Since 01-09-06
SS News Daily
for 09JAN06
Since 01-09-06
The Daily Internal Information Source for the U.S. Navy Submarine Force
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Submarine News Daily has been renamed Undersea Enterprise News Daily to reinforce the principles of the Undersea Enterprise established by Commander Naval Submarine Forces (CSF). CSF, as head of the USE, sets the strategy, priorities, requirements and overarching direction for suppliers, resource sponsors and producers to ensure a quality product for the enterprise customers. |
Vice Admiral Chuck Munns, Commander, Naval Submarine Forces, 05 January 2006
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, January 9, 2006
U.S. Navy photo, 6 January 2006
Pentagon Cuts Funding For Navy R&D, Marine Corps Procurement
By Christopher J. Castelli, Inside the Navy, 09 JAN 06
2006 promises to be full of changes for Hampton Roads. How will it end?
Patrick Lynch, Joy Buchanan, Peter Dujardin and Victor Reklaitis, Newport News Daily Press, 08 JAN 06
General Dynamics, Northrop, Others to Pay $13 Million to Settle False Claims Act
Suit
Corporate Crime Reporter, 8 Jan
06
By David Rush, Military.com, 7 Jan 06
Testing Range's Opponents Fear For Marine Life
Navy Times, 09 Jan 06
KOLD.com, 09 Jan 06
By Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor, The Arizona Republic, 9 JAN 06
By Douglas P. Guarino, Foster’s Daily Democrat, 7 Jan 06
By Roseanne Gerin, Washington Post, 9 January 2006
6 January 2006
Volunteers to help with visitors' queries
By Jason Christley, New London Day, 9 Jan 06
By Rich Chang, Taipei Times, 9 Jan 06
Gizmag.com, 06 Jan 06
Naval Submarine League, 6 January 2006
Vice Admiral Chuck Munns, Commander, Naval Submarine Forces, 05 January 2006
Undersea Enterprise and submarine force leaders, this message is to revalidate our course for 2006.
Well done in 2005. Your efforts to date and those of your people have had a positive impact on the effectiveness of our force and the productivity of our enterprise. We collectively have been put to work by our nation's combatant commanders to conduct actions in the global war on terrorism, to discretely and persistently capture knowledge from the world's littorals, and to confidently keep our nation's nuclear deterrent securely at sea. These direct actions and phase zero operations contribute to maritime security and make this a more peaceful world. And if called to action, these operations allow our joint force to strike from a position of confidence and strength.
The commissioning of USS Jimmy Carter, the first deployment of the USS Virginia, and the modification to USS Ohio, our first SSGN, added significant capability to the force and demonstrated the power of our enterprise. You were fully employed this year in worldwide operations, many of you working on the other side of the world in theaters far removed from your home waters.
In addition to us national security operations you conducted watershed work with allied and coalition submarines across the globe. The real-time response of our submarine rescue capability resulted in rescue of the Russian Priz submarine crew. As a result of your preparation, ingenuity and experience these operations hit the mark - creating effects around the clock and around the world, you have made a difference. Well done!
I must also remind here that the Force had several UNSAT incidents this year during routine operations that called into question our professionalism and the day-in, day-out application of our mariner skills. We have taken on that implied challenge. Previous messages released in 2005 chart our intended progress in this area and outline my expectations of you. I have every confidence that 2006 will be even more effective and productive than 2005.
SUBFOR themes for 2006
While we continue to effectively operate submarines and undersea surveillance systems, previous messages remain germane and include themes such as standards and conduct, managing opportunity and risk, and efficiency. Your feedback has been useful and reinforced the basic message. We are making headway, going the right direction and speed. Re-read those messages and recommit to those themes.
RADM Cassias and I expect you to continue our journey and to dialog with us, your peers and your crew. We need your perspective, your imagination, your energy and above all your leadership.
Organizational structure
We continue to tune our organization and its relationships to allow us to more effectively and efficiently achieve our mission: providing the combatant commanders submariners and submarines to preserve the peace and, if necessary, win the war.
· COMNAVSUBFOR (CSF), the extended staff and I, have the responsibility for leading the submarine community, for managing our culture, for tuning our processes, for assessing our effects, for efficient utilization of resources, and for advising CFFC on vital issues such as modernization needs, training initiatives, and operational concept development within the undersea battle space.
· COMSUBPAC has assumed additional duties as deputy COMNAVSUBFOR (DCSF), assisting CSF in developing force policy and requirements. As DCSF, COMSUBPAC assists with the above responsibilities and advises COMPACFLT on submarine force issues within the PACFLT AOR. CSP acts as head of operational processes for the Undersea Enterprise. He manages our force's operations policies, procedures and processes, and coordinates our collective effort in the area of operational support, operational CONOPS and experimentation.
