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US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter tphuang
- Start date
Naval Today said:U.S. Coast Guard’s sixth National Security Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) has completed builder’s sea trials, Huntington Ingalls Industries, the company in charge of the ship’s construction has informed.
Legend-class, as the National Security Cutters are called, are flagships of the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. Designed to replace the 378‐foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters that entered service in the 1960s, they are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 110.
Built at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division, Munro spent three days in the Gulf of Mexico testing all of the ship’s systems.
Ingalls’ test and trials team conducted extensive testing of the ships’ propulsion, electrical systems, damage control, anchor handling, small boat operations and combat systems. This culminated in the successful completion of a four-hour, full-power propulsion run.
“The National Security Cutter program exemplifies the sustainable success that can be accomplished through serial production of a ship class,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias.
“We experienced a safe and successful builder’s trial, which is a result of outstanding teamwork from our shipbuilders and our U.S. Coast Guard partners,” said George S. Jones, Ingalls’ vice president of operations. “It is an exciting time in this program, and the NSC class of ships is truly a high-performing design. The pride of workmanship—from those on trial to the many craftsmen and women, designers, procurement specialists and all other shipbuilders who touched the ship during this process—allowed this ship to perform so well at sea.”
Ingalls has delivered the first five NSCs and has three more under construction, including Munro (WMSL 755), set to deliver in the fourth quarter of this year. Kimball (WMSL 756) is scheduled for delivery in 2018, and Midgett (WMSL 757) in 2019.
Munro is named to honor Signalman First Class Douglas A. Munro, the Coast Guard’s sole recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was mortally wounded on Sept. 27, 1942, while evacuating a detachment of Marines on Guadalcanal.
The cutters include an aft launch and recovery area for two rigid hull inflatable boats and a flight deck to accommodate a range of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft. The Legend class is the largest and most technologically advanced class of cutter in the Coast Guard, with robust capabilities for maritime homeland security, law enforcement, marine safety, environmental protection and national defense missions.
Now, USCGC Munro, WMSML 755, is the sixth and she will be commissioned this year. Tow more to go...in 2017 and 2018.[/CENTER]
Jura The idiot
General
I was sorry to hear (dated August 8, 2016) DoD IG: Problems With Firing Rate, Fire Protection Persist in PIM Program
source:The Pentagon’s inspector general wants the US Army to address what is perceived by the Defense Department’s test community as deficiencies with the howitzer's maximum rate of fire and problems with the automatic fire extinguisher that could potentially endanger the crew.
The DoD’s IG determined that the Army’s initial production plan to build 133 vehicles as part of the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program was sound and effectively managed. Yet, the two issues remain to be resolved, according to a report released Aug. 5.
The PIM program for ground combat consists of ammunition carriers and projectile-firing armored vehicles called howitzers. A howitzer is an armored, tracked vehicle with a cannon and an automatic fire-control system. The program was approved to move into low-rate initial production in 2013 with 33 test vehicles and 100 production vehicles on order.
The Army’s total acquisition plan for PIM is 1,112 vehicles. A full-rate production decision will be made in 2017, according to the IG report.
While the howitzers passed the test for sustained rate of fire, it failed the test for maximum rate of fire in 2012 and 2013, according to the IG. “Howitzers failed the test for maximum rate-of-fire in 13 out of 17 attempts during the system development phase tests in 2012 and 2013,” the IG wrote. “In 2012, howitzers failed the test for maximum rate-of-fire in all nine attempts.”
Program officials then redesigned the hardware and software and revised firing procedures, but still failed a total of four out of eight attempts following the fixes “under non-stressful firing conditions,” the report noted.
The test crews didn’t test the maximum rate of fire under stressful conditions, it added.
Army Test and Evaluation Command tested the howitzers under stressful and nonstressful conditions, and ATEC reported that they failed to meet maximum rate-of-fire requirements. The reason for this failure is redacted in the report.
One potential source of the problem is the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE) did not write a “clear requirement” for the maximum rate, the report said. “Specifically FCoE officials did not identify longer times for stressful firing conditions.” The second half of the sentence in the report is redacted.
