CDR Salamander

Until then, all orders remain in effect, and I will leave you with one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies, Scene 58 - Hopeless, from Das Boot.

SCHLACHT - DAS MASS

Die Erde drängt sich zitternd an uns heran.
Das Feld steht auf wie ein Mensch vom Lager.
Saaten bewaffneter Männer sprießen
aus unsichtbaren Samen
in den Furchen zutag.
Schauerlich groß blühn grünschwarze Kelche
Erdstaub und giftige Gase
allenthalben empor.
Aufgeschreckt rasend
springen Fontänen aus trockenem Grund.
Auf Feuer gekreuzigt
fahren Menschenleiber zum Himmel,
zerstieben mit einer Grimasse,
schwarze verkohlte Sterne:
Erde und Gebein.

Rauchterrassen wälzen sich über uns hin.
In schweren Wettern rauscht Eisen nieder.
Blitze tasten heran.
Donner erwürgt uns.
Heulender Abgrund bäumt sich herauf
allüberall, und die Sonne schleift
Dunkel verpestete Mähnen in unseren Atem.
Unentrinnbar hält uns der Himmel
unter sich hingebannt:
unheimliches Basiliskenauge
Über kleinem Getier.

Einsam liegen wir da in der Not der Schlacht;
wir wußten, daß jeder einsam war.
Aber wir wußten auch dies:
Einmal vor Unerbittlichem stehn,
wo Gebete entrechtet, Gewinsel zu Gott
lächerlich ist,
wo keines Mutter sich nach uns umsieht,
kein Weib unsern Weg kreuzt,
wo alles o h n e Liebe ist,
wo nur die Wirklichkeit herrscht,
grausig und groß,
solches macht sicher und stolz.
Unvergeßlich und tiefer
rührt es ans Herz des Menschen
als alle Liebe der Welt.

Und wir fühlen: dies war das Maß.

--

BATTLE - THE MEASURE

The soil trembling presses to us.
The field stands up like a man from the bed.
Crops of armed men grow
From invisible seeds
In the furrows.
Eerily big green-black goblets let
Soil dust and poisonous gases
Bloom everywhere.
Alarmdly raving
Fountains arise from dry grounds.
Crucified on fire
Human bodies go to heaven,
Burst with an antic,
Black charred stars:
Soil and bones.

Terraces of smoke roll over us.
In thunderstorms, iron rains down.
Levins feel their ways.
Thunder strangles us.
Wailing abyss rears up
Everywhere, and the Sun grinds
Dark mephitic manes in our breath.
Inescapably heaven holds us
Bound below:
Sinister basilisk's eye
Over small animals.

Sesolate we lie there in the misery of battle;
We knew that everyone was desolate.
But we also knew this:
Standing before the remorseless once,
Where prayer is futile, where canting to God
Is ridiculous,
Wher no mother looks for us,
Where no woman crosses our path,
Where everything is w i t h o u t love,
Where only reality reigns,
Gruesome and grand,
That makes firm and proud.
Unforgettable and much deeper
It touches the heart of man
Than all the love in the world.

And we felt: This was the measure.

Labels: Art, Me

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 05:54

The shrinking pool of U.S. manufacturers was the inevitable result of defense spending reductions after the Cold War. Shortly after Bill Clinton took office, then-Defense Secretary Les Aspin and Deputy Secretary William Perry called together the heads of the major defense contractors and told them that the Pentagon would soon need only half of their companies, perhaps even fewer, and could not afford to pay for unneeded factories and workers. Later dubbed the "Last Supper," the dinner meeting triggered unprecedented consolidation as defense companies such as Lockheed, Northrop, General Dynamics, Raytheon and Boeing gobbled up competitors.

Although the consolidations helped contractors survive the spending cuts, they now threaten to undermine the industry. That's because many in Congress and at the Pentagon want to impose stricter oversight and controls on weapons manufacturing and development while simultaneously demanding more competition -- driving the system to an immature and evolving "globalized" marketplace.
...
Unless we act soon, we may find that the only solutions available will be to nationalize the military industrial base or to "outsource" production of our weapons systems, with excessive portions of that work going overseas.

We are, carelessly and unwittingly, meandering down both paths.

Labels: Shipbuilding

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:43

Labels: Humor, McCain

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:10

ROUTINE
R 182356Z APR 08
FM COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N00//
TO ALNAVSURFOR
INFO COMUSFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA
COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI
COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N00//
COMNAVSURFOR SAN DIEGO CA//N00//
COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA
COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA
BT
UNCLAS
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNSF/7975//
SUBJ/SELF ASSESSMENT//
RMKS/1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO SELF ASSESS, AND DIRECT SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE ACTIONS.
2. OUR SHIPS ARE THE MOST COMPLEX AND CAPABLE MACHINES ANY COUNTRY HAS EVER BUILT. WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED BY OUR NATION TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR SAILORS AND THESE MAGNIFICENT WARSHIPS. A KEY TENANT IN ACHIEVING AND SUSTAINING COMBAT READINESS IS OUR ABILITY TO CRITICALLY SELF-ASSESS OUR SHIPS, SHIP SYSTEMS, AND EQUIPAGE, WITH TECHNICAL RIGOR.
3. RECENT FORMAL AND INFORMAL ASSESSMENTS AND INSPECTIONS INDICATE THAT OUR SELF-ASSESSMENT CAPABILITY HAS DECLINED, RESULTING IN REDUCED READINESS. WE MADE A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE SURFACE FORCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. IT IS APPROPRIATE TO TAKE A STRATEGIC PAUSE TO GET BACK TO BASICS ON HOW WE MAINTAIN AND OPERATE OUR SHIPS. WE MUST CONDUCT A RIGOROUS ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT ON READINESS OF THESES (sic) CHANGES SO WE CAN MAKE APPROPRIATE COURSE CORRECTIONS. I WILL HIGHLIGHT FIVE SPECIFIC AREAS WHERE I EXPECT IMPROVEMENT:
A. ADHERENCE TO HIGH STANDARDS. COMMANDING OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO THEIR ISICS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS OF OPERATIONAL, MATERIAL, AND TRAINING READINESS. THERE IS PLENTY OF HELP AVAILABLE TO YOU FROM TYCOM, CLASSRONS, ATG, AND RMC, BUT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE THIS.
B. PROCEDURAL COMPLIANCE. OUR TECHNICALLY ADVANCED SHIP SYSTEMS MUST BE OPERATED IN STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH AUTHORIZED PROCEDURES. COMMANDING OFFICERS MUST ESTABLISH A COMMAND CLIMATE THAT TOLERATES NOTHING LESS. WHETHER CONDUCTING A ROUTINE ENGINEERING EVOLUTION, PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE ITEM, OR OPERATING THE GEAR, SAILORS MUST UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES.
C. EFFECTIVE TRAINING. TRAINING HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. SCHOOLHOUSE TRAINING DECREASED AS FISCAL REALITIES DROVE US TO PLACE MORE RELIANCE ON COMPUTER-BASED TRAINING. WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS FROM AN ENTERPRISE PERSPECTIVE TO SEE IF WE HAVE REDUCED ENROUTE TRAINING TOO MUCH. MEANWHILE, COMMANDING OFFICERS MUST ESTABLISH A CULTURE OF TRAINING EXCELLENCE WITH THEIR EXPERIENCED LEADERS ALREADY ONBOARD. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH THE NECESSARY TRAINING FOR OUR TECHNICIANS AND OPERATORS.
D. ADHERENCE TO ESTABLISHED PROCESSES. OUR SENIOR LEADERS GREW UP USING SEVERAL TOOLS THAT HAVE PROVEN SUCCESSFUL IN MAKING WARSHIPS READY FOR TASKING. THESE INCLUDE A ROBUST 3M PROGRAM, PROPER PMS, MEANINGFUL PMS SPOTCHECKS, REGULAR ZONE INSPECTIONS, PROPER DOCUMENTATION OF MATERIAL CONDITION THROUGH QUALITY CSMP ENTRIES, AND PROPER REPORTING OF MISSION DEGRADATIONS THROUGH THE CASREP PROCESS. EVEN THOROUGH SWEEPERS ARE NECESSARY TO KEEPING WARSHIPS MISSION CAPABLE AND HABITABLE. COMMANDING OFFICERS MUST ENSURE THESE PROCESSES ARE HABITS IN THE SHIP ROUTINE.
E. SHIP OWNERSHIP BY WARDROOM, CPO MESS AND CREW. WHILE THE CHALLENGES OF OPERATING A WARSHIP IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF CONSTRAINED RESOURCES AND HIGH OP-TEMPO MAY BE GREAT, THE OFFICERS AND CREW CAN OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES WITH THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. COMPLETE OWNERSHIP BY EVERYONE FROM THE COMMANDING OFFICER ON DOWN MANIFESTS ITSELF IN A CAN-DO ATTITUDE, AND LEADS TO MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. COMMANDING OFFICERS MUST DISCUSS THIS CONCEPT WITH THEIR WARDROOMS AND CPO MESSES. THE CPO MESS MUST HAVE AN ATTITUDE THAT NO CHALLENGE IS TOO GREAT AND NO SAILOR WILL SUFFER FROM INADEQUATE CARE, ATTENTION OR TRAINING.
4. YOUR SURFACE LEADERSHIP IS COMMITTED TO REVIEWING MANY OF THE FLEET-WIDE PROBLEMS THAT CHALLENGE OUR SHIPS, INCLUDING MANNING AND TRAINING, LOGISTIC SUPPORT, MAINTENANCE FUNDING, AND OTHER WATERFRONT SUPPORT. THAT SAID, SOLUTIONS ARE DIFFICULT, AND MAY BE SLOW IN COMING. THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU HAVE PROVEN PROCEDURES AND PROCESSES THAT ARE WITHIN YOUR CONTROL INSIDE YOUR LIFELINES. I AM COUNTING ON YOU TO ACT NOW.
5. KEEPING YOUR SHIPS READY FOR TASKING IS NOT A PART TIME OR EVENT DRIVEN JOB. YOU WORK YOUR READINESS ISSUES THROUGH AN AGGRESSIVE DAY TO DAY OPS REGIMEN. EVENTS THAT COME ALONG SUCH AS INSURV, DEPLOYMENT, OR ULTRA C/E/S ARE NOT THE DRIVERS FOR YOUR SHIPS
- THEY ARE EVENTS THAT SERVE TO PROVIDE YOU DATA POINTS ON THE SUCCESS OF YOUR DAILY EFFORTS. SUCCESS IS MEASURED NOT BY EVENTS BUT BY YOUR EFFORTS AND LEADERSHIP TO INSTILL IN YOUR CREWS TECHNICAL EXPERTISE, PROCEDURAL COMPLIANCE, STRONG COMMUNICATIONS, AND OPEN, HARD HITTING ASSESSMENTS. YOU AND YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAMS MUST BE ON THE DECK PLATES ASKING QUESTIONS AND ELEVATING THE STANDARD TO MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
6. KEEP CHARGING AND BE PROFESSIONAL.
7. VADM CURTIS SENDS.//
BT

Labels: Navy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:58

Sitting at the head of the table, Air Force Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein, the highest-ranking officer in the room, leaned forward and told the officers and others assembled before him that they should steer a multimillion-dollar Air Force contract to a company named Strategic Message Solutions.

"I don't pick the winner, but if I did, I'd pick SMS," Goldfein said to the seven-person group that was selecting a contractor to jazz up the Air Force's Thunderbirds air show with giant video boards, according to a lengthy report by Defense Department's inspector general. The head of the selection team almost immediately "caved," giving in to what he believed was a fixed process, while another member of the team called it "the dirtiest thing" he had ever experienced.

It was during that meeting in November 2005, according to the 251-page report, obtained by The Washington Post, that a controversial $50 million contract was awarded to a company that barely existed in an effort to reward a recently retired four-star general and a millionaire civilian pilot who had grown close to senior Air Force officials and the Thunderbirds.

In a probe that lasted more than two years, investigators concluded that Goldfein and others worked inside the Air Force contracting system to favor SMS and its owners, despite an offer by the company that was more than twice as expensive as a competing bid.

Goldfein, who is now vice director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff, was found to have gone to great lengths to see the contract awarded to SMS, while senior Air Force leaders socialized with the company's partners. According to the report, Goldfein even arranged for President Bush to record a video testimonial in the White House Map Room that was included in the SMS contract proposal, demonstrating the company's credibility and access.

"The investigation found that the December 2005 award to SMS was tainted with improper influence, irregular procurement practices, and preferential treatment," according to a redacted copy of the report. "Lower priced offers from qualified vendors and capabilities in-house were bypassed in an apparent effort to obtain services from [redacted], president of SMS, who had a longstanding relationship with senior Air Force officers and members of the Thunderbirds."

Goldfein and four unidentified officers have received administrative punishments, and investigators are scrutinizing the 99th Contracting Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in light of "irregularities" and "systemic weaknesses" that appear to plague the unit.
...
Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is aware of the findings. "He is satisfied the matter has been thoroughly investigated and the Air Force is taking appropriate disciplinary action and corrective measures," Morrell said.

"I am deeply disappointed that our high standards were not adhered to," Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said yesterday.

The idea behind the Thunderbirds contract emerged in 2005, when Ed Shipley, a close friend of the Thunderbirds who regularly flies aircraft in Air Force shows, suggested ways to keep audiences entertained while the aircraft circle around to do stunts. Shipley, who made millions in direct television marketing videos, came up with an idea for "Thundervision," and his new company, SMS, pitched a $50 million, five-year plan.

Gen. John Jumper, then the Air Force chief of staff, asked his vice chief at the time, Gen. T. Michael "Buzz" Moseley, to see if he could make it happen. Moseley met with Goldfein and Shipley in April 2005 and made money available for the project, ordering subordinates and contracting teams to look into it.

Contracting officials dismissed the idea of giving the contract outright to SMS and set up a team to investigate bids. But a majority of people on the selection team were members of the Thunderbirds -- officers who knew Shipley as a friend and Goldfein as the commanding general of the Air Warfare Center. The Thunderbirds commander at one point said, according to the report: "If it's not SMS, we don't want it."

Investigators also found Gen. Hal Hornburg, who retired in December 2004, was a "silent partner" of Shipley's who joined SMS in early 2005. Moseley is a friend of Hornburg's and knew Shipley. Neither Shipley nor Hornburg returned calls.

Investigators detail how Moseley -- now the Air Force's chief of staff -- socialized with Shipley and Hornburg in the months after the contract process started. Moseley and his wife, along with Hornburg and his wife, gathered at Shipley's home in Pennsylvania in July 2005, and they shared informal e-mails.

Moseley was not accused of wrongdoing but said in an interview this week that he probably should have backed away from Shipley and Hornburg as the contract progressed. But he emphasized the need for personal relationships to cultivate ideas and said that he knew there were strict boundaries regarding such contracts and that he never crossed them. He said he instructed subordinates to "do the right thing."

His account is supported by e-mail records in the report. "In perfect hindsight, there are some things that the U.S. Air Force could have done differently," he said. "There are some things that people along the way, me included, could have done differently."

Moseley said he wishes that officers who noticed problems in the process had simply said "stop." The contract was canceled in early 2006 after an Arizona company lodged complaints. The U.S. attorney's office in Nevada declined to prosecute the case in May 2007.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has asked the Defense Department's inspector general to review the role of senior Air Force officials in a $50 million contract, seeking further investigation into possible criminal conduct, ethical violations and failures of leadership.

