F-35C heads north
June 30th, 2011 | Aviation Navy Research testing | Posted by Joshua Stewart
The first F-35C test aircraft has left Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for the first volley of carrier-suitability tests at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
CF-2, the second test aircraft delivered by Lockheed Martin to the Navy, arrived at Lakehurst on June 25 and was flown by test pilot Lt. Cmdr. Eric “Magic” Buus. While there, the airplane will be used for jet blast deflector tests, including deck heating, deflector panel cooling and other aspects. Shipboard testing is scheduled for 2013.
But this isn’t exactly how things were planned, and this change-up, unlike others that have dogged the Joint Strike Fighter program, isn’t something to worry about. Originally a different test aircraft, CF-1, was supposed to head to Lakehurst first. However, tests earlier this summer went better than expected, allowing a change of plans, said Cmdr. Victor Chen, a Naval Air Systems Command spokesman.
“F-35C testing is currently ahead of schedule, allowing previously unplanned testing on CF-1 to eliminate the requirements that caused it to be the only aircraft that could support initial (jet blast deflector) testing. With both aircraft able to support, the decision was made to keep CF-1 at the F-35 integrated test facility at NAS Patuxent River in order to perform a software upgrade, modify flight test instrumentation and execute flight test points, which it did on its first Pax fly day,” Chen said.
Two test aircraft are expected to go to Lakehurst later this summer for more carrier-suitability tests, including catapult launches and roll-in and arrested landings.
Ike gets back to work
June 29th, 2011 | Aviation Carriers Navy | Posted by Joshua Stewart
The carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower is back in business. After a nine-month availability, the second-oldest Nimitz-class carrier is conducting flight ops and taking on fuel; now there are pictures to prove it.
The ship, underway in the Atlantic, is completing carrier qualifications and flight deck certifications in preparation for its next deployment. Ike completed sea trials June 15, completing almost 300 INSURV tasks along the way.
Here are a few pictures from this week’s activities as the carrier works toward its next deployment.
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- Aviation Structural Mechanic Airman Kyndall Bennet looks for contaminates in fuel from an HH-60H Seahawk helicopter. // Navy photo by MCSN Albert Jones
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- An F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron 131, the Wildcats, lands on the Ike. The plane was flown by Lt. Jonathan “Buddy” Slager and was the first trap during carrier qualifications. // Navy photo by MC2 Christopher A. Baker
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- Ike sailors hold a phone and distance line while the carrier works to bring on fuel while underway in the Atlantic. // Navy photo by MC3 Christopher Marshall.
2nd Fleet … fading from view
June 28th, 2011 | Admirals Disestablishment Fleet Forces Command Navy Second Fleet Training | Posted by Bill McMichael
The path toward the Sept. 30 disestablishment of 2nd Fleet, the command that oversees all Atlantic-based naval operations and the training and certification of fleet battle groups, and its merger with Fleet Forces Command, runs this week through a “merged staff functional assessment” — a four-day exercise that aims to evaluate the soon-to-be merged command’s ability to react to a crisis event.
It would be interesting to see that evaluation. Concerns about the merged staff’s ability to do so were raised internally by senior officials involved in the planning of the move, according to an internal Fleet Forces Command report and subsequent independent study reported on by Navy Times May 22. As noted by a former 2nd Fleet commander, retired Vice Adm. Marty Chanik, the consolidated staff, minus a total of 460 active-duty and reserve billets being lost at 2nd Fleet, could be overstretched to the extent of possibly “losing either [Area of Responsibility]-wide situational awareness or local fleet focus,” Chanik wrote.
This strain could increase, Chanik said, during out-of-area deployments or unexpected events, such as a hurricane evacuation.
In fact, high-demand situations could force significant internal staff shifts, wrote Vice Adm. Gerald Beaman in the internal staff report. At the time, Beaman was Fleet Forces’ former deputy chief of staff for Global Force Management, Joint Operations and Fleet/Joint Training; he now serves as the 3rd Fleet commander. “Obviously, from an operational perspective, we’d need to maintain our ability to pull personnel throughout the command to support crisis operations,” Beaman wrote.
Despite such concerns, Fleet Forces, in a June 27 press release, says the restructured and merged Fleet Forces staff will be able to “execute its mission without risk to operational forces.”
“The ability to assume no risk to the execution of current operations and all operational functions of C2F is fundamental to the merger of the USFF/C2F staffs,” said Rear Adm. Scott Craig, Fleet Forces’ deputy chief of staff for fleet capabilities requirements, concepts, and experimentation.