Some changes to the requirement to differentiate between stressful and nonstressful firing conditions were made in March.
The FCoE commander submitted a request in May to clarify the rate-of-fire requirements for different firing conditions through the Army Capabilities Integration Center. And in June the Army planned to review and approve the requirement change. The revised requirement will be submitted to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council this month, according to the IG report.
The FCoE will continue to reevaluate the maximum rate of fire for howitzers and will test it under stressful firing conditions before the program reaches full-rate initial production, the report noted.
The PIM program also needs to bring in additional Automatic Fire Extinguisher System (AFES) coverage in the howitzer crew compartments, the IG found.
The program officials designed the compartments with just one AFES sensor near the personnel heater, according to the report.
The PIM program was first unable to test the AFES because a production-representative system was not available for testing until 2014, so the service went into low-rate production without the ability to ensure its effectiveness.
ATEC officials then tested AFES on PIM vehicles from August 2014 through May 2015 and “reported that the AFES did not protect the entire howitzer crew compartment during fire survivability testing,” according to the IG.
The test community recommended the program find ways to add additional sensor coverage in the compartments.
The program officials “initially disagreed” with the recommendation for additional coverage, stating that the howitzer AFES “functioned as designed” and noted that two portable fire extinguishers were included to add layers of protection, the report said.
Once ATEC, in September 2015, was able to compile test data that did indeed show howitzer crews were vulnerable to fires, the PIM program officials started an engineering project to “explore” expansion of AFES coverage, the IG report noted.
Legends fitted for eventually receive missiles launchers as Hamiltons ?
Seems like just yesterday that the 1st National Security Cutter, Legend Class Cutter was launched. but that was back in 2006...ten years ago.
Now, USCGC Munro, WMSML 755, is the sixth and she will be commissioned this year. Tow more to go...in 2017 and 2018.[/CENTER]
Seems like just yesterday that the 1st National Security Cutter, Legend Class Cutter was launched.
but that was back in 2006...ten years ago.
Now, USCGC Munro, WMSML 755, is the sixth and she will be commissioned this year. Two more to go...in 2017 and 2018.
..And I do sincerely hope that more hulls are authorized and the US Navy uses this fine hull as a frigate. I know it has been proposed.
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For the 1st time ever a B52, B1 & B2 are simultaneously in Guam
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Left to right: A B-52 Stratofortress, B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit are shown on the flight line at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 10, 2016. According to the Honorable Deborah Lee James, Secretary of the Air Force, this marks the first time in history all three air frames have been in the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) area of responsibility at the same time. Three B-2s are deployed from Whiteman AFB, Mo., to Guam, where they will conduct local sorties and regional training, and work with allies as part of USSTRATCOM’s bomber operations. B-1s arrived in Guam earlier this week to replace the B-52s supporting USPACOM’s continuous bomber presence in the region. “Bomber aircraft provide the USPACOM area of responsibility with an effective deterrent capability, ensuring the regional security and stability of the U.S. and our allies and partners,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, Pacific Air Forces commander. “These bomber deployments visibly demonstrate our readiness and commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.”
GREAT photos!
I have 1/72 scale models of all three that I have not built yet. I have to find another room for these big birds to all home one they are built!
but maybe not for Lady
Jura The idiot
General
Wednesday at 1:53 PM
interestingly UPDATED: Leader of U.S. Sailors Captured by Iran Appeals Punishment
source:Lt. David Nartker, the officer in charge of the crew of two riverine boats captured and held by Iranian forces, is , according to information obtained by USNI News.
Nartker was given a recommended punishment by the commander of Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) Rear Adm. Frank Morneau during admiral’s mast last week for violation of multiple specifications under Article 92 – failure to obey an order or regulation — of the Uniformed Code Military Justice, defense officials told USNI News.
Now Nartker is appealing Morneau’s judgment to the head of U.S. Pacific Fleet — Adm. Scott Swift as part of an appeals process, USNI News. Under UCMJ rules an appeal to a mast ruling is resolved within 30 days.
A NECC spokesperson — reached by USNI News on Thursday — would not confirm Nartker’s punishment, charges or appeal status.