Sens. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) asked the inspector general on Monday to review the conduct of all current and former Air Force officials who were named in a 251-page investigative report released last week, noting that it "raises serious questions about the role played" by senior officials.

Labels: Food Trough

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:54

Pop star and 15-year-old Disney sensation MILEY CYRUS tells ET she's "embarrassed" about an upcoming photograph of her appearing semi-topless in the new Vanity Fair issue.

"I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed," she tells ET. "I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

The photo, on stands next week, accompanies an interview with Miley and her dad, BILLY RAY, and were shot by famed photographer ANNIE LEIBOVITZ. As seen on our show promo last week, they show Miley sitting in profile with just a blanket wrapped around her chest.

Vanity Fair editors respond: "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley. In fact, when BRUCE HANDY interviewed Miley, he asked her about the photo and she was very cheerful about it and thought it was perfectly fine."

However, a Disney Channel spokesperson says: "Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines."

Labels: Culture Wars, Hollywierd

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:27

Labels: Afghanistan

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 17:41

Labels: Broadside, Cartoon

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 08:54

What about Donnersmarck’s politics? He is clear and direct: “I want the government to stay as far out of my life as humanly possible.” . . .

He has a frustration shared by many: the success of socialists in portraying the Nazis as diametrically opposite them. He says that people ought to be reminded that socialism was part of the Nazis’ very name. He is against any system that forbids the individual to live his life to the full. And he is determined that Communism, in Europe and elsewhere, will not be perfumed.

“We must make sure to remember that it was a nightmare, because, as we know, ideologies do make cyclical reappearances. It’s incredibly important that we don’t allow people to romanticize Communism, and that we call it what it is: an anti-man religion, completely contrary to freedom.” . . .


He is brimming with opinions, and I ask him about the United States. Donnersmarck says, in the course of his remarks, “I really, really hope that America will not make the mistake that has so weakened Europe: looking toward the government for answers to all problems. I hope that America will continue to respect the principle of subsidiarity, which is to say: The state should do only what the individual truly cannot do on his own” — and even then, the government that acts should be the most local government possible.

Labels: Art, Germany

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 08:23

Moments before the launching on Sept. 23, 2006, Adm. Mike Mullen, the chief of naval operations, told the festive crowd of shipbuilders, politicians and Navy brass assembled at the Marinette Marine shipyard, “Just a little more than three years ago, she was just an idea; now Freedom stands before us.”

Not quite. The ship — the first of a new class of versatile, high-speed combat vessels designed to operate in coastal waters — was indeed bobbing in the river, just four months after the promised launching date. But it was far from finished. In fact, the ship floats there still, work continuing day and night.
...
The bill for the ship, being built by Lockheed Martin, has soared to $531 million, more than double the original, and by some calculations could be $100 million more.

In a narrow sense, the troubled birth of the coastal ships was rooted in the Navy’s misbegotten faith in a feat of maritime alchemy: building a hardened warship by adapting the design of a high-speed commercial ferry.

Behind the numbers in the Accountability Office study, experts say, is a dynamic of mutually re-enforcing deficiencies: ever-changing Pentagon design requirements; unrealistic cost estimates and production schedules abetted by companies eager to win contracts, and a fondness for commercial technologies that often, as with the ferry concept, prove unsuitable for specialized military projects.

At the same time, a policy of letting contractors take the lead in managing weapons programs has coincided with an acute shortage of government engineers trained to oversee these increasingly complex enterprises.
...
In their haste to get the ships into the water, the Navy and contractors redesigned and built them at the same time — akin to building an office tower while reworking the blueprints. To meet its deadline, Lockheed abandoned the normal sequence of shipbuilding steps: instead of largely finishing sections and then assembling the ship, much of the work was left to be done after the ship was welded together. That slowed construction and vastly drove up costs.

“It’s not good to be building as you’re designing,” said Vice Adm. Paul E. Sullivan, commander of the Navy branch that supervises shipbuilding.

Despite the problems, the Navy secretary, Donald C. Winter, and other top Navy officials say they remain committed to building 55 of the ships, once a steady, fixed-price production run can be assured. Even at about $500 million apiece, Navy officials add, the coastal ships would be a bargain compared with most Navy combat vessels.

“The littoral combat ship is an imaginative answer to emerging military requirements, but it has the most fouled-up acquisition strategy I have ever seen in a major military program,” said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute, a policy research center.

“We needed to figure out how to asymmetric the asymmetric guys,” recalled Adm. Vern Clark, who championed the ships as chief of naval operations from 2000 to 2005.

To Navy planners, a ship designed for coastal combat could neutralize hostile submarines, surface warships, mines and terrorist speedboats, clearing the way for other combat ships to operate in offshore waters and support combat ashore.

The Navy also wanted ships that could travel fast, better than 40 knots. And they needed to be easily outfitted with different weapons and surveillance systems. A removable package of mine-sweeping equipment, for instance, could be replaced with a package of special-operations gear used by a Seal (sic) team.

Each ship would carry an uncommonly small crew, about 40 sailors.

But as Lockheed and the Navy were completing contract negotiations in 2004, the rules changed drastically. Commercial ferry standards, the Navy determined, would not do.

The underlying principle behind the decision, Admiral Sullivan said, was that the new ships had to be able to “hang tough in a storm and take some battle damage and still survive long enough” for the crew to be rescued.

Adm. Gary Roughead, the current chief of naval operations, said: “We had thought that the commercial variant would not be that far away from what we needed. I’ll tell you, that was underestimated.”

Rear Adm. Charles S. Hamilton II, one of the Navy officers with lead responsibility for the project, said he had given Navy officials several opportunities to slow down the project.

“The clear signal from all quarters was, ‘Hamilton, I want that ship in the water, and I want it out there now,’ ” he recalled in an interview.

Admiral Hamilton left the Navy last year. He now works at Booz Allen Hamilton, the consulting firm.

Yet if the project was troubled, the Navy’s oversight at Marinette was less than robust. Because of staffing reductions, the Navy office responsible for supervising shipbuilding initially dispatched no one full time to Wisconsin. Even after a team arrived, it failed to appreciate the severity of problems.

“We had very junior people on site,” Admiral Sullivan said.

“It will be great, the next time around,” said Mr. North, the program manager. “Lead ships are truly hard.”

Mr. Winter, the Navy secretary, complained that the Navy bureaucracy had failed to alert him to rising costs. The Pentagon, he said, was bedazzled by the idea of saving money and time with commercial technologies.

“It got oversold,” he said. “The concept was just abused.”

He lamented the Pentagon’s eroding expertise in systems engineering — managing complex new projects to ensure that goals are achievable and affordable — and faulted the notion that industry could best manage ambitious development projects.

“Quite frankly, industry is not good at doing this,” he said.

“If we do not figure out how to establish credibility in our shipbuilding programs and plans, and restore confidence in our ability to deliver on our commitments, we cannot expect Congress or the nation to provide us with the resources we so urgently need.”

Labels: Food Trough, LCS, Shipbuilding

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 11:43

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead announced today the reestablishment of U.S. 4th Fleet and assigned Rear Adm. Joseph D. Kernan, currently serving as Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, as its first commander.

U.S. 4th Fleet will be responsible for U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and submarines operating in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) area of focus, which encompasses the Caribbean, and Central and South America and the surrounding waters.

Located in Mayport, Fla., and dual-hatted with Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO), U.S. 4th Fleet reestablishment addresses the increased role of maritime forces in the SOUTHCOM area of focus, and demonstrates U.S. commitment to regional partners.

Labels: Latin America

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 07:15

Durning served as a soldier in World War II, during which he was awarded a Silver Star, three Purple Heart medals, and a Good Conduct Medal. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at the age of 21, and landed on D-Day in the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. Some sources state he was in the 1st Infantry Division at the time, but it is unclear if he was a rifleman or in an artillery unit by 1944.

On Omaha Beach itself, Pvt. Charles Durning was among the first troops to land. Drafted early in the war, he was first assigned as a rifleman with the 398th Infantry Regiment, but later served overseas with the 3rd Army Support troops and the 386th Anti-aircraft Artillery (AAA) Battalion.

Durning was wounded by an “S” Mine on June 15, 1944, at Les Mare des Mares. He was transported by the 499th Medical Collection Company to the 24th Evacuation Hospital. By June 17, he was back in England at the 217th General Hospital. Although severely wounded by shrapnel in the left and right thigh, right hand, the frontal region of the head and the interior left chest wall, Durning recovered quickly and was determined to be “fit for duty” on December 6, 1944. Durning was present for the Battle of the Bulge, the German counter-offensive in December 1944.[1]

He was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge, and was one of the few survivors of the infamous Malmedy massacre of American POWs, perpetrated by a battlegroup under Joachim Peiper of the 1st SS Division Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler. "He escaped with two others, and returned to find the remainder murdered."[1]

After being wounded in the chest, Durning was repatriated to the United States where he remained in army hospitals, receiving treatment for both physical and psychological wounds, until discharged with the rank of Private First Class on January 30, 1946.

Actor Charles Durning landed on Normandy's Omaha Beach as a 17(sic)-year-old Army Ranger in June 1944. Before leaving Europe, he was wounded three times and awarded three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. He will receive France's highest honor, the National Order of the Legion of Honor, in a ceremony tonight at the French government's residence in Beverly Hills. From the official release:

Labels: Fullbore, Hollywierd

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:44

Labels: Politics

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 17:09

The Navy yesterday awarded a $1.16 billion contract to Northrop Grumman Corp. to design and build an unmanned surveillance aircraft for the Navy, a decision the company said would bring 1,700 new jobs to San Diego.

Northrop Grumman bested two rivals, including a San Diego company, in the competition to create a spy plane that will detect and transmit threats and provide other intelligence to Navy fleets around the globe.

Northrop Grumman's bid for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program uses a maritime derivative of its RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Length: 47.6 feet

Wingspan: 130.9 feet

Height: 15.3 feet

Maximum altitude: Above 60,000 feet

Maximum flight endurance: 36 hours, with capability to fly more than 2,300 statute miles and “loiter” for 24 hours.

The Los Angeles-based contractor will use a modified version of its Global Hawk, an unmanned aircraft employed by the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan, for what the Navy calls the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance project.
...
The project is focused on the design and construction of two unmanned aircraft, as well as supporting equipment for transmitting information. Over time, the Navy plans to build a total of 68 aircraft, at a cost of $55 million per aircraft, officials said.

Labels: Aircraft

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:47

Labels: Humor

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:18

Labels: fools

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:21

Labels: Clinton

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 13:36

Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday picked Gen. David Petraeus, widely praised as the top commander in Iraq, to lead all Middle East operations, including the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Gates also chose Lt. Gen. Raymond Odierno, who recently served as Petraeus' No. 2, to take over as the top commander in Iraq.

Labels: Iraq

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 13:08

Labels: USNA

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:48

Labels: McCain

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:01

R 170149Z APR 08
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
BT
UNCLAS //N05354//
NAVADMIN 106/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR//
SUBJ/NATIONAL NAVAL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (NNOA) CONFERENCE 2008//
RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ANNOUNCES THE NNOA 36TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING CONFERENCE, HELD 23-25 JUL 08 AT THE RENAISSANCE PORTSMOUTH HOTEL AND WATERFRONT CONFERENCE CENTER, PORTSMOUTH, VA. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS "DEVELOPING AMERICA'S FUTURE LEADERS TO ENHANCE MISSION READINESS AND CULTURAL AWARENESS."
2. THE PRIMARY MISSION OF THE NNOA IS TO ASSIST THE NAVY, COAST GUARD, AND MARINE CORPS IN RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF MINORITY OFFICERS. ("...will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, national origin...."???) THE ASSOCIATION ACCOMPLISHES THIS MISSION THROUGH POSITIVE IMAGE ENHANCEMENT IN MINORITY COMMUNITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND BY DEVELOPING THE CAREERS OF OFFICERS THROUGH TRAINING, MENTORING, AND NETWORKING. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDES EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL SESSIONS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF ATTENDEES.
3. THIS YEAR'S THEME IS CONSISTENT WITH CNO'S DIVERSITY POLICY WHICH DIRECTS LEADERS TO ANTICIPATE AND EMBRACE THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES OF TOMORROW AND BUILD A NAVY THAT WILL REFLECT THE MAKE UP OF OUR COUNTRY. AS LEADERS, WE MUST PROMOTE DIVERSITY AND UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS A NECESSITY FOR OUR NAVY TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE, RELEVANT, AND A STRONG GLOBAL FORCE FOR PEACE.

Labels: Diversity

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:25

Actually, that should be UGG (as in the boots).

From my Yankee Spy. As seen after the Harvard-Yale game in the New Haven train station; Senator Kennedy (D-MA) showing some unique fashion sense while traveling and talking with all his friends.