· The group command structure has been aligned to place Group 9 and 10 staffs under one commander. CSG 9/10 will be headquartered at Bangor with staffs at both Bangor and Kings Bay. Operational relationships for each group will not change, but this alignment provides a single advocate for all SSBN/SSGN issues. CTF 134/144 operate our deployed SSBN's.
· Group 7 and 8 under various CTF designators operate our deployed submarines.
· Group 2 is heading a cross functional team (CFT) created to maximize the submarine force contribution to the global war on terror.
· We are evaluating an initiative to re-align CTF-54 to Group 8. This could provide consistency in support process and synergy in focus to both CTF-69 and CTF-74 staffs.
Undersea Enterprise
Dynamic and vibrant, the undersea enterprise (USE) continues to evolve. Solidly linked to Admiral Nathman's priorities and leveraging the work of CFFC and the other Tycoms, the Undersea Enterprise is continuing to drive meaningful and necessary change as ee deliver undersea warfare capability to combatant commanders. Our Enterprise consists of all stakeholders and resources, which contribute to operating, manning, training, equipping and maintaining our force today, and in developing it for the future.
Obviously it's more than the traditional SUBFOR chain of command structure. We manage it using a monthly battle rhythm of flag panel leadership and work issues with CFT's. We have had a core enterprise for more than a decade with CSP, CSL, OPNAV N77, PERS-42 and Naval Reactors, but this year we have matured to larger scope and more formal structure.
Some examples of working issues include: Total Force CFT which generated a $100 million MPN cost avoidance; Shipbuilding CFT to design out production and contracting costs in order to reduce the cost of Virginia-class submarines; Warshot Reliability CFT to improve torpedo effectiveness; SSGN CFT to bring a new capability into service essentially on time and in budget, and Maintenance CFT to manage submarine repair in the nation's public shipyards.
While our ship CO's don't see this structure in action, your ISIC will and you should be aware of how it works. More info is available at http:/www.sublant.navy.mil/use_overview.pdf.
Measures of Performance (MOP)
As we lead our enterprise, we must be guided by a common understanding of our desired effects and driven through accountability to our common purpose. To know where we are headed and to measure our progress, I have established five Tier One MOPs for the Undersea Enterprise. I expect SUBFOR leadership to be driven by these five items. They collectively represent my commanders intent for the submarine force. I'll hold performance reviews with applicable senior leadership every six weeks as we lead our progress. The five MOPs are:
· To improve the operational efficiency of our deployed platforms (SSN'S, SSBN'S, soon SSGN'S, Tenders, IUSS) as they day-in and day-out do the nation's work;
· To improve the effectiveness of decisions made by Commanding Officers and the efficiency of actions of their crews/staffs;
· To place the right submariners into the best billets nation-wide, both within and outside the SUBFOR community;
· To nurture our unique submarine culture while maintaining appropriate standards and conduct;
· And to ensure adequate future capability of the force for Tomorrow's tasks.
As submariners, you do the daily work that creates success for the nation. You are on the front lines delivering the unique capabilities of the undersea enterprise to the combatant commander.
We have had a productive year in 2005 and RADM Cassias and I expect even better in 2006. Press on, take advantage of opportunity and manage risk.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, January 9, 2006
The U.S. Navy said Jan. 5 that it pulled off a trial, land-based test of a Sidewinder AIM-9X air-to-air missile for potential submarine use.
The long-range research goal is to field any existing Defense Department missile aboard submarines quickly and at low cost.
The November test - supported by Raytheon Missile Systems - involved detecting, tracking and destroying an unmanned helicopter, which was not visible to the missile at its launch.
The Sidewinder is a good choice for research and development of small missile payloads for guided-missile submarines (SSGNs) and attack submarines (SSNs), the Navy said. The results can be applied to other missile payloads and different platforms such as the Littoral Combat Ship.
The next step is to analyze the vertical-launch thrust characteristics of gas production and temperature for encapsulation of the missile for an underwater test, according to the Navy.
"The 'encapsulation' technique will be the forerunner for deploying air breathing payloads like unmanned aerial vehicles from submarines in the future," said Capt. Mark Bock, program manager for the Navy's Undersea Defensive Systems Program Office.
The most mature encapsulation technology, the Stealthy Affordable Capsule System, will be used in the next phase of risk-reduction testing. This effort, led by the Northrop Grumman Corp., will try to perform a submerged launch of the AIM-9X from a submarine-like vertical launch system currently used for Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Navy officials have begun planning for in-water testing.