“The standard for an appeal is essentially to review the punishment to determine whether it was ‘unjust or disproportionate.’ An appellate authority cannot increase the punishment, but he can mitigate it, or set it aside, if he thinks it was too harsh or unwarranted,” Rob “Butch” Bracknell, a former Marine and military lawyer told USNI News on Thursday.
The resolution of Narkter’s case will be the last in a series of accountability actions for nine officers and enlisted sailors following a Navy investigation into the January incident.
“Four Navy officers went to admiral’s mast, two have been awarded a punitive letter of reprimand for violating Articles 90 (disobedience of a superior commissioned officer) and 92 (dereliction in the performance of duties) of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice; one Navy officer was found not guilty of violating Article 92 (dereliction in the performance of duties) of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice; and accountability actions for the fourth Navy officer have not yet been completed,” Lt. Cmdr Jennifer Cragg told USNI News earlier this week.
“Two enlisted have been awarded a punitive letter of reprimand for violating Article 92 (dereliction in the performance of duties) of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.”
In addition Cmdr. Eric Rasch — the commander of the riverine squadron to which the two Riverine Command Boats belonged — was relieved in May. Capt. Kyle Moses, commander of Task Force 56, . An enlisted member of one of the two RCBs faced an administrative hearing but was not punished.
– released in June — found lax standards and multiple failures in adhering to standards and regulations up and down the chain of command leading to the Jan. 12 incident when Nartker and nine other sailors were intercepted and held by Iranian forces at a naval base on Farsi Island in the Persian Gulf.
Jura The idiot
General
Jul 20, 2016
now More Problems Ahead for Long-Delayed KC-46 Refueler... so All Is Well That Ends Well
?
KC-46 Moves Closer to Production Decision After Successful Flight Test
source:
source:Secretary Deborah Lee James warned this week of more hurdles ahead — some of them political — for the long-delayed refueler program.
Later this month, there is the crucial meeting she and new Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein will have at the Pentagon with acquisitions chief Frank Kendall on whether the Boeing KC-46 has reached “Milestone C” to allow the start of low-rate initial production.
“We believe that the aircraft has met all of the wickets that are required to meet Milestone C, but of course it remains to be seen,” James said at a Pentagon news conference with Goldfein on Wednesday about the “State of the Air Force.”
The Milestone C decision was in doubt when problems with the boom were detected in tests to refuel the aircraft. Boeing installed hydraulic pressure relief valves in the boom to correct the problem, the Air Force said.
“We have to go through the formal meeting” later this month on Milestone C, James said. “We have to present it to Mr. Kendall. He has to have the opportunity to ask questions. Others may have input. So we’ll see how that goes, and then hopefully we will shortly thereafter get the decision.”
James and Goldfein appeared to be more concerned about what would happen to the KC-46 program if Congress fails to pass the Fiscal 2017 defense appropriations bill. James said the whole KC-46 contract might have to be renegotiated.
She said that Congress might pass a continuing resolution to keep the existing budget in place if agreement can’t be reached on a new appropriations bill, resulting in a projected loss of about $1.3 billion for the Air Force.
“We certainly hope that is not the case,” James said, “but we are hearing that either a six-month CR or a one-year CR is a possibility,” and that “would be a bad deal for the U.S. Air Force.”
Under a continuing resolution, “KC-46 production would be capped at 12 aircraft,” not the 15 as proposed in the FY 2017 budget, and the result would be to “delay operational fielding of this platform,” James said.
A cap of 12 aircraft would affect the “Required Assets Available,” or RAA, date under the contract, and possibly throw open the whole contract to renegotiation at much higher costs to the Air Force, James said.
“If certainly the quantity were to be delayed,” James said, “that couldn’t help but push back the RAA, and the other thing that concerns me — would such an approach also reopen the contract?
“In other words, if we couldn’t purchase the same number that contractually we’re supposed to, would that reopen the contract? That’s a serious question because, of course, we do have favorable terms and we do not want to reopen the contract, change requirements in any way.”
The Boeing KC-46 Pegasus was developed from the Boeing 767 airliner. In February 2011, the tanker was selected by the Air Force to replace its .