Labels: Fashion, Politics

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:10

Labels: Humor

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:09

Labels: Australia, Germany

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 05:56

UNCLASSIFIED//
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/PRESINSURV NORFOLK VA//
SUBJ/INSURV REPORT FOR USS STOUT (DDG 55) MATERIAL INSPECTION (MI)// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. THE BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY CONDUCTED AN MI OF USS STOUT (DDG 55) AT NORFOLK, VA DURING THE PERIOD 10-14 MAR 08 AT NORFOLK, VA.
2. SENIOR MEMBER COMMENTS:
A. USS STOUT WAS FOUND UNFIT FOR SUSTAINED COMBAT OPERATIONS.
B. ALTHOUGH THE SHIP CERTIFIED ITS READINESS FOR SEA, THE BOARD NOTED DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE RESTRICTED UNDERWAY OPERATIONS OR DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS DURING THE POST-UNDERWAY PORTION OF THE MI: 2B GTM/1B GTM, 1 GTG, STEERING, RESCUE BOAT/MAN OVERBOARD, ANCHOR, SPY-1D, FCS ILLUMINATORS, AFT VLS, CIWS MT 21, MK 32 SVTTS AND MK 45 LWG, HALON, AND UHF LOS COMMS.
C. AAW, USW, AND SUW MISSION AREAS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LIMITED BECAUSE: AN/SPY-1D POWER OUT WAS REDUCED BY APPROX 75 PERCENT AND THE PROCESSING ABILITY WAS REDUCED BY APPROX 13 PERCENT, 2 OF 3 MK 99 ILLUMINATORS WERE INOP (LOSS OF 360 DEG COVERAGE AND NUMBER OF MISSILES INFLIGHT), AFT VLS MAGAZINE WAS UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL TANK LEAKAGE IN THE EDUCTOR SUMP (LOSS OF 68 PERCENT OF THE MISSILE INVENTORY), CIWS MT 21 WAS INOP, PORT AND STBD MK 32 SVTT TRAIN MECHANISMS WERE BINDING AND MOUNTS COULD NOT BE QUICKLY TRAINED TO FIRING POSITION, AND MK 45 5 INCH GUN COULD NOT SUPPORT GUNNERY DEMO BECAUSE OF CORROSION IN THE GUN CRADLE. SEE ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE, OPERATIONS, AND WEAPONS SECTIONS OF THIS REPORT FOR DETAILS.
D. THE ANCHORING DEMO WAS NOT COMPLETED BECAUSE THE ANCHOR WINDLASS WILDCAT/CAPSTAN SHAFT COUPLING UPPER AND LOWER SLEEVES HAD EXCESSIVE CONCENTRIC MOVEMENT (UP TO 1/4 INCH) AND THE MECHANICAL BRAKE WAS MISADJUSTED.
E. MOB RECOVERY METHOD WAS DEGRADED. CORROSION ON THE DAVIT FOUNDATION, PEDESTAL, FALLS TENSIONING DEVICE, DAVIT SHEAVE, AND THE HOOK SECURING PIN WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO WARRANT A SAFETY INSPECTION (COULD NOT DEPLOY RHIBS). THE AS-FOUND SAR SWIMMER GEAR WOULD NOT PERMIT OPS IN WATER TEMP BELOW 60 DEG F.
F. THE SHIP INITIATED SELF-SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT OPS FOR DAMAGED FLIGHT DECK
NETS AND HARDWARE. AVIATION FACILITIES INSPECTION RESULTED IN 7 ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SELF-SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT OR AVIATION RELATED OPS. SEE AVIATION SECTION OF THIS REPORT FOR DETAILS.
G. ENGINEERING CONTROL SYSTEMS WERE DEGRADED. 8 OF 8 CONSOLES FOUND WITH RESISTANCE READINGS BETWEEN RETURN AND GROUND TO BE BELOW THE MINIMUM OF 250K OHMS IAW PMS 2521/051 A-18. 5 OF 62 DDG'S HAVE EXPERIENCED UNCOMMANDED MAIN PROPULSION/ELECTRICAL GENERATION EVENTS DUE TO GROUNDS.
H. 11 GTM RBOS AND 7 GTG RBOS WERE IDENTIFED DURING THE INPORT INSPECTION.
I. RUDDER INSPECTION OVER THE PAST 11 MONTHS INDICATED BARE METAL SURFACE AREA HAD INCREASED BY APPROX 700 PERCENT AND 270 PERCENT FOR STBD AND PORT RUDDERS RESPECTIVELY. ADDITIONALLY, PITTING OF UP TO 2 INCHES IN DIAMETER BY 0.25 INCHES DEEP HAD DEVELOPED ON THE RUDDER SURFACE AREA. THE SHIP'S IMPRESSED CURRENT CATHODIC PROTECTION (ICCP) SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. ICCP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT BARE METAL DAMAGE.
J. GROUNDS IN 60 HZ DISTRIBUTION AND IC SYSTEMS WERE A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. 3 ICSM PANELS, 5 60 HZ POWER PANELS, 4 SOUND POWERED PHONE CIRCUITS, AND 1 SHORE POWER RECEPTACLE WERE FOUND GROUNDED DURING THE INSPECTION. 2 GROUNDS DISCOVERED BY SHIP'S FORCE IN JAN 08 HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTED. INVESTIGATION AND CORRECTION OF THE GROUNDS IAW NSTM 300 PARA 300-3.2.6 WAS REQUIRED.
K. KEEL REST AND BOAT CHOCKS DID NOT HAVE 90 PERCENT MINIMUM CONTACT WITH THE BOAT IN THE STOWED POSITION.
L. ACCOM LADDER WAS NOT OBSERVED. LADDER WAS OFF THE SHIP FOR REPAIR (CASREP 07094).
M. ANCHOR CHAIN'S 1ST AND 2ND SHOT DID NOT RIDE IN THE WELP OF THE WILDCAT IAW NSTM 581-5.1.4.1.
N. MK 39 GYRO DATA CONVERTER (GDC) DATA TO SPY-1D COMPUTER INTERMITTENTLY CHANGED STATUS FROM GOOD TO FAILED, CAUSING AFT GYRO INFORMATION TO BE UNRELIABLE BECAUSE OF FAULTY ADAPTATION DATA CIRCUIT CARDS. SYMPTOM WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED IN MAR OF 06 (CASREP 06049, USS STOUT MSG 311830Z MAR 06) WHICH ALSO IDENTIFIED UNRELIABLE DATA TO WCS, GUN FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM, AND N PLUS 1 COMPUTER.
O. AFT MK41 VLS HAD 10 DELUGE VALVES LEAKING AND FWD VLS HAD 3 VALVES LEAKING. SALINITY CHECK AFT HAD TWICE THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT (4 VICE 2 MICROMHO). SEDIMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT IN THE AFT DELUGE HOSES WHICH WILL LEAD TO VALVE FAILURES.
P. MT 51 CRADLE ROUND/POWDER POSITION SWITCHES WERE CORRODED, PREVENTING THE GUN FROM FIRING DURING THE GUNNERY DEMO. CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIRED 4 HOURS (CORRECTED). ADDITIONALLY, SALT WATER CORROSION WAS ON THE CRADLE VALVE BLOCKS, LOADER DRUM PIPING/VALVE BLOCKS, FUZE SETTER ELECTRICAL SWITCH CONNECTORS, MAIN CABLE CONNECTOR TIE-POINT, LOWER HOIST ASSEMBLY, SHIELD ACCESS DOOR LINKAGES, AND UPPER HOIST CHAIN TRACK.
Q. SHIP'S UHF LOS COMMUNICATIONS WERE DEGRADED AND COULD NOT FULLY SUPPORT 80 PERCENT OF 5TH FLEET COMMUNICATIONS PLAN WITH AVAILABLE ASSETS. OVERALL COMMUNICATION ANTENNA MAINTENANCE AND CORROSION PREVENTIVE MEASURES, IF UNIMPROVED, WILL LEAD TO FURTHER COMMUNICATION SYSTEM DEGRADATIONS. SEE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION OF THIS REPORT FOR DETAILS.
R. AN/USQ-153 ISNS SIPRNET AND NIPRNET WERE DEGRADED WITH THE FOLLOWING DEFICIENCIES: SERVERS HAD UNAUTHORIZED USB 500GB HARD DRIVES CONNECTED, IAVA PATCHES WERE NOT CURRENT, SERVERS REQUIRED DEFRAGMENTATION, TAPE BACK-UP DEVICES WERE INOP OR MALFUNCTIONING, AND INTEGRATED NETWORK MANAGER (INM) WOULD NOT START.
S. AN/USQ-144 ADNS SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED FOR OVER 1 YEAR WITHOUT A COMPLETED SOVT.
T. FOOD SERVICE DIVISION'S ABILITY TO SAFELY OPERATE WAS DEGRADED BECAUSE OF THE GREASE INTERCEPTOR HOOD MATERIAL CONDITION. SEE SUPPLY SECTION OF THIS REPORT FOR DETAILS.
U. SHIP'S ABILITY TO STORE, PREPARE, AND SERVE FOOD WAS DEGRADED. SPECIFICALLY: WALK-IN FREEZER DID NOT MAINTAIN 0 DEG F OR BELOW (CORRECTED), 5 OF 13 REACH-IN REEFERS WERE INOP, 4 OF 13 REACH-IN REEFERS WERE DEGRADED, REACH-IN REEFER CONDENSER COIL FILTER CLEANING MAINTENANCE WAS NOT BEING COMPLETED (CORRECTED), 2 OF 2 SINGLE TANK DISHWASHERS WERE INOP, 3 OF 3 WASTE DISPOSAL UNITS WERE INOP, 3 OF 4 STEAM KETTLES WERE INOP, 1 OF 3 CONVECTION OVENS WAS INOP, AND 1 OF 2 SANITIZING SINKS WAS INOP.
V. SEALANT IN THE SHOWERS HAD FAILED, ENABLING 7 OF 12 SANITARY SPACE SHOWER DECKS TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE SURFACE AND ROT.
W. BERTHING 2 HAD NUMEROUS MATERIAL AND PRESERVATION ISSUES WITH THE BERTHING TIER FOUNDATIONS CORRODED TO THE POINT OF LOST METAL DUE TO A WATER FOUNTAIN THAT HAD BEEN LEAKING FOR A YEAR (SHIP REPORTED). BERTHING IS SCHEDULED FOR REHABILITATION IN 2011. FOUNDATIONS REQUIRE TESTING FOR QUALIFICATION TO SAFELY SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR COMBAT STRESS/DESIGN STRESSES.
X. MAIN DRAINAGE WAS DEGRADED BECAUSE THE AUX 1 EDUCTOR OVBD DISCHARGE VALVE (MD-V 2-169-2) DID NOT SHUT REMOTELY, MER 1 EDUCTOR LOCAL AND REMOTE SUCTION GAUGES WERE INOP, THEREFORE PREVENTING SHIP'S FORCE FROM FOLLOWING EOP. AUX 1 BHD STOP VALVE (MD-V-31 4-173-6) MOV LOCAL OPEN INDICATOR LIGHT WAS OUT.
Y. HALON WAS DEGRADED BECAUSE THE PAINT LOCKER EXHAUST AND THE MER 2 SUPPLY VENTILATION DAMPENERS FAILED TO CLOSE.
Z. 22 OF 24 PORTABLE DAVIT SOCKETS HAD EXCESSIVE CORROSION AND REQUIRE LUBRICATION/CLEANING OF THE SOCKET COLLARS, DAVIT BEARINGS, DAVIT FEET, AND FOOT SOCKETS.
AA. 1 OF 2 CONREP STATIONS WAS INOP (SEE DECK SECTION OF THIS REPORT FOR
DETAILS).
AB. SHIP'S SELF-ASSESSMENT CAPABILITY WAS EVALUATED AS MARGINAL.
AC. 26 OF 77 WATERTIGHT CLOSURES INSPECTED WERE NOT WATERTIGHT.
AD. 2 OF 2 IPDS WERE OPERATIONAL.
AE. 14 OF 20 VENTILATION AIRFLOW ALARMS WERE EITHER INOP OR MISADJUSTED.
AF. 9 CRITICAL DEFICIENCIES PRECLUDED OILY WATER SEPARATORS CERTIFICATION.
AG. DOSSERT CONNECTORS WERE FOUND IN THE NR 1 AND NR 3 SWBDS. THERMAL INDICATIONS REVEALED NO SIGNS OF LOOSENING OR LOCAL HEATING. CONNECTORS NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED FOR FUTURE INSPECTION.
AH. 2 SYSTEMS DID NOT HAVE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SYSTEM (PMS) INSTALLED. SEE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SECTION OF THIS REPORT FOR DETAILS.
3. THE FOLLOWING CASREPS WERE ACTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MI:
NUMBER NOMENCLATURE CATEGORY
06026 AUXILIARY SYSTEMS 2
06027 AUXILIARY SYSTEMS 2
06028 AUXILIARY SYSTEMS 2
07049 AFT MK41 VLS MODULE 3 2
07051 AFT MK41 VLS MODULE 2 2
07076 ACTS 2
07092 MSS CONSOLE 2
07094 ACCOMMODATION LADDER 2
07098 CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, AIR 2
08001 FLIGHT DECK NETS 2
08002 AIR SYSTEMS, HIGH PRESSURE 2
08005 SHF 2
08007 HULL STRUCTURE 2
08009 FCS NR 1 2
08011 STEERING GEAR W/CONTROL 2
08012 BFTT 2
08013 SPY HVPS 2
08016 STEERING GEAR W/CONTROL 2
08017 NR 1 HPAC WATER PUMP 2
08018 MT22 CIWS MAGAZINE 2
08019 PURIFIER NR 2 LUBE OIL 2
4. 23 DEPARTURES FROM SPECS (DFS) EXISTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MI.
A. THE FOLLOWING DFS WERE IN EXCESS OF 180 DAYS:
NUMBER NOMENCLATURE DATE ISSUED
DDG55-003-01 MILLING MACHINE 11/13/2003
DDG55-001-02 NR 1 CRP PUMP SEAL 1/23/2006
DDG55-002-02 NR 2 CRP PUMP SEAL 1/23/2006
DDG55-004-02 NR 1 CPP SHEAR PINS 9/26/2003
DDG55-005-02 NR 2 CPP SHEAR PINS 9/26/2003
DDG55-012-01 MRG MOST REMOTE BEAR 11/26/2002
DDG55-005-03 STBD BLKHD SEAL 220 3/13/2003
DDG55-006-03 STBD BLKHD SEAL 254 3/13/2003
DDG55-007-03 STBD BLKHD SEAL 300 3/13/2003
DDG55-008-03 PORT BLKHD SEAL 300 4/25/2003
DDG55-018-03 NR 1 MRG UNLOADER VLV 1/28/2006
DDG55-019-03 NR 2 MRG UNLOADER VLV 1/28/2006
DDG55-001-04 NR 1A GTM SHOCK MOUNT 4/9/2007
DDG55-002-04 NR 1B GTM SHOCK MOUNT 4/9/2007
DDG55-003-04 NR 2A GTM SHOCK MOUNT 4/9/2007
DDG55-004-04 NR 2B GTM SHOCK MOUNT 4/9/2007
DDG55-021-04 NR 2 MRG L/O COOLER 6/3/2005
B. NO DFS WERE ISSUED TO SUPPORT COMPLETION OF THE MI.
5. 15 ACTIVE TEMPORARY STANDING ORDERS (TSO) EXISTED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MI.