Photo: AIM-9X Test Launch success for possible submarine use
U.S. Navy photo, 6 January 2006
The Navy successfully conducted a research and development (R&D) land based test at an Army range in New Mexico, leveraging the Sidewinder AIM-9X missile, an air to air missile used on tactical fighter aircraft, to proof out critical missile adaptation features for submarine use. Among the test objectives achieved in November 2005 were the ability to vertically launch the missile from zero velocity, and to lock-on after launch. The test was a collaborative effort between the Joint Program Office for Air to Air Missiles, Raytheon Missile Systems and Team Submarine Advanced Research. The land launched test involved detecting, tracking and destroying an unmanned helicopter drone. The target was not visible to the missile at launch. The missile turned and acquired the target several miles down range, remaining locked on until intercept.
Pentagon Cuts Funding For Navy R&D, Marine Corps Procurement
By Christopher J. Castelli, Inside the Navy, 09 JAN 06
A budget directive recently issued by the Pentagon cuts the Navy’s funding over the coming years by $2.2billion, drawing most of the cuts from research and development, Marine Corps procurement and Navy operation and maintenance accounts.
Program budget decision No. 723 was approved Dec. 28 by Pentagon Comptroller Tina Jonas. The document also cuts $2.1 billion from the Army, but adds $1.1 billion to Air Force accounts, mostly to cover fuel. Defense-wide accounts receive a $2.4 billion increase.
In fiscal year 2007, the naval accounts hit hardest are Marine Corps procurement ($178 million) and Navy R&D ($269 million). These cuts are particularly meaningful because they would come right away, rather than several years from now.
In FY-07, the Marine Corps loses money from communications and electronics equipment (roughly $70 million), engineering and other equipment (about $46 million), support vehicles (roughly $31 million), weapons and combat vehicles (about $17 million), guided missiles and equipment (about $10 million), and spare parts (about $6 million).
The biggest single chunk of the Navy’s $269 million R&D cut in FY-07 is $204 million in advanced technology development, most of which (about $187 million) relates to joint experimentation.
But the vast majority of the $2.2 billion cut levied against the Navy Department is being taken from the later years of the department’s five-year budget plan -- not the near-term.
The $2.2 billion cut is distributed roughly as follows: $16 million in FY-06, $315 million in FY-07, $286 million in FY-08, $538 million in FY-09, $652 million in FY-10 and $417 million in FY-11.
The so-called outyears of the plan -- FY-09 to FY-11 in this case -- are typically the most subject to change in Pentagon budget drills. Defense officials have been known to call such funding “funny money” because it gets shifted around on an annual basis, sometimes with little or no impact on programs.
Still, one needs to look across the entire long-term plan to understand how the cuts are being distributed. Of the Navy accounts facing cuts in this directive, R&D is by far the place where most of the money is being removed over the FY-07 to FY-11 period. Beyond FY-07, here is a rough look at the Navy R&D cuts listed: $251 million in FY-08, $288 million in FY-09, $280 million in FY-10 and $341 million in FY-11.
Beyond FY-07, Marine Corps procurement is cut by $25 million in FY-08 and $11 million in FY-09. There are no cuts listed for this account in later years.
All the Navy money cut in the directive is spread over the FY-07 to FY-11 period, with the exception of a roughly $16 million cut to Navy operations and maintenance (O&M) accounts in FY-06.
Here is a rough look at the Navy O&M cuts in the remaining years: $33 million in FY-07, $5 million in FY-08, $12 million in FY-09, $14 million in FY-10 and $15 million in FY-11.
Navy aircraft procurement accounts are being cut as follows: $18 million in FY-07, $112 million in FY-08, $26 million in FY-09, $15 million in FY-10 and $71 million in FY-11. All of that funding is being taken from the VH-71 presidential helicopter program, except for a $100 million cut to the Joint Strike Fighter program in FY-08.
The directive cuts other Navy procurement accounts by roughly $3 million annually from FY-07 to FY-11.
2006 promises to be full of changes for Hampton Roads. How will it end?
Patrick Lynch, Joy Buchanan, Peter Dujardin and Victor Reklaitis, Newport News Daily Press, 08 JAN 06
A bottle of champagne will shatter across the bow of a new aircraft carrier. A string of new stores will open in Newport News. The people and issues of the Revolutionary War will come to life at Colonial Williamsburg.
The next 12 months promise changes, new launches and answers to burning questions in several major sectors of Hampton Roads' economy.