In the exercise, which began Monday, about 125 personnel were moved to an unidentified alternate operating facility outside of the Norfolk area in response to a notional hurricane scenario, “testing the command’s ability to execute a Continuity of Operations Plan.” The exercise will “help identify gaps and seams across elements of the staff in a simulated crisis; ensure staff capability to operate across strategic, operational and tactical levels of responsibility; demonstrate the ability to exercise Command & Control of the Fleet from an alternate operating facility; and enable directorates and special assistants to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.”
The need for an alternate command and control facility outside of Norfolk — should, say, a natural disaster render Fleet Forces’ command capabilities inoperative — is required in part because of the imminent loss of 2nd Fleet’s Maritime Operations Center, also located in Norfolk, which is being merged with Fleet Forces’. Fleet Forces spokesman Capt. Chris Sims said in May that in the long term, the Navy “will gain savings by not maintaining and upgrading two Maritime Operations Centers less than two miles from each other.”
The disestablishment decision is the result of a 2010 Pentagon savings initiative that required the services to find ways to reduce spending by more than $150 billion over the next five years.
The Navy declined to provide an estimate of how much the 2nd Fleet disestablishment will save annually.
Shop ’til you drop — in Norfolk
June 28th, 2011 | Construction Navy Navy Exchange Norfolk Naval Station | Posted by Bill McMichael
A Wednesday ribbon-cutting at Navy Exchange Norfolk will mark the grand opening of its newly expanded Main Store. With more than 180,00o square feet of retail space, it is now the largest Navy Exchange in the world. Fitting, since NOB is the world’s largest naval base.
The June 29 grand opening will feature visits from a couple of pro sports celebrities: fearsome Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and fearsome Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Phil Davis.
The addition to the expanded Main Store opened in July 2010 and features a larger selection of toys, sporting goods and grocery items, according to the Navy, and what is being billed as a “state-of-the-art” lawn and garden center. The addition’s second floor has an expanded uniform/tailor shop, a major appliance center, a large selection of mattresses and an enhanced special order center.
Meanwhile, the original exchange has been fully renovated and features expanded fashion departments and upgrades such as improved cash registers. The Navy Exchange Mall is home to renovated barber and beauty shops — with “spa” services! — upgraded optical and dry cleaning shops, a sunglasses/watch shop and a renovated food court.
The $25 million project took three years to complete, the Navy says.
LCS 2 gets a close-up
June 27th, 2011 | Navy | Posted by Joshua Stewart
It hasn’t been discussed at all before now, but the littoral combat ship Independence has a mission module completely devoted to digital animation. It’s very high tech and very, very secret.
Or something like that.
The ship apparently makes a cameo appearance in “Cars 2,” as seen in the below trailer, venturing to an archipelago of oil rigs more dangerous than the Bermuda triangle for a rendezvous with a British spy. Exactly what role the LCS plays is unclear, but it may be some sort of transport ship, judging by the clips available.
Scammer of Navy vets convicted
June 23rd, 2011 | Fraud Investigation Navy Veterans | Posted by Bill McMichael
A woman pleaded guilty in Ohio Wednesday of scamming millions of dollars from Navy veterans, the Roanoke Times reports.
Blanca Contreras, associated with an alleged booster group calling itself the U.S. Navy Veterans Association, pleaded guilty in Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas to corruption, theft and money laundering. She faces 25 years in jail.
Still at large is her alleged partner, Bobby Thompson, who Ohio authorities say used a false identity to raise millions, supposedly on behalf of Navy veterans.
Virginia officials say the “group” — its only presence in the state was a mail drop — raised more than $2 million in Virginia alone. Virginia and other states have launched their own criminal investigations, although Virginia’s attorney general has a conflict of interest to be resolved: Thompson donated $55,500 to the election campaign of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli two years ago.
See the full story here.
The good fight against E.Coli
June 22nd, 2011 | Navy | Posted by Joshua Stewart
It turns out that sailors eating produce from Germany didn’t really have to worry too much about the E. Coli outbreak that has caused dozens of deaths and thousands of illnesses.
When German officials said that cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce were carrying the harmful bacteria, the Defense Logistic Agency Troop Support yanked the produce from their European contract, Fleet Forces Command commander Adm. John Harvey wrote on his blog. Meanwhile, 6th Fleet shot out a message to either toss or clean the veggies with sanitizers, while Supply Systems Command made sure that galleys on sea and land were aware of the problem and responding appropriately.