A. NO TSO WERE IN EXCESS OF 45 DAYS.
B. NO TSO WERE ISSUED TO SUPPORT COMPLETION OF THE MI.
6. DEMO RESULTS: SAT (0.80-1.00)/DEGRADED (0.60-0.79)/UNSAT (0.00-0.59):
-AAW DTE DEMO WAS UNSAT (SCORE: 0.51) BECAUSE OF REDUCED AN/SPY-1 DETECTION RANGE AND FAILURE OF 2 OF 3 FCS ILLUMINATORS.
-SD DTE DEMO WAS DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.73) BECAUSE THE CIWS MT 21 WAS INOP AND DID NOT SUPPORT THE ENGAGEMENT.
-GUNNERY LIVE FIRE DEMO WAS UNSAT (SCORE: 0.30) BECAUSE MT 51 DID NOT FIRE UNTIL THE CORRODED BREECH SAFETY DEVICE WAS REPAIRED.
-USW DTE DEMO WAS SAT (SCORE: 0.91).
-FULL POWER DEMO COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED (SCORE: 0.00) BECAUSE REQUIRED EQUIPMENT COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED. SHIP WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE 80 PERCENT FULL POWER ON A 3 GTM CONFIGURATION AND A 1 HOUR HIGH POWER DEMO WAS CONDUCTED AT THAT SPEED.
-QUICK REVERSAL ASTERN WAS SAT (SCORE: 0.95). QUICK REVERSAL WAS CONDUCTED FROM 80 PERCENT FULL POWER AHEAD TO 100 PERCENT FULL POWER ASTERN.
-QUICK REVERSAL AHEAD WAS SAT (SCORE: 1.00). QUICK REVERSAL WAS CONDUCTED FROM 100 PERCENT FULL POWER ASTERN TO 80 PERCENT FULL POWER AHEAD.
-STEERING DEMO WAS SAT (SCORE: 0.95). STEERING DEMO WAS CONDUCTED AT 80 PERCENT FULL POWER.
-ANCHORING DEMO WAS UNSAT (SCORE: 0.00) BECAUSE OF ANCHORING DEFICIENCIES.
7. SHIPBOARD PRESERVATION: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.79):
-CCIPT IN-SERVICE CORROSION CONTROL SURVEYS WERE CONDUCTED IN JUN 06 AND SEP 05. INSURV CORROSION INSPECTION VALIDATED THAT 80 PERCENT OF THE DEFICIENCIES IDENTIFIED DURING THE SURVEYS WERE STILL OUTSTANDING. SURFACE PREPARATION AND COATING APPLICATION HAS NOT BEEN ACCOMPLISHED PROPERLY OVER THE LIFE OF THE SHIP AND HAS ADDED TO THE OVERALL INCREASED WEIGHT OF 3.5 TONS IAW CCIPT SURVEY REPORT FOR USS STOUT (DDG 55), WHICH HAS DECREASED FUEL SAVINGS, SPEED, AND STABILITY.
-FLIGHT DECK STATUS LIGHTING SYSTEM WAS INOP BECAUSE OF CORROSION.
-CORROSION CONTROLS FOR BULKHEAD TO DECK INTERFACE IN BERTHING 5 AND 7 SANITARY SPACES WERE INADEQUATE (GRADE 1G).
-APPROX 210 SQ FT OF THE 05 LEVEL DECK WAS CORRODED. 65 PERCENT OF THE NON-SKID HAD RUST BLEEDING THRU, ALL DECK DRAINS WERE CORRODED WITH FLAKING METAL AND WASTAGE, THE KNIFE EDGE HAD MULTIPLE SPOTS OF FLAKING METAL, AND THE JUNCTION OF THE DOG HOUSE BULKHEAD AND DECK WAS CORRODED OVER THE ENTIRE LENGTH. ADDITIONALLY, THE FWD STBD CORNER WAS CRACKED.
-AFT ICCP MAGNETIC CONTROLLER WAS INCORRECTLY SET. HULL POTENTIAL READING
WAS .900 VDC, REFERENCE AND AUX CELL CHECK READINGS WERE AT .900 VDC AND CONTROLLER OUTPUT READING WAS .150 VDC (CONTROLLER OUTPUT SHOULD BE 0 VDC WHEN HULL POTENTIAL IS ABOVE .850 VDC ).
-1 OF 2 BRUSHES ON THE STBD SHAFT GROUNDING ASSY HAD LESS THAN 50 PERCENT CONTACT WITH THE SHAFT SLIP RINGS.
-PORT AND STBD SHAFT GROUNDING WIRE INSULATION WAS DETERIORATED.
-PORT AND STBD RUDDER GROUNDING STRAPS WERE THE WRONG MATERIAL AND INCORRECTLY BOLTED ON BOTH ENDS.
-VAPOR CONDENSATION INHIBITORS (VCIS) WERE NOT INSTALLED IN APPROX 75 PERCENT OF THE ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES IAW MRC 3001/002-18M-4.
-ALL FCS DIRECTORS HAD EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON THE FASTENERS AND HARDWARE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT WEATHER-PROOFED. ADDITIONALLY, THE FCS 1 TRAIN SEAL FAILED AND ALLOWED WATER INTRUSION INTO THE TRAINING GEAR FLUID WHICH WAS MILKY WHITE IN COLOR. THIS IS A CLASSWIDE ISSUE.
-HARPOON LAUNCHERS AND FOUNDATIONS WERE CORRODED. CABLE STUFFING TUBES TO THE LAUNCHERS HAD ASTM 1G CORROSION AND SHOWED 90 PERCENT METAL WASTAGE.
-TV-DTS ANTENNA 10-1 (STBD/FWD) HAD RUST GRADE 1-G (OVER 50 PERCENT RUSTED) ON THE CONDUIT SECURING PLATE.
-OE-567/WSC-6 SHF ANTENNA 3-17 (STBD/FWD) HAD RUST GRADE 1-G (OVER 50 PERCENT RUSTED) ALONG ANTENNA BASE.
-AN/SRQ-4 HAWKLINK ANTENNA WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF WAVEGUIDE CORROSION.
8. SIGNIFICANT MATERIAL DEFICIENCIES AND EQUIPMENT OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY (EOC) INCLUDE:
A. PROPULSION: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.69):
-1 OF 4 GTMS WAS INOP.
-4 OF 4 GTMS HAD LUBE OIL LEAKS.
-2 OF 4 GTM MODULE HALON ALARM BELLS WERE INOP.
-NR 1B GTM HAD FOD ON THE INTAKE PLENUM SCREEN.
-NR 1 MRG WAS MISSING PHYSICAL SECURITY DEVICES ON VARIOUS FLANGES.
-2 OF 2 MAIN THRUST BEARING REAR SEALS LEAKED LUBE OIL.
-3 OF 4 LUBE OIL SERVICE PUMPS LEAKED LUBE OIL.
-NR 2 MRG LUBE OIL STRAINER DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE ALARM WAS MISADJUSTED (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 2 MER 1 FUEL OIL SERVICE TANK QUICK TRIP VALVES WERE INOP (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 2 MER 1 FUEL OIL PRE-FILTER DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE ALARMS WERE MISADJUSTED (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 4 GTM BLEED AIR CHECK VALVES WERE INOP.
-8 BLEED/MASKER/PRAIRIE AIR SYSTEM LOW POINT DRAINS HAD NO FLOW.
-14 FLEXIBLE HOSE ASSEMBLIES THROUGHOUT THE BLEED/MASKER AND PRAIRIE AIR SYSTEMS HAD LAGGING PADS INSTALLED THAT APPEARED NOT TO HAVE BEEN REMOVED IOT CONDUCT THE ANNUAL PMS INSPECTION REQUIRED BY MIP 5000/009.
-3 OF 3 GTGS HAD LUBE OIL LEAKS.
-2 OF 3 GTG PMA LUBE OIL PUMPS LEAKED INTO THE GENERATOR.
-NR 1 GTG THERMOCOUPLE BLOCK WAS BROKEN.
-NR 1 GTG BLOW-IN DOOR CONTROLLER WAS IN MANUAL DURING OPERATION.
-NR 2 GTG HALON TIME DELAY WAS MISADJUSTED (CORRECTED).
-NR 3 GTG HAD A FUEL LEAK ON THE FUEL FILTER HOSE.
B. AUXILIARIES: UNSAT (SCORE: 0.56):
-RUDDER ACCURACY CHECKS FAILED FOR BOTH ALPHA AND BRAVO STEERING UNITS.
-ALL STEERING HYDRAULIC POWER UNITS WERE LEAKING HYDRAULIC OIL IN SEVERAL PLACES, REQUIRING CONSTANT WIPERS.
-VERTICAL PACKAGE CONVEYOR WAS INOP BECAUSE OF IN-SERVICE LIMITS. THE TORQUE COUPLING PERSONNEL SAFETY GUARD WAS NOT INSTALLED, MAIN, 2ND AND 3RD DECK LOADER/UNLOADER GRAVITY CONVEYOR CONNECTION POINTS WERE NOT INSTALLED (ECP 572-02A-C021), CONVEYOR DID NOT STOP WHEN THE JAM LIMIT SWITCHES WERE ACTUATED UP TO 1.5 INCHES IAW SAFETY ADVISORY 033-00, 01 LEVEL SECONDARY DRIVE CHAINS WERE LOOSE, AND ALL LEVEL PERSONNEL SAFETY SHIELDS WERE IMPROPERLY MADE WITH SHARP EDGES.
-NR 1 A/C WAS INOP BECAUSE OF A LEAKING MECHANICAL SEAL ON THE COMPRESSOR (CASREP 07098).
-NR 1 REFRIGERATION UNIT WAS OOC BECAUSE OF AN INOP CAPACITY CONTROL.
-NR 4 A/C CHILLER WAS LEAKING CHILLED WATER INTO THE BILGE.
-NR 1 FREEZE BOX COIL TEMP CONTROL SWITCH WAS INOP, MAINTAINING THE TEMP AT PLUS 3 DEG F.
-NR 1 AND NR 2 COILS FOR THE FREEZE BOX AND THE COILS FOR THE CHILL BOX LOUVERS WERE INOP.
-2 OF 2 REVERSE OSMOSIS UNIT DUMP VALVES FAILED TO TRIP ON HIGH SALINITY (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 2 HPAC AND 1 OF 3 LPAC TYPE 1 DEHYDRATORS FAILED THE DEWPOINT TEST.
-NR 1 HPAC HAD A LEAKING WATER PUMP (CASREP 08017).
-NR 4 FIREPUMP SUCTION VALVE WAS INOP REMOTELY FROM THE MAIN DECK CONTROL STATION.
-3 OF 6 FIREPUMP SUCTION VALVE LOCAL POSITION INDICATORS WERE MISSING.
-NR 1 SWS PUMP HAD A SIGNIFICANT LEAK IN PUMP CASING VENT LINE. LEAK WAS VENTING 1 FT BELOW A POWER PANEL.
-4 OF 5 SWS SUCTION VALVE LOCAL POSITION INDICATOR DIALS WERE MISSING.
-NR 2 AND NR 5 SWS PUMPS HAD LEAKING MECHANICAL SEALS.
-2 OF 3 WATER HEATER HIGH TEMP SAFETY SWITCHES WERE MISADJUSTED ON HIGH TEMP.
-3 OF 3 WATER HEATER HIGH TEMP SAFETY SWITCHES DID NOT HAVE MANUAL RESET.
-2 OF 3 WATER HEATER OPERATING SWITCHES WERE MISADJUSTED.
C. ELECTRICAL: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.77):
-MAIN 60 HZ SWBD AND LOAD CENTER AQB-L AND AQB-LL SERIES CIRCUIT BREAKER ADJUSTABLE SHORT TIME PICK-UP AND SHORT TIME DELAY SETTINGS WERE NOT SET IAW TECHMAN (CORRECTED).
-CL Z VENT ZONE 3 PANEL NR 3 CIRCUIT BREAKER DID NOT TRIP DURING STAGE 1 LOAD SHED TESTING.
-ABTS 01-116-1 AND 02-305-2 DID NOT SHIFT IN AUTO WHEN TESTED.
-ABT 2-239-1 INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTED FROM NORMAL TO ALTERNATE POWER SOURCES WHEN IN THE AUTOMATIC MODE.
-ABT 1-127-1 EXTERIOR CABINET WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED.
-POWER PANELS 2-50-2, 2-162-2 AND 03-173-1 HAD OVER-RATED CIRCUIT BREAKERS
INSTALLED.
D. DAMAGE CONTROL: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.69):
-MER 1 BILGE SPRINKLER SOPV DID NOT OPEN FULLY WHEN ACTIVATED (CORRECTED).
-3 GEN RE-ENTRY HOSE NOZZLE WAS INOP (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 3 EBACS DID NOT FILL BOTTLES IAW THE PMS TIME FRAME (15-18 MINUTES).
BOTH WERE IN EXCESS OF 20 MIN.
-3 OF 3 HPFAS DID NOT FILL BOTTLES IAW THE PMS TIME FRAME (45 SEC).
-23 OF 63 SCBAS WERE UNSAT.
-3 BERTHING SALTWATER SPRINKLERS DID NOT ALARM DURING TESTING.
-1 OF 2 AN/KAS WAS INOP (PORTSIDE).
-1 OF 3 PP-4276C/PD WAS INOP.
-AUX 1, MER 1, AND 3 GEN HALON PRIMARY ACTIVATION CO2 BOTTLES LEAKED.
-FIREMAIN PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE WAS INOP.
E. DECK: UNSAT (SCORE: 0.50):
-3 OF 3 MEDICAL MK 1 LIFE VESTS WERE NOT MAINTAINED IAW MIP 5832/R-1.
-4 OF 7 RESCUE BOAT MK 1 LIFE VESTS FAILED TO PROPERLY INFLATE.
-1 OF 2 SAR LPU-28 LIFE VESTS FAILED TO PROPERLY INFLATE (CORRECTED).
-1 OF 2 SAR STROBE LIGHTS WITH THE BLUE LENS FAILED TO OPERATE IAW MIP 5832/U-1 (CORRECTED).
-1 OF 2 SETS OF SAR GLOVES WAS HOLED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT (CORRECTED).
-2 OF 2 SETS OF CPU-72P DRY SUIT LINERS WERE MISSING, PREVENTING SAR FROM ENTERING WATER IN TEMPS LOWER THAN 60 DEG F IAW NWP 3-50.1 FIGURE 5-59 WATER TEMPERATURE GUIDELINES.
-BOAT DECK SAR MEDIVAC LITTER WAS MISSING WEIGHT TEST DATA, 2 OF 2 ADJUSTABLE CARRYING HARNESSES AND A LUMBAR SUPPORT PAD (CORRECTED).
-4 OF 4 RETRACTABLE BITTS/CHOCKS REQUIRED MAINTENANCE IAW MIP 5821/Q-4. BITT BUSHINGS, UPPER AND LOWER GUIDES REQUIRED INSPECTION, CLEANING, AND LUBRICATION.
-3 OF 6 MOORING LINES HAD EXCESSIVE ABRASIONS, TWISTED STRANDS, IMPROPER SPLICES, SEVERE COCKLING, AND WERE NOT MAINTAINED IAW MIP 5821/Q-11R.
-2 OF 4 FANTAIL BITTS HAD EXCESSIVE ABRASIVE CUT CONDITIONS AND SIGNIFICANT CORROSION.
-RAS NR 5 MANUAL OPERATION CUT-OUT WAS BENT AND MISSING SECURING LANYARD.
-RAS NR 5 WAS MISSING THE ELECTRIC DISK BRAKE RELEASE LEVER. THE PADEYE COULD NOT BE DEMONSTRATED IN THE MANUAL MODE.
-1 OF 2 LOWER LIMIT SWITCHES WAS INOP ON RAS STA NR 5.
-SLIDING PADEYE EMERGENCY PNEUMATIC DRIVE WAS MISSING.
-1 OF 2 TILT STOWED BACKSTAY YOKES WAS SEIZED ON STA NR 5.
-RAS NR 5 AND NR 6 WERE NOT MAINTAINED IAW 5713/Q-3R-S-1. BOTH STAS HAS SEVERELY CORRODED CARRIAGES, WORM SCREWS, FOUNDATION MEMBERS, LOWER CONNECTION BOXES, AND ELECTRIC MOTORS.
-RAS NR 6 WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY AFTER OVERHAUL. THE KING POST REQUIRED RE-WORK TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE SLIDING BLOCK SO LUBRICATION MAINTENANCE OF THE BALL DRIVE CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED (SHIP REPORTED).