Some things we know for sure will have lasting impact: The George H.W. Bush will be christened in Newport News. Newport News' retail boom will continue. Work on waterfront condominiums and downtown apartments in Hampton will begin.
But what remains unanswered may be more intriguing. Will Colonial Williamsburg's "Revolutionary City" concept help reverse slumping ticket sales?
And will the release of "The New World" help attract tourists for the first Jamestown 2007 events this summer?
Will the housing market continue its remarkable run? Will the Army Corps of Engineers give the Virginia Port Authority a go-ahead to build a new terminal at Craney Island?
Check back in 12 months.
Northrop Grumman Newport News
2006 will be a big year for Northrop Grumman Newport News, as it plans to christen the George H.W. Bush, the 10th and last Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, this fall.
The carrier, rising in Dry Dock 12 on the banks of the James River, now looks unmistakably like a ship. Though the christening, or launch, indicates the flattop is ready for water, lots of work will continue on the inside of the ship until the ship's commissioning into the Navy's fleet in 2008.
Also in 2006, the shipyard will deliver its first nuclear-powered submarine in 10 years. The delivery on the Texas submarine, the second of the new Virginia-class of submersibles and the first of the group to get final assembly in Newport News, is now scheduled for May. Among other scheduled work this year, the shipyard also will continue the midlife refueling and overhaul on the USS Carl Vinson, a three-year job that just recently got under way. The yard will move forward with the design of the next-generation carrier, the CVN-21, and press ahead on assembling another Virginia-class sub, the North Carolina.
Tourism
The Jamestown 2007 commemoration will start in May 2006 as the Godspeed replica sets sail for a 90-day trip along the East Coast. Organizers are hoping the commemoration, billed as America's 400th Anniversary, will draw hundreds of thousands of additional tourists to Virginia. They have planned 10 signature events and 18 months of festivities.
This year also will see the launch in March of a new, more interactive program at Colonial Williamsburg called "Revolutionary City." It will feature costumed interpreters brawling, debating, praying and singing - in short, bringing more life to the Historic Area. This is Colonial Williamsburg's answer to slumping ticket sales. As the new program begins, CW hopes to close part of the Historic Area for two hours each day to people without tickets - a plan that has upset some locals.
Other notable happenings for 2006 include several events for the 225th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown, as well as the nationwide release Friday of "The New World," a movie filmed in this part of Virginia.
Ports
The sister company of the Maersk shipping line is expected to make big progress in 2006 on a sophisticated $450 million terminal on the banks of the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth. The 300-acre terminal will be ready for traffic by 2007.
The Virginia Port Authority, which owns three state terminals in Hampton Roads, will move forward in 2006 with large capital projects of its own to meet continued growth. As part of its strategy of dealing with the new competition from Maersk, the Port Authority also is working to lock in longer term deals with shipping lines.
Also in 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will make a final determination on whether Craney Island, a site built up with dredged sand, should be expanded to make way for a fourth local VPA cargo terminal.
Two Newport News coal terminals, Kinder Morgan and Dominion Terminals Associates, also are expected to renovate their piers to handle import coal.
Housing
"Slowdown" is the key word for the housing market for the coming year - but, then again, haven't we heard that before?
Hampton Roads saw record home price increases in 2005, with the median home value increasing by about 25 percent through the end of November. That kind of track record might be impossible to replicate, but still, Realtors don't expect the bottom to simply drop out.
January and February - typically two of the slowest sales months - might not give much indication of how the overall market will do in 2005. But compare spring sales to years past to see if prices are still on the rise and the combination of new buyers and low interest rates is still driving the market.
New construction will also continue to provide a new and wider range of housing choices in the area. Plans are moving forward for new, high-end homes in Newport News at Stoney Run and Asheton. Construction on condominiums and apartments should begin early in the year in downtown Hampton, as new apartments at City Center in Newport News also become available.
Energy Prices
Energy prices broke records in 2005 and it looks like things won't get much better in 2006.
Crude oil prices are expected to average more than $55 a barrel through 2006. The price of crude oil accounts for about 45 percent of the cost of a gallon of gas. Hampton Roads gasoline prices were about $2.30 a gallon when crude oil was $65.
But gas prices in Hampton Roads started climbing at the start of 2006, reaching more than $2.18 a gallon by Jan. 4 after dropping to $2 at the start of December 2005. Part of that can be attributed to the cost of crude oil futures, which had reached $61 a barrel Dec. 30, 40 percent higher than they were at the start of 2005.
The region's record high price for gasoline was $3.11 on Sept. 6. Some national energy analysts have said prices could again rise to $3 a gallon during the summer.
