening.

The Fearless class landing platform dock, which was decommissioned in 1999 after 35 years, is heading for a scrapyard in Liverpool

Former sailors gathered in Portsmouth as a send-off for the ship.

Joel Mundy, who served on her from 1980-82 and during the Falklands, said: "It's sad. It's hard to hard to see her go.

"I think she would have mad a very good museum.

"When you fight in her and come back safely she has a special place in your heart."

Leavesley International was selected last year as preferred bidder for the task of recycling Intrepid, which contains about 40 tonnes of asbestos.

The vessel was replaced in service by the much larger assault ship HMS Albion.

NATO's War Ships Leaving Black Sea
Published: 9/13/2008

BRUSSELS - NATO war ships would leave the Black Sea on Wednesday and would be on their way to the Mediterranean.
According to a written statement issued by NATO, NATO war ships that arrived in Black Sea for "routine visits and military exercises planned earlier" on August 21st have completed their duties and would be leaving the Black Sea.

NATO war ships did not stay in the Black Sea for more than 21 days based on the Montreux Convention.

The NATO statement said that Spanish "Juan de Borbon", German "Lubeck", Polish "Pulaski" and U.S. "Taylor" war ships would continue military exercises in the Mediterranean.

NATO war ships paid visits to Romanian and Bulgarian ports and participated in joint operations under the command of Spanish Admiral Juan Rodriguez Garat.

ANKARA, Sept 14 (KUNA) -- US Navy destoyer USS McFaul passed Sunday through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits en route to the Black Sea on an unidentified mission, the second to that region within a month.
Turkish foreign ministry said in a brief statement USS McFaul obtained a permission to pass via the Turkish straits, but did not disclose its mission.
The passage of the US destroyer is not in contradiction of the 1936 Montreux Convention which grants Turkey sovereignty over Bosporus and Dardanelles straits thus organizing traffic, said the statement.
According to the Montreux Convention, no giant war ships are allowed to enter the Black Sea basin via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits other than those of countries overlooking the basin -- Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania. Besides, no other war ships are allowed to stay in the Black Sea over 21 days.
The USS McFaul had recently been in Georgia to deliver humanitarian aid.
Dardanelles is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, while the Bosporus separates the European part of Turkey from its Asian part, connecting the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea.

The navy's newest ship, HMNZS Canterbury, is set to stay tied up at Devonport naval base in Auckland for a few more weeks, awaiting delivery of new inflatable sea boats.

The 8000-tonne multi-role ship, commissioned last year, has been in dock for several weeks after its two $150,000 7.4-metre rigid-hulled inflatable sea boats failed to meet safety standards.

Replacements had been ordered from Australia but the navy said it would be several weeks before they arrived and the ship was fully operational again.

The sea boat problem was also delaying the formal commissioning of offshore and inshore patrol boats being built for the navy under the $500 million Project Protector programme.

Canterbury and its sea boats came under the spotlight after one sea boat was swept out of its alcove on the side of the ship and lost and the other was badly damaged in heavy seas in the Bay of Plenty last July.

Last October one of the boats capsized as it was being launched and a seaman drowned when he was trapped under water.

Defence Minister Phil Goff ordered and independent inquiry by British maritime expert John Coles following the tragedy.

He said the ship was "intrinsically safe" but needed $20 million spent on it to bring it up to scratch.

That would include modifications to the sea boat alcoves and new sea boats.

The original Gemini boats were supplied with the ship when it was delivered to the navy from the Tenix yard in Melbourne where the ship was fitted with its naval communications, other systems and armament after being built in Holland.

The navy ordered 14 of the boats, worth an estimated $2m, for the seven new ships being built under Project Protector.

As well as Canterbury the navy would also get two 85-metre offshore patrol boats and four 55-metre inshore patrol boats, each fitted with the inflatable sea boats.

Although the navy ordered 14 of the new inflatable boats, technically the navy owned only the two on Canterbury which were replaced when the first two were destroyed and damaged.

Negotiations were being held with Tenix (now BAE Systems Australia) over the rest of the sea boats for the offshore and inshore patrol boats.

In the meantime the navy has ordered four similarly sized Zodiac inflatable boats from Australia, two for Canterbury and two to get other new ships in the fleet, ready to be commissioned, to sea.

The first of the two 85-metre off shore patrol boats, HMNZS Otago, was launched in Melbourne nearly two years ago and is still there.

It had done its sea trials but was still waiting for its new seaboat. Its sister ship, HMNZS Wellington was launched in October last year.