-4 OF 4 KINGPOST UNREP LIGHTS WERE DAMAGED AND INOP ON RAS STAS NR 5 AND NR 6.
-SEWING MACHINE WAS INOP BECAUSE OF MISSING POWER, SAFETY PLACARD, AND OPERATING ACCESSORIES.
-28 OF 28 TOPSIDE LIFEJACKET LOCKERS WERE NOT MAINTAINED IAW PMS MIP 6111/S-1.
-AFT LOOKOUT LIFE RING WAS DETERIORATED AND PUNCTURED. DISTRESS MARKER LIFE
RING SECURING BRACKETS WERE MISSING AND STENCIL WITH SHIP'S NAME AND HULL NUMBER WAS UN-READABLE.
-SHIP'S BROW WAS MISSING 5 OF 10 LIFELINE STAPLES.
-6 OF 6 FENDER SECURING STRAPS WERE MISSING.
-PILOT'S LADDER WAS NOT RIGGED IAW NAVSHIP DWG 804-5000900.
-PILOT'S LADDER WAS NOT PROPERLY ADJUSTED TO TERMINATE AT WATERS EDGE.
-72 OF 187 (31 PERCENT) OF MAIN DECK KEVLAR LIFELINES WERE NOT MAINTAINED IAW MIP 6121/S-5.
-60 PERCENT OF THE BAXTER BOLTS INSPECTED WERE NOT IAW PMS 6111/A-2R.
F. ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE: SAT (SCORE: 0.90):
-S/F COULD NOT POWER ON THE ALTERNATE MK 116 UYH-3 BECAUSE OF FAULTY WIRING TO THE BACK SHELL.
-1 OF 6 TORPEDO BREECH CONTROL VALVES WAS STUCK OPEN BECAUSE OF CORROSION.
-TORPEDO BANDING TOOLS WERE MISSING.
G. OPERATIONS: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.62):
-AN/SPY-1D D/PD T20, FPA T26 MOD 3 (LOSS OF 4 OF 16 CHANNELS), AND FPA T27 MOD 3 (LOSS OF 4 OF 16 CHANNELS) WERE INOP BECAUSE OF FAULTY HVPS T138 (CASREP 08013).
-12 OF 16 CHANNELS IN FPA T26 WERE INOP (4 CORRECTED).
-12 OF 16 CHANNELS IN FPA T27 WERE INOP (3 CORRECTED).
-AN/SPY-1D SIGNAL PROCESSOR SIDE A DROPPED OFF-LINE BECAUSE OF DIGITAL FAULTY ISOLATION FAILURES AND THE INTERMITTENT FAULT WITH RADAR TARGET DATA PROCESSOR NR 2.
-AN/SPY-1D ARRAY T01 POWER SUPPLY WAS INOP (LOSS OF REDUNDANCY).
-AN/SPS-67 SHORT PULSE MODE WAS INOP.
-AN/SPS-67 MODULATOR CURRENT EXCEEDED 22 AMPS (CORRECTED).
-APX-118 IFF TRANSPONDER MODE 4 WAS INOP.
-ROTATING IFF ANTENNA (SPS-67) SUM AND DIFFERENCE VSWR WAS OUT-OF-SPEC.
-AN/URN-25 TACAN REFLECTED POWER WAS HIGH AND IPA TUBE CURRENT WAS OUT-OF-SPEC LOW.
-MK 137 MOD 4 SRBOC LAUNCHERS NR 1A AND NR 3A SAFE LAMPS WERE FAULTY (LAUNCHER NR 1A SHIP REPORTED). S/F COULD NOT DETERMINE SAFE/ARM STATUS AT AFFECTED LAUNCHERS.
-MK 137 LAUNCHER NIGHT LOADING LIGHTS WERE INOP (SHIP REPORTED).
-PCMS WAS DEGRADED (INSPECTION SCORE: 211).
-HD1140 SPY COOLING SYSTEM WAS NOT OPERATED IAW PMS 456/R08 W-1. COPPER NICKEL HEAT EXCHANGER WAS ON-LINE VICE TITANIUM HEAT EXCHANGER BECAUSE TITANIUM HEAT EXCHANGER WAS CLOGGED.
-BFTT DEMO WAS DEGRADED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE FAULT INDICATIONS (CIU SETUP OR DMS FAULTY, 1553B STATUS ERROR-DUAL COMM FAILURE). FAULTS OCCURRED APPROX 3 TIMES PER MINUTE AND CAUSED OWN SHIP INFORMATION TO BE ERRATIC.
H. WEAPONS: SAT (SCORE: 0.88):
-MT 21 AMMO HANDLING SKIP BOX JUMPED DURING OPERATION AND WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE.
-MT 21 WAS INOP BECAUSE OF A FAULTED ANTENNA VRU. PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED WHEN RUNNING SOTS IN PORT.
-HARPOON LAUNCHERS AND FOUNDATIONS WERE EXTREMELY CORRODED. CABLE STUFFING TUBES TO THE LAUNCHERS HAD ASTM 1G CORROSION AND SHOWED 90 PERCENT METAL WASTAGE. PCMS HAD MULTIPLE LAYERS OF PAINT FLAKING OFF.
-26 OF 90 VLS LAUNCHER DELUGE GROUNDING STRAPS WERE CORRODED.
-AFT VLS LAUNCHER, MODULE 2, CELL 6 HATCH WAS BINDING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT.
-AFT VLS LAUNCHER, MODULE 3 FAILED SYSTEM BITE.
-AFT VLS LAUNCHER, MODULE 7 FAILED SYSTEM, LSEQ AND MCP BITE. CELLS 1-4 HAD MULTIPLE FAULT CODES.
-MT 51 AMMO ELEVATOR HOIST WAS NOT TESTED BECAUSE THE HATCH TRIPOD HOSES WERE DAMAGED AND FASTENERS WERE MISSING.
-FCS 1 TRAIN SEAL FAILED AND ALLOWED WATER INTRUSION INTO THE TRAIN FLUID WHICH WAS MILKY WHITE IN COLOR.
-FCS 1 MAN ALOFT SWITCH WAS INCORRECTLY LABELED. SAFE WAS UNSAFE AND VICE
VERSA (CORRECTED).
-FCS 3 TWT PARAMETERS WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, PREVENTING RADIATION.
I. NAVIGATION: SAT (SCORE: 0.90):
-GYRO REPEATER IN IC GYRO ROOM NR 2 WAS FAULTY.
-EM LOG NR 2 R1 POTENTIOMETER WAS FAULTY.
J. COMMUNICATIONS: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.77):
-12 OF 14 AN/WSC-3 UHF LOS TRANSCEIVERS WERE INOP OR DEGRADED: NR 1, NR 3, AND NR 12 HAD NO RF POWER OUT, AND NR 4, NR 5, NR 6, NR 7, NR 8, NR 9, NR 10, NR 11, AND NR 14 WERE NOT IAW PMS AND WERE OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
-2 OF 2 AN/WSC-3 UHF HAVE-QUICK LOS TRANSCEIVERS WERE DEGRADED.
-AN/SSQ-88 QUALITY MONITORING TEST SET WAS INOP BECAUSE TEST EQUIPMENT WAS AT CAL.
-AS-3771, AS-3772, AS-3773 HF RECEIVE ANTENNAS REQUIRED PRESERVATION AND HAD LOW INSULATION RESISTANCE.
-2 OF 2 AS-3226 VRC-46 VHF ANTENNAS HAD MISSING HARDWARE AND NR 2 FAILED VSWR TEST.
-AS-390 UHF ANTENNA NR 3-15 HAD HIGH VSWR AND THE AS-390 QMCS UHF ANTENNA PAINT WAS DETERIORATED.
-4 OF 4 AS-2815 SSR-1 UHF SATCOM ANTENNA HARDWARE PRESERVATION WAS DETERIORATED AND 1 OF 4 HAD A LOOSE BOND STRAP.
-1 OF 2 AN/VRC-46 VHF TRANSCEIVERS WAS INOP BECAUSE OF FAULTY AS-3226 ANTENNA.
-OA-9243 (HF ANTENNA TILTING GROUP) ANTENNA HANDCRANK TURNED VIOLENTLY WHEN USING THE ELECTRIC SWITCH TO RAISE OR LOWER THE ANTENNA, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD.
-HF IMI FAILED.
-S/F COULD NOT DEMONSTRATE AN/USC-38 NECC BECAUSE OF NO CKT AVAILABILITY.
-AN/WSC-6 SHF WAS INOP BECAUSE OF A POOR SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO (CASREP 08005).
-OE-567/WSC-6 SHF ANTENNA 3-18 (PORT/AFT) BASE GASKET WAS WORN AND SPLITTING.
-21 OF 27 TA-970/980/990 RED PHONES WERE DEGRADED OR INOP.
-LINK 4A WAS INOP BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY TO PASS TRACK DATA.
-3 OF 3 NAVY ORDER WIRE TERMINALS WERE INOP OR DEGRADED.
K. INFORMATION SYSTEMS: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.78):
-AN/USQ-185 CENTRIXS DOMAINS COULD NOT BE ACCESSED OR EVALUATED BECAUSE PASSWORDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
-AN/USQ-185 CENTRIXS FOUR EYES ENCLAVE COULD NOT BE TESTED BECAUSE PASSWORDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
-AN/UYK-163 NIAPS SERVER HAD SKED DATA TEMP FILES 500 GIG IN SIZE (CORRECTED).
-AN/UYK-163 NIAPS SERVER DID NOT BACK-UP SKED DATA NOR LIVE STATE IMAGES ONTO TAPES.
-NOMEX DECKING IN RADIO WAS SEVERELY DEGRADED BECAUSE NUMEROUS DECK PLATES HAD NO SECURING HARDWARE. THIS CREATED A TRIP AND MISSILE HAZARD. OF NOTE WAS THE FACT THAT THE DECKPLATES IN LOW OR NO TRAFFIC AREAS ALSO HAD NO SECURING HARDWARE BUT NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE.
L. SUPPLY: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.67):
-GIH WASHDOWN SYSTEM NOZZLE CLEANING AND ALIGNMENT MAINTENANCE WAS NOT BEING COMPLETED (CORRECTED).
-GIH 5 OF 6 FAIL-SAFE (DETROIT) SWITCHES WERE NOT WITHIN ANNUAL CALIBRATION PERIODICITY AND THE ONE THAT WAS WITHIN PERIODICITY DID NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.
-GIH MAIN GALLEY DIVERTER DAMPER WAS INOP.
-MEAT SLICER WAS INOP.
-1 OF 3 SELF-SERVICE ICE MACHINES WAS INOP.
-ICE CREAM MACHINE WAS INOP.
-1 OF 3 COFFEE MACHINES WAS INOP.
-BUFFALO MACHINE WAS INOP.
-1 OF 2 60 LB WASHERS WAS INOP BECAUSE OF A SAFETY INTERLOCK SWITCH ON THE DOOR.
-CORROSION CONTROLS FOR CPO SEABAG LOCKER DECK WERE INADEQUATE (GRADE 4G).
-CORROSION CONTROLS FOR STOREROOM NR 4 BILGES WERE INADEQUATE (GRADE 3 G).
M. HABITABILITY: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.75):
-3 OF 7 CREW BERTHING WATER COOLERS WERE INOP AND 2 OF THE REMAINING 4 WERE
DEGRADED (S/F REPORTED REPAIRING 4 PRIOR TO OUR INSPECTION).
N. NAVOSH: SAT (SCORE: 0.85):
-3 OF 3 4-GAS ANALYZERS WERE INOP (1 CORRECTED).
-36 BOTTLES OF CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE WERE STORED IN THE FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS STOREROOM (CORRECTED).
-5 OF 16 EYEWASH STAS HAD MATERIAL DEFICIENCIES.
-SAFETY NET BETWEEN GTMS 2A AND 2B WAS NOT INSTALLED.
-SAFETY GUARD CHAINS WERE MISSING ON 4 OF 6 ACCESS TRUNKS (1 CORRECTED).
-12 OF 17 TRUNK SAFETY NETS WERE NOT IAW NAVSEA GUIDANCE (NAVSEA DRAWING 804-5184163 REV A).
-BIOLOGICAL REFRIGERATOR ALARM (HIGH/LOW TEMP AND LOSS OF POWER) WAS INOP.
-STERILIZER WAS INOP.
-EMERGENCY POTABLE WATER WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN MAIN MEDICAL.
O. VENTILATION: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.77):
-5 OF 13 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SPACES HAD EXHAUST AIRFLOW BELOW DESIGN SPEC.
-4 OF 20 SANITARY SPACES HAD EXHAUST AIRFLOW BELOW DESIGN SPEC.
P. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: DEGRADED (SCORE: 0.66):
-OIL CONTENT MONITOR LEAKED BY WHEN NOT ENERGIZED PREVENTING ACCURATE READINGS AND THE INLET PIPING DID NOT HAVE A RELIEF VALVE INSTALLED.
-WASTE OIL HOLDING TANK 5-220-1-F OIL/WATER TLI WAS INOP.
-1 OF 2 COMPRESS MELT UNITS WAS INOP (CORRECTED).
-LARGE PULPER WAS MISSING THE JUNK BOX CAUSING PULPED MATERIAL TO FLOW INTO THE PIPING SYSTEM AND CLOG THE DRAIN LINES.
-PMS WAS NOT INSTALLED FOR THE LARGE PULPER OR THE TOP-LOADING PARTS WASHER.
-FWD VCHT PUMP ROOM VENTILATION AND SUMP FLOODING ALARMS WERE INOP.
-S/F COULD NOT OPERATE NR 1 VCHT EJECTOR PUMP BECAUSE OF VACUUM LEAKS IN THE NON RETURN VALVE.
Q. AVIATION: UNSAT (SCORE: 0.59):
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF FLIGHT OPS UNTIL THE FLIGHT DECK NETS AND ASSOCIATED HARDWARE ARE REPAIRED, DAMAGED PROXIMITY SUITS ARE REPLACED, AND THE DECK STATUS LIGHT IS REPAIRED.
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF NIGHT FLIGHT OPS UNTIL THE DROP-LINE LIGHTS ARE REPAIRED.
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) FLIGHT OPS UNTIL THE TACAN IS REPAIRED.
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF VERTREP OPS UNTIL THE STATIC WANDS ARE REPAIRED.
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF AIRCRAFT FUELING OPS UNTIL THE JP5 HOSES ARE HYDROSTATICALLY TESTED AND THE AIRCRAFT FUELING STA PRESSURE GAGE IS REPAIRED.
-RECOMMEND SELF-SUSPENSION OF HIFR OPS UNTIL THE HIFR REFUELING NOZZLE IS REPAIRED.
-2 OF 3 PROXIMITY SUITS WERE DAMAGED AND UNSERVICEABLE.
-DECK STATUS LIGHT WAS INOP.
-2 OF 2 STATIC WANDS FAILED CONTINUITY CHECK.
-LINE UP LIGHTS WERE INOP (CORRECTED).
-DROP LINE LIGHTS WERE INOP.
-JP5 STORAGE TANK 4-402-0-J HAD SEDIMENT IN TANK.
-JP5 SERVICE TANK 4-390-0-J HAD SEDIMENT IN TANK.
-HIFR NOZZLE GROUNDING CLAMP WAS BROKEN.
-ALL JP5 HOSES WERE OUT OF HYDROSTATIC PERIODICITY.
-AIRCRAFT FUELING STATION PRESSURE GAGE READING WAS INACCURATE.
-HIFR REFUELING NOZZLE AND 2 OF 2 D1R REFUELING NOZZLES FAILED CONTINUITY CHECK (1 OF 2 DIRS CORRECTED).
-1 OF 2 WIND SPEED TRANSMITTERS WAS INOP.
-1 OF 2 ELECTRICAL GLOVE SETS WAS DAMAGED (CORRECTED).
9. COMMODORE R. TINDAL III, COMDESRON 2, WAS PRESENT FOR THE INSPECTION AND OUT-BRIEF. CAPT R. BONNER WAS THE SENIOR INSPECTOR.
10. PRESIDENT, BOARD OF INSPECTION AND SURVEY, CONCURS WITH THE FINDINGS.//