Retail
There are more shops and restaurants, especially national chains, heading to the Peninsula in 2006, following the grand opening of Jefferson Commons, the unveiling of the new and improved Patrick Henry Mall and the continued expansion of City Center at Oyster Point, CNU Village and the New Town development in James City County.
CNU Village will host a Schooner's restaurant and a Bottoms Up Pizza restaurant in the coming months. More than 15 shops - such as Ann Taylor Loft, Jos. A Bank and Talbot's - are expected to open this spring at City Center.
Construction on a Newport News Shipbuilding Employees Credit Union Branch is scheduled to begin this year in New Town. Collections, a boutique at the Prime Outlets, will relocate to New Town in March. Banana Republic and five other national retail chains are expected to open before spring.
A Bailey's Pub & Grille and the new Dick's Sporting Goods will open at the Patrick Henry Mall this year.
Commercial Real Estate
The story for commercial real estate in 2006 could be the ramp-up to build enough warehouse space to accommodate the new Maersk-related terminal in Portsmouth opening in 2007 and the possibility of expanding Craney Island for a new Virginia Port Authority terminal.
Plans for warehouse space that could help distributors move goods from Hampton Roads have been popping up left and right in places like Suffolk and as far out as Isle of Wight County. A consultant told Isle of Wight officials late in 2005 that they should prepared for a long-term increase in port traffic and begin working now to attract the warehouse and distribution space needed to support it.
On the flip side, large spaces designed for manufacturing may become less and less a part of the region's business landscape, as those operations continue to move overseas. As part of that trend, CB Richard Ellis is starting off 2006 trying to find a tenant for the former Gateway manufacturing facility in Hampton Roads Center. At 421,000 square feet, it's the largest available building in the region.
CBRE and Hampton officials said they expect the large space - which has manufacturing, distribution and office components - to be split up for multiple tenants.
Technology
Mobile commerce - using a cell phone to make purchases - could take off in 2006, according to Michelle Carpenter, a consultant for VECTEC, also known as the Virginia Electronic Commerce Technology Center at Christopher Newport University.
As more cell phones sport better screens and extra features, more users are likely to use them to not only chat and send text messages, but also buy goods. Other countries around the world already are taking to mobile commerce, Carpenter said.
For large and small business, having an online presence will continue to be important in 2006, and it could become critical. With more consumers expecting to make transactions or get information on companies' Web sites, "if you don't have a site, you're going to lose market share and you'll probably be out of business," Carpenter said.
Also in 2006, the VECTEC consultant predicts online retailers will continue to take away from mall and catalog sales. In addition, Carpenter said marketing through search engines, e-mail and blogs (Web logs) will become more prevalent. A recent survey indicated that 16 percent of small businesses plan to invest in blogs within the next three years, she said.
Corporate Crime Reporter, 8 Jan 06
Hunt Valve of Salem, Ohio makes valves - but not for your faucet. They build valves for U.S. submarines. We’re talking about valves that you can drive an ATV through.
Hunt Valve was a subcontractor to Newport News Shipbuilding, which is a unit of Northrop Grumman, to General Dynamics Electric Boat Company, to Lockheed Martin, and to companies that sold to Bath Iron Works.
Tina Gonter worked as a quality control inspector for Hunt Valve.
When she started working there, she found quality control systems that were badly broken.
How badly broken? In September 2005, the quality control manager Hunt Valve was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison. The company’s vice president is awaiting sentencing.
“The types of fraud going on at Hunt Valve were staggering,” said Frederick Morgan, a False Claims Act attorney at the Volkema, Thomas law firm in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Morgan represents Tina Gonter and her husband in a False Claims lawsuit against the Hunt Valve, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
“Inspections were certified to have occurred while the inspector was on vacation,” Morgan told Corporate Crime Reporter. “Equipment was altered to falsify measurements. Material was used without knowing whether it met requirements, and certifications were forged, falsified, and altered on a daily basis. Improper materials were used. Submarine valves were beaten with hammers to make parts fit together.”
After years of litigation, the Gonters are about the settle their False Claims Act lawsuit.
According to Morgan, the companies will pay a total of $13 million, with General Dynamics paying the lion’s share - $7.7 million.
Under the False Claims Act, a whistleblower who successfully sues and recovers monies defrauded from the U.S. government is entitled to a portion of the recovery.
The Gonter’s will recover about 22 percent of the $13 million - or $2.86 million.
“General Dynamics Electric Boat was the lead contractor,” Morgan said. “They had personnel on site who clearly should have taken more action than they did. We took the testimony of the Electric Boat person on site. And his testimony showed a considerable degree of consternation over what was going on.”