Later, the Germans cleared the cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce, blaming bean sprouts instead. So, the three came back. It turns out that the sprouts, while a problem for many in Europe, were not a problem for sailors: Defense Department doesn’t get sprouts from Germany.
So if you’re in uniform and in Europe, keep on enjoying the L and the T in your BLT, as well as your cucumbers and bean sprouts … as long as you’re getting your produce from base or at sea.
Navy hosts 11th build-it-yourself mini-sub race
June 22nd, 2011 | Navy Submarines | Posted by Sam Fellman
A race of home-made, human-powered subs is set for late June at a Navy testing pool in Maryland. // AP Photo
Think your underway life is tough? How about having to build you own sub and race it under your own power?
From June 27 to July 1, teams of students, clubs and companies from around the world will be converging on a Navy testing pool in West Bethesda, Md. to race their home-made subs through an underwater course. The 11th International Human-Powered Submarine Race, to be held at the model basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, aims to challenge and inspire the next generation of engineers.
One of the contestants is the Scubster, a pedal-propelled sub built out of carbon fiber by a French team, according to the Associated Press. It is reported to travel up to 6.2 miles-per-hour at depths up to 16 feet underwater.
Stephane Roussan, a member of a French team, tested his Scubster mini-sub in the waters off southern France last summer. // AP Photo
It’s a real FRUKUS
June 21st, 2011 | Counter-piracy Foreign navies Maritime interdiction Maritime operations Navy Officers Photos Royal Navy Ships Training | Posted by Bill McMichael
No, we haven’t lost our sense of decorum here at Scoop Deck. FRUKUS 2011 is an invitational naval exercise now underway off the Virginia coast involving ships from Russia, France, the U.K. and the U.S. Navy. “FRUKUS” is an acronym for all four nations — we’re guessing it rhymes with RUCKUS, which means a commotion — but it’s a bit more controlled than that denotes. It’s a two-week interoperability exercise … but let’s get to the pictures of the ships, shall we?
‘Ere’s the British ship, a destroyer …
HMS Dauntless, a participant in FRUKUS 2011, arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kristina Young.
FS Ventose, a participant in FRUKUS 2011, arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Va. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kristina Young.
U.S. Navy Sailors from the destroyer James E. Williams receive the lines from their counterparts aboard the Russian ship Admiral Chabanenko as it prepares to dock pierside at Naval Station Norfolk. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Darren Moore.
The French entrant, a frigate …
And the Russian vessel, a destroyer:
The exercise aims to improve maritime security through “open dialogue and increased training between the participating navies,” according to the Navy. There are two phases: ashore and at-sea. While ashore this week — the ships arrived June 20 — sailors are training on damage control, firefighting and ship handling. Next week at sea, under the command and control of a shore-based multinational combined task group staff, the ships will train on maritime domain awareness, and anti-piracy and maritime interdiction operations.
At the same time, senior officers from each nation will meet during the at-sea phase, presumably to get to know each other a bit better.
Home for Dad’s day
June 18th, 2011 | Ballistic missile defense Homecoming Libya Maritime operations Navy Norfolk Naval Station Personnel Photos Ships SURFLANT The Med Tomahawk | Posted by Bill McMichael
The destroyer Stout came home to Norfolk Saturday following a Med cruise in support of theater security operations and ballistic missile deterrence …
Tugboats move the destroyer Stout into its berth pierside at Naval Station Norfolk after returning from a six-month deployment to the Med. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Lolita Lewis
… and just in time for Father’s Day:
Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Gary Richard greets his family and meets his newly adopted daughter for the first time after returning home from a six-month deployment onboard the destroyer Stout. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Lolita Lewis
Stout took part in the coalition strikes on Libyan forces that began in mid-March. Stout was the first ship on station and fired multiple salvos of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Libyan air defenses, surface-to-air sites and communications nodes, along with the destroyers Stout and Barry, the attack submarines Providence and Scranton and the guided missile submarine Florida, according to the Navy.
The crew also had to deal with the March 1 firings of its commanding officer and command master chief., and a junior officer, six chiefs and one petty officer were also kicked off the ship. The disciplines centered around what 6th Fleet called a “pervasive pattern of unprofessional behavior” among members of the ship’s crew related to misbehavior in Mediterranean liberty ports.