STOUT has had a rough go of it lately. This was sort of anticipated.

Obviously with a poor INSURV, many of the items identified will be loaded into the SRA package or, more likely than not, scheduled for CMAVs after the SRA (the beauty of MSMO contracts). One big discussion point here that people seem to forget...STOUT was one of three East Coast participants in the SeaSwap experiment (along with LABOON and GONZALEZ). She was not the ship on station but she was literally "de-crewed" for extensive lengths of time during crew swaps. The ISIC (RSO) was left as a care-taker but that can't be the same. Add in the "lack of ownership" issues that get discussed when you talk SeaSwap, I'm sure that contributed to the less than stellar material condition of the ship but to what degree, I couldn't say. But we are seriously short-changing these ships of needed maintenance for budgetary reasons... We defer lots of work. Just my two-cents...

"I don't think I have ever seen anything so bad," said retired Capt. Rick Hoffman, who commanded the cruiser Hue City, a sister ship of the Chosin.

"InSurv is by its nature an inspection that will always reveal a fairly large number of deficiencies, hopefully most of them minor," said retired Capt. Jan van Tol, who commanded a destroyer and an amphibious assault ship. "However, the scale and scope of the deficiencies, spread across all of the ship's departments and including the [executive officer] and command master chief, suggests that there is a severe and long-standing problem with low standards; low initiative in finding/fixing/managing problems and following up on documented problems; poorly managed programs; and an apparent inability to train junior people in material management."

High-ranking officers now are searching for what led to the problems revealed by the two inspections.

"There's a discussion active inside the community about self-assessment issues and processes," said Capt. David Lewis, the assistant chief of staff for maintenance and engineering with Naval Surface Forces in San Diego.

Lewis pointed out that a great number of the problems on the two ships were known even before the inspections. But the InSurvs turned up more problems than were expected.

"The thing that popped at me was the volume of the discrepancies. Normally, we don't get that much on a given ship," he said.

"DDGs have a corrosion trend, we are seeing that more and more," Lewis said. "We are starting to address that in our work batches for depot-level repair. It's in areas that are generally hard for ship's force to get into, places they don't go routinely. Uptakes and that kind of stuff."

The ships' material condition was not due to lack of funds, Lewis said.

"We are 100 percent funded to our requirement for maintenance," he said.

Based on calculations in the most recent 30-year fleet plan, Chosin is meant to remain in service for 35 years, or until about 2026. The Stout and its sister ships are to last for 40 years - until 2034, in the Stout's case.

"Where was the chain of command? Why did the parent squadron not know of the terrible material condition?" van Tol asked. The ship's command, he said, "has a lot to answer for, either in terms of not finding and fixing the problems, or at least advising his seniors of the problems."

The ship's enlisted leaders also are partly responsible, van Tol said.

"One could also ask where the chief's mess was in all this, since they are the technical experts as well as the senior enlisted leaders onboard."
...
"Many of the problems noted should have been picked up in previous inspections of various kinds," he said. "What were the results of those inspections? Who should have followed up on deficiencies? Why did the chain of command - both within the ship and above the ship level - not monitor progress in fixing said deficiencies?"

Each of the ships has a crew of about 350 sailors. The Navy has been working for some years to reduce maintenance requirements on sailors in order to shrink crew sizes, and the smaller crews planned for future ships such as littoral combat ships and the Zumwalt-class DDG 1000 advanced destroyers mean maintenance issues could become more acute. Navy planners have said a key to maintaining readiness is to transfer more responsibility to land-based organizations.

"... there doesn't appear to be a lot of attention to detail going on." ... "I see in both of these ships a basic contempt for good Navy practices," the retired flag officer said. "Too much rust. Too many [preventive maintenance systems] checks that weren't done properly. Too much equipment InSurv had to tell them wasn't working."
...
"There's a serious lack of command involvement in what's going on on the ship," the flag officer said. "That's basic."

"The success or failure of any commandwide inspection can be placed directly at the entrance to the CPO mess," Campa said. "There are all kinds of challenges, and reasons for failure. But it's been proven that the experience that resides in the mess can tilt the results of any inspection toward success if the chiefs are engaged on the deck plates."

Labels: Destroyer

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:56

• Retention: Research shows that people perform (and retain) better in organizations that respect and celebrate their uniqueness. This includes cultural, ethnic, geographic and other areas of interest. Leaders: ensure your Sailors know the Navy appreciates their service and respects their heritage.
• Public perception/recruiting: Between 1993 and 2003 Hispanic college enrollment increased by 70%, Asian- American enrollment grew by 43.5%, Black enrollment rose by 42.7% and Native American enrollment increased 38.7%. Caucasian enrollment increased by less than 4%. Leaders: you must take a proactive effort to reach out to your communities, hometowns, schools and civic groups.

Labels: Diversity

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:48

The U.S. Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) remains on track for delivery this summer, service and shipbuilder officials said, belying a blogger's claim that the ship will be a year late.

"We're on track for trials beginning in May. We're on track for a summer 2008 delivery," said Diana Massing, a spokeswoman for Lockheed Martin.

The Freedom is about 82 percent complete, Allison Stiller, the Navy's top shipbuilding official, told the U.S. Senate on April 8. "She'll go to builders' trials here in May."

As of mid-2001 the Office of Naval Research was considering construction of a Littoral Combat Ship with a displacement of 500 to 600 tons. The LCS would have a draft of about three meters, an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles, and a maximum speed of 50-60 knots. The cost per ship might be at least $90 million.

The GAO report says the Navy expects the first two LCS to exceed their combined budget of $472 million by over 100 percent and anticipates lead ship delivery will occur nearly 18 months later than initially planned. As a result of these challenges, the Navy canceled construction of the third and fourth LCS and deferred construction of additional seaframes. The GAO report says the Navy plans to use funds previously appropriated for construction of the fifth and sixth LCS seaframes to pay for cost growth on the remaining two ships under contract.

All this led Rep. Gene Taylor (D.Miss.) Chairman of the House Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee to declare that LCS,

"will go into the textbooks to train future acquisition officials how not to run a program."

Labels: LCS

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:23

Labels: Music, Religion

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:16

Labels: Cartoon, Obama, Religion

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 07:22

CNN personality Richard Quest was busted in Central Park early yesterday with some drugs in his pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot, law-enforcement sources said.

Quest, 46, was arrested at around 3:40 a.m. after a cop spotted him and another man inside the park near 64th Street, a police source said.

Labels: Media

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:31

Labels: Culture Wars, Education, Religion

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:33

Lucian Freud's one-time muse was paid £20 a day to sit for a painting expected to fetch more than £17m.

But Londoner Sue Tilley said she did not do it for the money and had "lovely lunches" with the artist.

Freud's 1995 work, Benefits Supervisor Sleeping, looks set to become the most expensive painting by a living artist when it is sold in New York next month.

Labels: Art

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 05:37

The son of the new Dutch armed forces commander has been killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan.

The blast, early on Friday in Uruzgan province, also killed another Dutch soldier and wounded two more.

Lt Dennis van Uhm, 23, was the son of Gen Peter van Uhm, who took up overall command of Dutch forces on Thursday.

A total of 16 Dutch troops have now died in Afghanistan. Friday's attack is not thought to have specifically targeted the new military commander.

Labels: Afghanistan, Dutch

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 11:05

The destroyer escort was part of a screening unit to protect a force of American aircraft carriers. When the enemy opened fire at 7 o'clock that morning, the ROBERTS immediately sought to protect her "flattops." The first step was to lay a smoke screen and then, steaming under cover of her own screen, the ROBERTS approached within 4,000 yards of a Jap heavy cruiser, fired three torpedoes, and returned to the protection of the smoke. One of the torpedoes struck home and started fires in the enemy ship.

Keeping between the main enemy force and her own carriers, the ROBERTS settled back and turned all guns on a Japanese cruiser. One 5-inch gun fired more than 300 rounds of ammunition, all that was available, in 50 furious minutes, scoring at least 40 sure hits.

The rapid fire from this gun was halted when a Jap battleship found the range and blasted the gun out of action with a 14-inch s Six charges were rammed in by hand and fired, although the men knew that an explosion might result from each of them because the gas ejection system was not working.

The seventh round fired in this manner exploded and killed all but three members of the gun crew outright. The gun captain, Paul Henry Carr, Gunner's Mate, Third Class, who was credited generously for the excellent performance there was wounded beside his mount, clutching the last 5-inch shell and struggling to ram the 50-pound projectile into the chamber. Upon the recommendation of his Commanding Officer, Carr was on March 1, 1945 awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.

In the next few minutes, the Japs kept sending successive salvos of major caliber projectiles into the foundering destroyer escort. The death blow was a three-gun battleship 14-inch salvo that hit in number 2 engine room, tearing a hole 40-feet long and 10-feet wide in the ship's skin on the port side. Abandon ship was ordered.

Men abandoning the vessel to port launched a life raft on that side, but a breeze blew it into the gaping hole torn by the last salvo. Four men crawled into the aperture, embarked upon the raft, and with every ounce of strength at their command, pushed the raft against the tide of inrushing water and managed to get it outside of the rupture.

This was an important victory because the 120 men that survived had only two other rafts and two floater nets on which to cling until rescue was effected some 50 hours later.

Labels: Destroyer, Fullbore, WWII

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:06

Art major Aliza Shvarts ’08 wants to make a statement.

Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself “as often as possible” while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.

The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body.

Labels: Art, Culture Wars, Education

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 11:35

Labels: Technology

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 07:07

Within the Naval IG, two separate divisions handle allegations of

* Fraud;
* Gross waste or inefficiency of government resources;
* Abuse and misuse of authority /power/position;
* Mismanagement;
* Substantial and specific danger to public health or safety;
* Procurement irregularities;
* Reprisals (Military Whistleblower)
* Wrongdoing by senior officials; and,
* Other matters of interest to the Secretary of the Navy.

Labels: Diversity

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 07:01

After President Bush and His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI addressed the crowd, the U.S. Army Chorus performed “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Labels: Religion, South

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:00

Labels: Religion

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:50

There's a mass gathering of incompetent people in Marinette WI this week, trying to work out what to do about LCS 1, which was launched in September 2006 but which will now probably not be delivered before the spring of 2009, if then and if ever. Endless test failures, mostly involving this simple ship's ludicrously complicated engineering plant. Where will it all end? Is it time to recognize that this design just doesn't work, and terminate the program? Then, let's fire everyone in PMS 501 and sue Lockheed Martin, the world's most incompetent shipbuilding contractor. There was a reason that the old Lockheed got out of shipbuilding - they were no good at it - but apparently nobody now remembers that.

Labels: LCS

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:32

Marine operations planning, which is routinely completed in hours or days, has gone on for weeks while they await agreement and approval from above.

"They invite us here ... and they don't know how to use us?" said Lt. Col. Anthony Henderson, commander of the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. "We are trying to keep our frustration in check ... but we have to wait for the elephants to stop dancing," Henderson said, referring to the brass-heavy international command.

"The clash is between the tactical reality on the ground and political perceptions held elsewhere," Marine Maj. Heath Henderson, deputy operations officer for the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, told his staff. "You can make your own judgments about which you think will prevail."

Including the Marines, there are 17,522 allied troops in southern Afghanistan, including British, Dutch, Canadians, Danes, Estonians, Australians, Romanians and representatives of nine other nations, according to the high command.

These coalition military forces are assembled under the banner of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), commanded by U.S. Army Gen. Dan K. McNeill, headquartered in Kabul with an international staff.

Beneath McNeill are five regional commands and numerous national military commands. Henderson's Marine battalion and its parent task force, the 24th MEU, officially are under the command of ISAF and McNeill. But they are assigned to work in conjunction with the regional command here and other coalition forces.

Coordination on long-term strategy is complex, staff officers here said, because the commanders and staffs at each level regularly rotate. Regional command south here, for instance, changes every nine months between British, Canadian and Dutch officers.

"We don't understand where we are going here," said Lt. Col. Brian Mennes, commander of Task Force Fury, a battalion of paratroopers just leaving Kandahar after 15 months of counterinsurgency operations here. "We desperately want to see a strategy in front of us," he said in an interview.

NATO's only previous experience with coalition combat came almost a decade ago with the air war against Serbia. Afghanistan is the first time the alliance has attempted to coordinate ground combat among forces that often don't speak the same language or use the same radio frequencies.

At another planning session, a question arose about the capabilities of a British combat unit. "I can tell you they have killed more people than anybody else in this room," a British major declared hotly. There was shocked silence from the roomful of Marines, most of whom have done two or three combat tours in Iraq and don't boast about battlefield exploits.

"This is killing us," says a staff sergeant. "There's only so much training you can do, especially considering that most of my Marines just got back from Iraq."

But living conditions at this huge base are comfortable, with a well-stocked PX, an off-duty recreation area with a Burger King and pizza shop and an Afghan bazaar. Marines sleep on cots in air-conditioned tents, and the food is considered above-par.

"This place is like a resort, and that makes the waiting a lot easier," said Lt. Shaun Miller, 24, a platoon leader from Austin, Texas.

Labels: Afghanistan, Marines, NATO

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:09

Bellavia For Congress

April 11, 2008

Contact: (585) 409-6692

BellaviaForCongress@gmail.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bellavia Condemns Attack From Liberal Left

Batavia, NY - Retired Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia condemns the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's vicious attempt at character assassination.

"The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a statement that intentionally misquotes what I actually said and is possibly slanderous. It is unfortunate that liberals are desperately employing the politics of personal destruction."

"I call on my fellow Republicans and the citizens of Western New York to join me in condemning the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and their friends in the liberal media who exploit, manipulate and smear veterans of the United States Military."

"I volunteered for the U.S. Army to protect and defend my country and our freedoms. I served beside soldiers of every race, culture and religion. Whether on the battlefield or at home, we are all simply Americans."

"Sadly, our celebrity-obsessed culture glorifies pop stars, athletes and entertainers rather than celebrating heroes like Michael Mansoor who freely make the ultimate sacrifice for the defense of our freedoms. That, simply, is and was my point. I believe honest Americans will agree."

"The reaction from the radical Left was predictable in their attempts to exploit an innocent remark I made. I can only say to them, 'enough,' I refuse to play your game."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NztYvPJwMpI

Speech from Kansas City – March 27, 2008

Mr. Bellavia, a native of Buffalo, lives in western New York with his wife and two sons. There he has founded a local Veteran's Coordination Center that focuses on the early treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other veteran's-related issues and outreach programs. Bellavia is also a co-founder of the non-partisan, non-profit Vets for Freedom organization.