Morgan said that both the Gonters wore wires for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service - “Ms. Gonter's case over a period of many months, including a period where she was recovering from a mastectomy due to breast cancer.”
“And the results of the taping were exceptional in terms of demonstrating a level of awareness of problems at Hunt Valve by Electric Boat personnel,” Morgan said.
When
asked whether federal prosecutors ever considered charging the companies with
crimes, Morgan said this:
“That's a question for the prosecutors in Cleveland. I'll say this - the
criminal team in the case was aggressive. They looked hard at all of the issues.
My understanding is that there remains an open criminal investigation, but I
don't think that it relates to the quality portion of the case. There was a
defendant named All Stainless. We alleged that All Stainless was used as a
minority contractor to funnel Hunt Valve product to General Dynamics. There may
have been some certifications in connection with that effort that were
inappropriate.”
(For a complete question/answer transcript of the interview with Frederick Morgan, see 20 Corporate Crime Reporter 1(pages 8-16), January 2, 2005)
By David Rush, Military.com, 7 Jan 06
PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII - The winners of the 2005 Battle Efficiency Awards (Battle “E”) for the Pacific Fleet Submarine Force were announced Jan. 1, 2006.
Three nuclear-powered attack submarines homeported in Pearl Harbor were among the submarines selected for the award. They include USS La Jolla (SSN 701), Submarine Squadron One; USS Columbia (SSN 771), Submarine Squadron Three; and USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), Submarine Squadron Seven.
On Jan. 5, 2006, Capt. Michael Zieser, Commodore, Submarine Squadron One, presented the Battle “E” award to Cmdr. Nelson Hildreth, USS La Jolla’s commanding officer.
“Teamwork is the driving factor in being the best. It is one thing to set a goal, another to accomplish it. Although each crewmember is an expert in their specialized area, there is no difference between departments or divisions in mission accomplishment. That is a true team -- working to achieve the common goal and succeed in all they endeavor to do,” said Zieser.
“Earning the Battle 'E' is a reflection of the crew’s hard work and the leadership of the chiefs and the officers over the past year,” said Hildreth.
According to Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, the award reflects hard work and determination of the respective crews. “Each crew member of an award winner can be justifiably proud of their contribution to improve Pacific submarine force readiness. I am extremely proud of your outstanding performance,” said Cassias.
In addition to Pearl Harbor-based submarines, other submarines homeported throughout the Pacific were selected for the Battle “E” award from their respective squadrons.
USS Corpus Christi (SSN 705), an attack submarine homeported in Guam under Submarine Squadron Fifteen, as well as ballistic missile submarines belonging to Submarine Group Nine in Bangor, Wash., USS Pennsylvania (SSBN 735), Submarine Squadron Seventeen, and USS Nevada (SSBN 733), Submarine Squadron Nineteen, were also awarded the Battle “E.”
Submarine Squadron Eleven’s attack submarine USS Topeka (SSN 754), homeported in San Diego, Calif., was also selected for the award.
The Battle “E” award recognizes sustained superior performance in all areas of combat readiness. As part of the competition, ships compete for command excellence in four combat areas: maritime warfare, engineering/survivability, command and control, and logistics management. To receive the nod for battle efficiency, a ship must excel in all four areas.
Testing Range's Opponents Fear For Marine Life
Navy Times, 09 Jan 06
RALEIGH, N.C. — Members of a governmental panel recently appeared unconvinced by the Navy's reassurances that a sonar training range off the North Carolina coastline will not hurt fishing.
A Navy representative tried Dec. 19 to assure the Joint Legislative Commission on Seafood and Aquaculture of the safety of the range, which it wants to build 47 miles offshore from Camp Lejeune near Jacksonville.
The proposed 660-square-mile range would be used for training ships and aircraft in the use of sonar, a technology that detects objects under the sea by bouncing sound off them.
The range would include hundreds of underwater microphones anchored on the ocean floor that would record ship movements and allow exercises to be reconstructed for study. The Navy has final say on the project, but the commission asked for a briefing.
Foes say sound waves can kill
Opponents fear the impact of the sound waves on marine life, saying they sometimes kill whales and dolphins.
Environmentalists sued the Navy in October, claiming the stranding and deaths of least 37 whales last January on the Outer Banks occurred after a mid-frequency sonar exercise took place.
"I don't leave this presentation feeling any better than I did coming in," said Rep. Robert Grady, R-Onslow County.
"You say there is no evidence there will be long-term, significant behavioral disruptions on fish.
"You might find out later that there is." The Navy says sonar is the best defense against a new generation of quiet submarines that can threaten coastal waters. It expects the new range to cause only mild disturbance to some whales and hardly any effect on fish or sea turtles.
Aileen Smith, natural resources manager for U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said evidence sup-porting the safety of the range will be clearer once an environmental report for the range is complete.
"We need to bring more information forward to explain how we came up with those conclusions," she said.
But some at the meeting were unconvinced. Representatives of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries believe the Navy inadequately evaluated the impact its cables and microphones will have on coral outcrops on the ocean floor, which are important habitat for snapper, grouper and bass.
Sean McKeon of the North Carolina Fisheries Association was unmoved by Smith's assurances that the Navy will seek various means to notify mariners about its experiments and will schedule them around important fishing tournaments.
"There is significant uncertainty. I have not heard much that changes that uncertainty," he said.
The deadline for public comments on the Navy's draft report is Jan. 30.
KOLD.com, 09 Jan 06
PHOENIX For nearly a decade, a Phoenix commission has worked to build a monument for military veterans using the sail and rudder from the USS Phoenix.
The nuclear attack submarine was decommissioned ten years ago and now sits at a naval shipyard in Washington waiting to be dismantled.
Meanwhile, the commission is still working to save the parts in time for the city's 125th anniversary later this year. The commission expects the project to cost 389-thousand dollars.
One idea for the monument location is Steele Indian School Park in central Phoenix.
If it happens, Phoenix would be the only city to set up the sail of their namesake.
By Monica Alonzo-Dunsmoor, The Arizona Republic, 9 JAN 06
After nearly two decades sailing the seas, the USS Phoenix now sits at a naval shipyard in Washington State waiting to be dismantled.
A Phoenix commission has been working for nearly 10 years since the nuclear attack submarine was decommissioned to save the sail and rudder and build a monument in Phoenix for all military veterans.
"It's just sitting there rusting," said Marty Zipser, chairman of the city's USS Phoenix Commission and a retired Navy surgeon. "One of the neat things is that Phoenix would be the only one to set up the sail of their namesake in the city."
Commissioners hope to have the sub's parts in time for the city's 125th anniversary later this year.
The USS Phoenix Commission was created in 1990 to befriend crewmembers and preserve the history of all vessels that bear the city's name. Members expect this project will cost $389,000, which includes money for continued maintenance.
Commissioners said that Swift Trucking has agreed to transport the sail and rudder to Phoenix. The sail is the part of the submarine that sticks out of the water when the vessel is surfaced, and the rudder, at the rear, controls direction.
Pete Lumianski, vice chair of the USS Phoenix Commission and a Navy veteran, said that for several months, the group has been eyeing Steele Indian School Park at Third Street and Indian School Road as the ideal location.
A subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Board had its first discussion of the project last week, and asked city officials to get more information. The commission plans to meet with park officials on Tuesday at Steele park.
"We're gathering information and it's very early in the process," said Jim Burke, deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department.
While others, such as the Carl T. Hayden Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Arizona Historical Museum in Tempe expressed interest in the sub, the commission believes Phoenix is best.
"It belongs in Phoenix, not on federal land or in another city," said Howard Goldman, a member of the commission and a submarine veteran. "It's named after the city. It's the most appropriate thing."
Lumianski said it would be a "tremendous asset to the city," and other panel members believe it would draw visitors.
They favor Steele Park because it has a lake and is near the Arizona State Veterans Home and the medical center.
"It's part of the city's history," Lumianski said. "This would be a wonderful place."Anyone interested in the USS Phoenix Commission's efforts can join the 702 Society, the group's fund-raising arm. For information, call Steve Turner in the city's parks department at (602) 261-8606.
By Douglas P. Guarino, Foster’s Daily Democrat, 7 Jan 06
KITTERY, Maine - Portsmouth Naval Shipyard advocates forbid members of the public from participating in a meeting relative to the nuclear submarine repair facility's welfare Friday, despite having spent thousands of taxpayer dollars during last year's highly publicized, community-wide effort to save one of the Seacoast's largest employers from near closure last year.
Without citing any provisions under the state's Right-to-Know law, congressional staffers representing members of the New Hampshire and Maine delegation told a Foster's Daily Democrat reporter to leave the Town Hall gathering of public officials, business leaders, union officials and community representatives.
"It's not a public meeting," David Cuzzi, legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. John Sununu said after the reporter explained Foster's had been told earlier in the week the meeting would be public.
After calling the meeting to order at about 1:45 p.m., Frank Barca, a member of U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg's staff, began to explain to those who had gathered in the Town Council chambers that any information discussed at the meeting was confidential and should not be discussed with members of the public or press.