Labels: Congress, Politics

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:51

RTTUZYUW RUEWMCS0000 1051809-UUUU--RUCRNAD.
ZNR UUUUU
R 141809Z APR 08
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
BT
UNCLAS //N01730//
NAVADMIN 099/08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/APR//
SUBJ/RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS//
RMKS/1. OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT, RECRUIT, AND RETAIN A DIVERSE, QUALITY WORKFORCE IS A BUSINESS IMPERATIVE THAT IS CRUCIAL TO WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE. INCLUDED IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSITY IS THE VARIETY OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSIONS FOUND WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.
2. IT IS THE FUNCTION OF EVERY COMMAND RELIGIOUS PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF ITS MEMBERS, INCLUDING AN IDENTIFICATION OF WHICH DAYS OF THE YEAR ARE CONSIDERED MOST SIGNIFICANT AND MIGHT REQUIRE SPECIAL OBSERVANCES. POLICY GOVERNING THE ISSUANCE OF LEAVE AND LIBERTY FOR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES IS PROVIDED IN MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1731-010.
3. CHAPLAINS ARE UNIQUELY PREPARED TO ADVISE COMMANDERS IN THESE MATTERS. AN INTERFAITH CALENDAR WITH DEFINITIONS IS AVAILABLE ON NAVY KNOWLEDGE ONLINE IN THE RESOURCES FOLDER OF THE CHAPLAIN CORPS SECTION. SIMILAR INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE IN THE NAVAL LEADER WEEKLY GUIDE WITH CONTENT DRAWN FROM WWW.INTERFAITHCALENDAR.ORG.
4. RELEASED BY VADM J. C. HARVEY, JR., N1.// BT #0000 NNNN

Labels: Diversity, Navy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 14:48

Labels: Clinton

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 13:33

Labels: Uniforms

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:21

Berlusconi 'wins' Italy election

Labels: Italy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:18

Cooper was big, powerful, fast and had a dream punch himself that could and did devastate world champs. But he also had a glass jaw. And whenever he was up against any real world-class powerhouse, they blew him away.

That is the problem facing the gigantic nuclear-powered aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy in any future war against China over Taiwan or if they have to operate dangerously close-in against Iran in any future Persian Gulf conflict. For while Russia and China, as we have previously noted in this series and other columns, have specialized in creating asymmetrical weapon systems designed to disable and destroy U.S. super-carriers, the carriers themselves are far more vulnerable to shell and missile attack than battleships were 65 years ago in World War II.

That is because well-built American, British, German, Italian and Japanese battleships carried thousands of tons of the most low tech but effective defensive naval weapons system ever devised -- steel armor. That didn't make them invincible. The 80,000-ton Yamato and Musashi, the two biggest, most powerful, most heavily armored and armed dreadnoughts ever built, proved helpless against the blizzard of U.S. attacking aircraft and submarines that made funeral pyres of them both in 1944 and 1945. But it still took a lot of punishment to sink, especially from above surface weapons.

However, as respected defense analyst David Crane pointed out in an important article in Defense Review in November 2006, U.S. nuclear-powered super-carriers today don't carry anything lie that armor. They rely on their own speed, the size of their protective support groups and their ability to stay far out in the ocean, launching their aircraft to strike from long distance, to keep them out of harms way.

Labels: ASW, Carrier, The Maritime Strategy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:45

Labels: Obama

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:22

Labels: Art, France

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:21

Labels: Broadside, Cartoon

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:53

You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them…And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not.

And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

Labels: Obama

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:22

Labels: Humor

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:00

The Iraqi central government is unsatisfactory at best. But the grass-roots political progress of the past year has been extraordinary – and is directly measurable in the drop in casualties.

This leads us to the most out-of-date aspect of the Senate debate: the argument about the pace of troop withdrawals. Precisely because we have made so much political progress in the past year, rather than talking about force reduction, Congress should be figuring ways and means to increase troop levels. For all our successes, we still do not have enough troops. This makes the fight longer and more lethal for the troops who are fighting. To give one example, I just returned this week from Nineveh province, where I have spent probably eight months between 2005 to 2008, and it is clear that we remain stretched very thin from the Syrian border and through Mosul. Vast swaths of Nineveh are patrolled mostly by occasional overflights.

We know now that we can pull off a successful counterinsurgency in Iraq. We know that we are working with an increasingly willing citizenry. But counterinsurgency, like community policing, requires lots of boots on the ground. You can't do it from inside a jet or a tank.

Over the past 15 months, we have proved that we can win this war. We stand now at the moment of truth. Victory – and a democracy in the Arab world – is within our grasp. But it could yet slip away if our leaders remain transfixed by the war we almost lost, rather than focusing on the war we are winning today.

Labels: Iraq

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:36

Rinn knew something was happening the moment the ship began to back down. He had commanded this ship since it was an inanimate pile of steel on a Maine riverbank, and felt every vibration as if it were his own body. He answered the phone, and in almost the same movement was out the door and up the ladder to the bridge.

Through the door to the bridge wing, the floating black forms were clearly visible less than half a mile away. Three of them, lined up.

Those are mines, Rinn thought.

In a minefield, the only clear path to safety was the wake. The captain was an excellent shiphandler, by instinct and by years at sea, but backing a frigate wasn't easy. It was hydrodynamically akin to throwing a paper airplane backwards. Rinn gripped the rail and gazed aft to the pale white stripe that stretched back to clear water. The ship began to creep backward, powered by a pair of electric outboard motors customarily used for docking in safe harbor. Moments went by.

We're going to get out, he told himself.

There were those, later, who imagined they heard a scrape of metal on metal.

The explosion grabbed the frigate and shook it from stem to stern. The ship flexed, flipping Gibson backward out of his chair. Superhot gases rushed through a hole in the hull, setting fires at the ship's very core. A wall of seawater followed within seconds, ripping open fuel tanks and flooding the engineroom.

Far above, a ball of flame erupted from the ship's stack, and fiery chunks of debris rained down on the deck. With reflexes imbued by thousands of hours of drills, sailors rushed to pull hoses from bulkhead racks. But when they pulled the levers on the heavy brass nozzles, a mere trickle came out. Somewhere under their feet, something was very wrong.

It would take Rinn and his crew hours to add up all the clues, but the news they gathered early on wasn't good. The main engineroom and another capacious engineering space were inundated with oil-slicked water, and a third compartment was filling rapidly. Lose that one, and the frigate would likely plunge to the bottom of the Gulf.

The Samuel B. Roberts was flooding, on fire, surrounded by sharks and sea snakes, alone in a minefield in a sea at war. Its crew was fighting for their lives. But they faced the battle well-prepared, well-led, and with a sturdy ship beneath their feet. The outcome of the next few hours would, in no small part, be determined by events that began many years before.

Labels: Frigate, Fullbore, Heroes

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:33

A Navy supply officer and former Naval Academy instructor testified Thursday that she moonlighted as a prostitute for the D.C. Madam, a California woman accused of running an escort service that prosecutors say netted her several million dollars over a 13-year period.

Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Dickinson told federal prosecutors at U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that she had sex with nearly every client she met while working for Deborah Jeane Palfrey from October 2005 until April 2006.

Several other women who testified said they were paid between $250 and $300 for 90-minute appointments at Washington-area homes, hotel rooms and offices, and were required to forward as much as half of that by postal money orders to a Northern California post office box rented by Palfrey.

Navy spokesman Capt. Jack Hanzlik told Navy Times that Dickinson, 38, was fired from her position as an instructor at Naval Supply Corps School in Athens, Ga., earlier this month after she gave detailed information about her involvement in the case to superiors.

After her statement, Dickinson also received nonjudicial punishment and was given a punitive letter of reprimand. Hanzlik said she could face additional punishment in the future and has been placed on leave. When she exhausts her accumulated leave time, Dickinson will revert to unpaid leave status and remain there until she is separated from the Navy.

“We expect the men and women who serve in our nation’s Navy to adhere to a standard of conduct that reflects our core values of honor, courage and commitment,” Hanzlik said. “Lt. Cmdr. Dickinson’s conduct will prevent her from wearing this uniform again in the service of our country.”

Labels: USNA

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:23

Labels: Humor

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:47

A good deal of intelligent commentary on Kipling operates like this. Irving Howe, for example, in his introduction to the Viking Portable Kipling, begins with the obligatory condemnation of Kipling the “tub-thumper” for imperialism, etc., but then proceeds to find numerous things to praise. His denouement is the conclusion that Kipling was “a brilliant if unacknowledged fellow traveller of literary modernism.”

This strikes me as completely wrong. Kipling was in a different game altogether. Yes, he was sui generis, but only in the way—or rather, to the extent—that Eliot himself or other “strong voice” poets (Wallace Stevens, for example) are sui generis. You can’t imagine Kipling beginning a long poem with the observation that “April is the cruellest month” (to say nothing of “Complacencies of the peignoir”). But then you can’t imagine Eliot or Stevens writing “Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky;/ And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.” Which is better, more important, more serious?

I am not sure those are answerable questions. But if Auden is correct in defining poetry as “memorable speech,” what Kipling wrote is surely poetry.

IF you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Labels: Art

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:53

Labels: Energy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:40

MV-22 Ospreys headed to Iraq will soon be outfitted with a forward-firing gun, a top program official said.

The weaponry milestone could be in use by the third MV-22 squadron deployment into Iraq, said Col. Matt Mulhern, V-22 Program Manager at Naval Air Systems Command, speaking at the annual Navy League Sea-Air-Space Expo in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.

A dozen MV-22s are operating in Iraq with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263. The unit is expected to rotate home in the coming month and will be replaced by VMM-162, Mulhern said.

The weapon, a 7.62mm mini-gun, is considered an interim system. The 800-pound gun — about the weight of three Marines with full combat loads — will be installed as a removable mission kit and operated by a controller inside the aircraft.

Labels: Aircraft, Guns

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:59

Lawmakers sharply criticized the Office of Personnel Management and agencies for failing to advance diversity in the Senior Executive Service at a joint hearing of the House and Senate's federal workforce subcommittees on Thursday.

"Despite the outreach and federal requirements, agencies just haven't been up to the task of promoting diversity in the senior ranks in a way that is convincing," said Rep. Charles Gonzalez, D-Texas. "Members of our communities can no longer wait for agencies to wake up and discover that they need to include diversity in their succession planning. Agencies by themselves cannot and will not do it."

The lawmakers expressed dismay at a Government Accountability Office report that found the number of African-American men in SES positions fell from 5.5 percent in October 2000 to 5 percent in September 2007. The same report found that the representation of women and minorities in the SES, and in General Schedule levels 14 and 15 -- employees most likely to become senior executives -- had increased since 2000.

Thursday's hearing focused on legislation in the House and Senate that would change the way appointments to the Senior Executive Service are made and tracked.

The bill would require agencies to appoint three-person panels comprised of a woman, a racial or ethnic minority, and another SES member to review executive appointments, and then require agency heads to sign off on individual appointments. It also would create an office within OPM to oversee the Senior Executive Service, including tracking demographics and creating mentoring and training programs to help minorities move into the executive ranks. OPM eliminated a similar office during the agency's 2003 reorganization.

Nancy Kichak, OPM's associate director for strategic human resources policy, rankled some lawmakers when she said that her agency did not have a position on the legislation, and suggested the bill could face constitutional hurdles.

"We have serious concerns about the potential impact on the merit system principles of injecting race and gender into the examination process in this manner," she said. "The Justice Department has advised that these race- and gender-based requirements for the composition of the SES panels are very likely unconstitutional under governing equal protection precedents."

Labels: Diversity

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:52

"McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit. What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."

McCain was a fighter pilot...

...who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet...

He was long gone when they hit.

You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues.

Labels: Aircraft, McCain, Senate, Vietnam War

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:48

For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons published during the year, characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, in print or in print and online, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Awarded to Michael Ramirez of Investor's Business Daily for his provocative cartoons that rely on originality, humor and detailed artistry.

Labels: Art, Media

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:37

Labels: Afghanistan, Navy at War

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:53

Labels: Humor

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:47

Labels: Advertising

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:09

WASHINGTON: A program to put the American Navy to 313 ships within three years and built upon a deliberate, well balanced plan designed to produce and maintain a fighting naval force of a size to meet any emergency, a real preparedness program, will be offered to the country within a short time.

It will have the approval of Admiral Roughead and the Naval General Board. The board, of which Admiral Roughead is President, has been working on the plan for the last ten days. Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) ranking member and Representative Gene Taylor (D-MS) Chairman of the House Seapower & Expeditionary Subcommittee, decided after a Conference with his associates that a five year building program was too slow, as even at the end of that time the United States Navy would probably be trending towards a fleet in the neighborhood of 220-250 ships.

After having reached this decision, Rep. Taylor conferred with Secretary Winter, who agreed to ask the General Board to supply Rep. Taylor with the information desired, such information to be requested by Congress. It was explained to Secretary Daniels that it was the wish of the group of Congressmen desiring to see the United States Navy at 313 ships within three years and to promote such a plan without political considerations. Every effort will be made after the report is presented to Congress to enlist the aid of Congressmen from all parties. Rep. Taylor is not partisan in his effort. The strangest part of the move is that it originates from Rep. Taylor, who is a Democrat and at no time has that party advocated increased armament. Developments in the Pacific, such as the submarine and surface ship building program of China, has convinced Rep. Taylor that the safety of the nation demands a big Navy.

The report being complied by the General Board will answer these questions:
- “What is the fighting force of the navies of the world?”
- “Where does the United States Stand?”
- "What will it cost to build a Fleet of 313 ships?"
- “Can this be done in three years?”
- “What is needed to balance up the present navy?”
-“What should be the complement to the Carriers in the number of Destroyers, Cruisers, Submarines, Amphibious ships, support ships and aircraft”
- “Can our shipyards build all the vessels necessary to place the United States at 313 in three years?”
- “Is it desirable to give the country such a strong fleet?

The replies to these questions will be made public probably at the meeting of the House Seapower & Expeditionary Subcommittee tomorrow. Admiral Roughead and his associates will furnish a great deal of confidential information.

The exact status of the United States among the navies or the world is questionable. Since 911 the United States has lost focus on naval developments around the world. Generally speaking", our navy is credited with being the strongest. Such was the statement of President Bush in a in speech made some months ago in Cleveland.

"You have been told that the Navy of the United States is the greatest in the world and will be unchallenged at sea," said the President. "I am sorry to say that experts do not agree with those who will tell you that.” I believe that it is the largest in the world, but it is getting weaker and faces a tremendous challenge after years of almost criminal neglect and mis-management – much of it on my watch. And you must reckon with the fact that it is necessary that it should be our first arm of defense. We face enemies and potential enemies on every ocean on the Earth. Do you think a Navy sinking to below 250 ships is sufficient?”

The argument advanced by President Bush will be used by the Democrats to compel bi-partisan interest in the program that will be offered to the country and Congress under the auspices of Rep. Taylor and his associates.

Labels: Shipbuilding

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:47

Labels: Navy at War

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:13

Labels: McCain

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:07

Labels: Broadside, Cartoon

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 00:52

While "Carrier" shows the outstanding work our young Sailors do every day and the opportunities the Navy offers, it also shows Sailors making mistakes in their personal and professional lives. The snapshot is frank and may be somewhat disconcerting to some who came into the Navy some time ago. However, that said, I believe it will also resonate with a significant segment of our country, especially potential recruits and young Sailors serving today.

1. What we did. We provided unprecedented access to our Sailors, and this production tells their story in a very personal way. There is no narrator - the stories are told by the Sailors themselves. You get unvarnished views from junior personnel about their hopes, aspirations, and challenges of life in the Navy aboard the carrier. We did not get between the film crews and the Sailors.

What we did not get. We did not get a Navy "commercial" in the traditional sense. "CARRIER" is very different from the hardware documentaries we have supported in the past. This program focuses on our people and the reality-TV approach gives it a sense of authenticity and credibility. Since we did not monitor the individual interviews and ongoing production, the program contains material that does not always and fully represent the discipline, values and mission of the U.S. Navy.

You will see some Sailors making personal and professional mistakes, and expressing opinions that are different from the Navy's. However, the production shows that these are the exception, not the norm, and that leadership is engaged to shape lives and appropriate outcomes. There are abundant examples of how the Navy changed Sailors' lives for the better by giving them opportunities and a disciplined environment.

What we got. The production highlights the racial, gender, religious, and socio-economic diversity of our Navy.

Labels: Carrier, Diversity, Navy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 14:54

President Bush promised NATO allies at a summit that ended in Bucharest, Romania, on Friday that the United States will increase forces in Afghanistan next year no matter what happens in Iraq, aides said.

Bush told a NATO session that included Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday that the United States is committed to winning the war in Afghanistan and will be even after he leaves office in January. His vow came as European allies agreed to supply nearly 2,500 more troops themselves to join 3,500 additional U.S. Marines sent by Bush.
...
The White House said about a dozen countries offered more help, although many will provide trainers or civilians, not combat forces. France, Britain, Poland, Romania, Spain and others committed to send 2,000 to 2,500 troops, according to the White House.

The most important contribution came from France, which pledged 700 to 1,000 troops for eastern Afghanistan, freeing more U.S. troops to head to the volatile south to reinforce the Canadians. The redeployment will satisfy Canadian demands and prevent Ottawa from withdrawing as it had threatened to do.

Gen. David W. McKiernan, the nominee for commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that the United States should examine options for deploying more brigades. "There are certainly no signs that the insurgency is ready to collapse," McKiernan said. He emphasized that NATO needs to contribute more forces and remove combat limitations some member countries impose, "as they continue to degrade NATO capabilities."

Do you support or oppose Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to increase the number of French troops in Afghanistan?

Support-15%

Oppose-68%

Not sure-17%

Labels: Afghanistan, NATO

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 14:05

Labels: Hollywierd

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:03

SPIEGEL ONLINE: General McNeill, you will be leaving your post as head of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in June. What will your successor find upon arrival in Afghanistan?

General Dan McNeill: My successor will find an insurgency here in Afghanistan, ... He will find some progress in security, some good work in the army, but unfortunately not so much progress in the police force. Governance remains a big problem in Afghanistan. Here we have to see more work by the Afghans.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: The Afghan government, most of all US-backed President Hamid Karzai, often talks about negotiating with the Taliban. How does an aggressive NATO-led war fit with the political will for a power sharing deal with the radicals?

McNeill: What amazes me is that the West is surprised that there are talks. There were negotiations as far back as 2002 when I was here for the first time. President Karzai has always said that there are elements of the insurgency which will never fit into any government. These are the extreme radicals with al-Qaida connections. But some of those in the resistance today might fit into the future. I told the President quite clearly that he has to make sure he knows who he is talking to.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: One of the biggest issues within NATO at the moment is troop levels in Afghanistan. What do you hope for from this week's summit in Bucharest?

McNeill: Bucharest is a political meeting. I am a NATO soldier trying to keep his focus on the military dimension. If you ask this soldier, he needs more than promises. He needs action to make the force in Afghanistan more resourceful than it is right now.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: You have long said that NATO members should send more troops.

McNeill: We will see more soldiers. The US generously offered 3,200 troops for the south. The Poles, British, French and the Danes made some suggestions as well, so I am hopeful. I don’t have a number -- we simply need more of everything: more manoeuvring forces, more flying machines and more surveillance platforms.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Many countries have already promised to beef up their contingent, but all we hear from Berlin is that the so-called "comprehensive approach model" -- giving equal weight to military activity and to reconstruction -- should be discussed in Bucharest.

McNeill: Most people using the term 'comprehensive approach' don’t know what they are talking about. The comprehensive approach includes a strong military option -- first fight the insurgency and then help reconstruct the country. The US forces have shown what that looks like. They attack militants in a valley and then build a road. Those who talk about comprehensive approach should not forget the combat element.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: In the last couple of days, politicians in Berlin have even started a debate about an exit strategy, suggesting that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

McNeill: We don’t focus on exit strategies here. We don’t talk about an end of the mission. Our work is to improve the Afghan forces so that they can take over the job on the battlefield. This will still need a lot of time. In the case of the Afghan Air Force, I think it might take until 2011. The army also needs a lot of mentoring still. When we don’t have a job here anymore, when we are not needed here anymore, only then we should discuss leaving. Not before.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: ... what would you like to see more of from Germany?

McNeill: The Bundeswehr is a fine, professional force with capable leadership. I could use them in many places outside the northern part of Afghanistan.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: German army chiefs often say that transporting the force would be a problem.

McNeill: If German troops have the will to join us outside the north, all they have to do is pick up the phone and we, as good friends, will pick them up. That won't be the problem.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Germany is planning on sending one mobile force, a so-called Quick Reaction Force (QRF), in July.

McNeill: As I hear Germany is sending a strong combat unit to be ready for any emergency in the north. It would be good if the German government would allow the QRF to act outside the north. I would be more than happy to use them.

Labels: Afghanistan, NATO

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 15:00

On 27th May 1938, having returned home and joined the minesweeper H.M.S. Salamander, I married Lily Hoskin at Buckland-Tout-Saints, Goveton, near Kingsbridge, South Devon. We had known each other for many years as she was a friend of one of my sisters and lived in Goveton, where my family had remained whilst I had been away at sea.

By this time "Salamander" had sailed to Devonport for refitting and I was stationed in the barracks. Following our wedding, Lily and I lived in a flat at Plymouth, but when "Salamander" returned to Portland we rented a flat there where we lived for some months. I was often out minesweeping but was able to return to our home when the ship docked.

Lily became pregnant, but a week before our baby was born the ship left for Sheerness and never returned to Portland! I remember that time well - the air was filled with barrage balloons as defence against air attacks.

Our daughter Anne was born at Portland on the 28th August 1939 - just a week before war was declared! Not until the baby was three weeks old was I able to get special permission for long-weekend leave. Eventually Lily and Anne left Portland and returned to stay with Lily's parents at Wrangaton, near Plymouth, where they had now retired.

Early in the War I lost one of my nephews. Just a fortnight after the outbreak of war he had been lucky to survive loss of the aircraft carrier "Courageous" which was sunk in an attack by the German submarine U29 on 17th September 1939. He had told me that, on that occasion, as he was trying to get out, he had heard one of the Petty Officers shouting "Follow me!" Although he could not see the Petty Officer, he had followed the sound of his voice and managed to get out and had been rescued. Although my nephew was saved, many of my friends were lost with the "Courageous." However, my nephew was not so lucky a few months later when, on 8th June, 1940, "Courageous's" sister ship "Glorious" was lost off Norway in action with the German Battle Cruisers "Sharnhorst" and "Gneisenau" following the evacuation of Norway.

In those early months of the war "Salamander" was stationed at Grimsby and we were responsible for coastal minesweeping operations around the north-east. I managed to rent rooms at Cleethorpes and Lily and Anne travelled all the way up from Devon, by train, so that we could be together. On one occasion we had a close call. I was one deck down at the time but I gather that a mine got caught around one of the sweeps as it was being winched back in. Fortunately, someone spotted it and gave the alarm. They managed to free the mine from the sweep but in doing so or shortly after it detonated and blasted the side of the ship. Although there was no damage that threatened the ship itself, one of the plates which separated the oil tanks was ruptured and we had to go into docks to have that repaired.

In May 1940, when Germany advanced through Belgium and France, we were ordered by the Admiralty to the south coast to help with the Dunkirk evacuations. We did five trips to Dunkirk in all, rescuing 200 to 300 men each time. Things got worse each trip we made. Our final trip was on 1st June by which stage there was the wreckage of sunken ships all around and burning oil tanks by the dockside. Lines of troops were all marching towards the sea. We were anchored off the beach with one of our sister ships, the 'Skipjack', only about fifty yards away. At about 8am the German dive bombers came over and attacked 'Skipjack.' One of the attacking planes was shot down but 'Skipjack' was badly hit and capsized. She must have had about 200 men on board. I had to say "God, help us." I believe to this day that He did.

During our trips to Dunkirk, I was often stationed on the quarterdeck helping men get aboard "Salamander" as they swam out from the beach. Other groups of men had managed to find boats and row out to the ship. On one occasion I had a rope around a badly injured soldier who had bones sticking out of his trousers. Just as I tried to pull him in, the ship went ahead and I lost him. I don't know what happened to him.

Unknown to me, on our way back out on the final trip, we were attacked by a submarine that fired a torpedo at us. When we got back to Dover the Coxwain and the Able Seaman on the wheel said to me "Chief, we held our ears today and waited for the explosion. Jerry fired this torpedo that was coming straight for us amidships." "Salamander" had been saved by her shallow draft - the torpedo had passed straight underneath us. The only explanation that we could think of to explain our lucky escape was that the German submarine had mistaken us for a destroyer and had set the torpedo to run at a greater depth than the "Salamander's" draft.

Those were awful days but one just carried on as if nothing had happened - there was nothing else that you could do.

In all the years since Dunkirk I had never come across anyone whom we had rescued in the "Salamander" until the summer of 1999. It was then that, whilst at a reunion of the Henley Branch of the Dunkirk Veterans Association, a chap came up to me and said "What ship were you in at Dunkirk, Chief?" "Salamander," I replied. "You saved my life," he said. He told me that he had broken into a boat shed at De Panne in Belgium with some other soldiers and pinched a rowing boat. They had started to row home when we picked them up. It is pretty unlikely that they would have made it all the way back across the Channel in the rowing boat.

Following Dunkirk "Salamander" was put in to the Royal Albert docks in London to undergo repair to the damage that had been sustained during the evacuation.

Lily and baby Anne again came up from Devon to stay with friends at Wyndham Street, near Marble Arch, and I was able to spend the nights there.

After repairs we sailed to Invergordon in north east Scotland, where we were based whilst on duty escorting convoys.

Later the ship was transferred to Aberdeen for modifications to the minesweeping gear. Lily and Anne were again able to join me and we all stayed locally for a short while.

Soon afterwards came the devastating news of the loss of the "Hood." I remember well the day I heard that she had been lost. I was at home on leave with my family at Wrangaton at the time. I just couldn't believe it, and was unable to eat my lunch.

Those were dark days and the only ones in the war that I really felt down. A month or so later Hitler attacked Russia which brought that country into the war on our side. I felt that Russia coming in on our side was one of the best pieces of news I had heard in a long time. I had no real doubt about the outcome after that.

Of course one of the results of Russia becoming our ally was the start of the Russian convoys. H.M.S. Salamander was one of the ships which formed the escort on the very first such convoy, code named Operation "Dervish". The merchant ships left Liverpool on 12th August, 1941 and formed up at Iceland on 20th August where they were joined by "Salamander" and the other escort ships. We provided escort for the passage to Arkangel, where we arrived on 31st August. Unlike many of the later PQ convoys, "Dervish" proved to be an uneventful trip for us. As a Chief Stoker I was in charge of all the other junior Stokers on the ship.

Something that I do remember well from that trip is that “Salamander” was refuelled at sea. As I recall we took on about 50 tons of fuel oil. Being in charge of everything to do with oil and water in the ship, I was responsible for the "Salamander" end of the refuelling operation. All went smoothly from above decks.

During our return from Russia the Engineer Officer told me that when we arrived back I was due to leave the "Salamander". I asked to see the Commander as I didn't want to leave. The Commander would not change his mind though and said that I had been on the ship for 4 years and was due for a move. As it transpired he did me a favour as, later in the war, "Salamander" was nearly destroyed. She was minesweeping off Le Havre on 27th August, 1944 when she was mistaken for an enemy vessel by some RAF Typhoons. During that action our own aircraft sank two minesweepers, the "Britomart" and the "Hussar" and badly damaged "Salamander" - blowing off most of her stern.

So it was off to barracks for me to await a new draft. I had not been there a fortnight when I received a chit to say that I was going to be drafted. That day another Chief whom I knew greeted me "Morning Chief," he said, "Morning be buggered," I replied. "What's the matter with you old so and so?" he said. "I've got a draft chit," I said. "I know you have," he said "I'm going with you! We're going to Wallsend to stand by a new ship." "Oh, that's a lovely job!" I said.

William's story continues in Part 2: H.M.S. Newfoundland: Operation Husky and to Boston for Repairs.

Labels: Britain, Fullbore, Mine Warfare, WWII

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:50

Labels: Democrats

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 14:24

Navy Capt. Margaret D. Klein has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Klein is currently serving as commandant, U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

Labels: USNA

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:46

Navy officials have identified 12 possible plans for moving new ships into Naval Station Mayport, Fla. — but reserve the right to do nothing at all.

It’s all outlined in a Navy environmental impact statement scheduled to be released Friday, a draft copy of which was obtained by Navy Times. In it, the service that spells out everything from leaving the base alone to options that not only homeport a nuclear carrier in Mayport, but also add seven more surface ships as well — including a large-deck amphibious ship to the base’s dwindling ship population — and more than 7,000 sailors.

“It’s a beautiful EIS, in that it does outline a lot of options and leaves the door open for the Navy to do a variety of things here,” said John Meserve, mayor of Atlantic Beach, the city outside Mayport’s gates and a retired Navy captain who commanded Mayport’s naval air station from 1987 to 1990.

“But that’s also the problem with the study. It leaves all the doors open. The Navy has yet to make a decision or state when they plan to do so, nor given a timetable as to when they will.”

Labels: Navy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:04

According to this film, in year 2001 we would have had manned voyages to Jupiter, a battle of wits with a sentient computer, and a quantum leap in human evolution. Instead we got the Mir Space Station falling from the sky, Windows XP, and Freddy Got Fingered. Apparently the lesson here is that sometimes it's better when the movies get the facts all wrong.

Labels: Hollywierd

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 11:44

Labels: Obama

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:42

On Sunday, Hayden declined to comment on reports that the U.S. might be escalating unilateral strikes against Al Qaeda members and fighters operating in Pakistan's tribal areas out of concern that the pro-Western Musharraf's influence might be waning. Hayden only would say that Pakistan's cooperation in the past has been crucial to U.S. efforts to stem terrorism there.

"The situation on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border presents clear and present danger to Afghanistan, Pakistan, the West in general and United States in particular," he said. "Operationally, we are turning every effort to capture or kill that leadership from the top to the bottom."

Labels: Afghanistan, Pakistan

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 14:45

Labels: Iraq

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:56

Labels: Russia

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 06:44

Labels: Britain, Islam

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 05:58

When American soldiers get off duty in Iraq, the men usually return to their quarters, the women to theirs. But Staff Sgt. Marvin Frazier gets to go back to a small trailer with two pushed-together single beds that he shares with his wife.

In a historic but little-noticed change in policy, the Army is allowing scores of husband-and-wife soldiers to live and sleep together in the war zone — a move aimed at preserving marriages, boosting morale and perhaps bolstering re-enlistment rates at a time when the military is struggling to fill its ranks five years into the fighting.

Labels: Diversity

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:58

Labels: Heroes

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:50

Labels: Islam

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 16:47

Labels: Navy, Philippines

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:52

Labels: Blogg'n

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 12:08

Labels: Aircraft, China, Navy

// posted by CDR Salamander @ 11:59