"What goes on in here stays in here," said Barca, who was seated at the front of the room usually used to conduct the town's public business
When Kittery Town Manager Jonathan Carter informed Barca the Foster's reporter was in the room, the reporter was told to leave.
After the meeting broke up at about 2:30 p.m., congressional staffers said they could not comment on what went on at the meeting or why they had to exclude the public, deferring all questions to their press secretaries in Washington, D.C.
Erin Rath, communications director for Gregg, issued a prepared statement on behalf of the entire delegation, which also includes Sununu, U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, and U.S. Reps. Jeb Bradley and Tom Allen.
"This was a working meeting between the shipyard unions and community, SSA, and representatives of the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional Delegations and the New Hampshire Governor's office to candidly discuss ways to best support, strengthen and enhance the continuing viability of the shipyard in a post-BRAC environment," the statement read.
Seacoast Shipyard Association spokesman and retired shipyard commander Capt. William McDonough said the meeting was not like the Save Our Shipyard Task Force meetings the group hosted in the same room last year.
At those meetings, a similar group of congressional staffers and community leaders discussed plans relative to saving the shipyard from the Base Realignment and Closure process.
McDonough said the press was invited to attend those meetings in an effort to publicize those plans, which often involved gathering members of the public to participate in large scale community rallies.
McDonough, who Foster's named "Man of the Year" for his own involvement in saving the yard, said the public was excluded from Friday's meeting because the congressional staffers are not allowed to talk to the press.
McDonough said "nothing sinister or devious" was discussed at the meeting, which he said SSA arranged in an effort ensure shipyard advocates continued to work together in the yards best interests in the post-BRAC era.
In addition to representatives from the six congressional offices, Mike Vlacich, a representative from New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch's office and Lance Boucher, a representative from Maine Gov. John Baldacci's office, also attended Friday's closed-door session, according to a meeting agenda a union official handed to a reporter.
Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce President Dick Ingram, Greater York Chamber of Commerce Director Cathy Goodwin, also attended, along with several SSA officials including Chairman Neil Rolde, board member Ed Scully and secretary Pat Dowaliby.
Representing the shipyard's nearly 5,000 workers were several union officials including Metal Trades Council President Paul O'Connor, American Federation of Government Employees 2nd Vice President John Joyal and AFGE Chief Steward Donald Hands.
McDonough and O'Connor said concern about proposed changes to the Defense Department's labor regulations was one of the chief issues discussed at the meeting.
Known as the National Security Personal System (NSPS), union officials say the proposed regulations would eliminate collective bargaining rights and have filed suit in federal court in Washington.
McDonough and O'Connor said they were concerned the treatment workers would receive under the proposed system could have a negative impact on the shipyard's performance, along with a hiring freeze that was forcing many workers into overtime.
The shipyard's workload was also discussed, McDonough said.
"We want to make sure we continue to get a fair amount of work despite the Defense Department's attempt to close us," he said.
Carter said the meeting was useful in terms of keeping town officials informed about the issues currently facing the yard. He said town officials were "very pleased" the group continued to work on the yard's behalf.
Similar meetings are scheduled to take place at town hall on May 5 and Sept. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
By Roseanne Gerin, Washington Post, 9 January 2006
Lockheed Martin Corp. won a $144.3 million addition to a previously awarded contract for the development and demonstration phase of a Navy acoustic undersea surveillance system that can cover vast ocean areas for an extended period.
The company's maritime systems and sensors division based in Manassas will perform design and systems engineering services for the Advanced Deployable System.
The system, which is composed of distributed fields of sensors, is intended to provide operational forces in regional conflicts with an undersea surveillance capability that can be quickly and covertly deployed.
It would be able to detect quiet nuclear submarines, diesel-electric submarines, ships entering or exiting a port, and mine-laying operations.
With the modification and all options, the contract is estimated at $243.3 million.
Lockheed Martin will perform the work in Manassas; Melbourne, Fla.; Everett, Wash.; Riviera Beach, Fla.; Portsmouth, R.I.; and overseas at Newport in Britain.
The work would be completed by September 2008, or by September 2010 if all options are exercised.
Lockheed Martin, which is based in Bethesda, has about 135,000 employees and had revenue of $35.53 billion in 2004.
6 January 2006
The US Navy has awarded Lockheed Martin a $10.6 million contract modification to integrate a sensor array capable of three-dimensional (3D) obstacle detection and classification, VHF communication and 3D bathymetry into the Navy's Advanced Development Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (ADUUV).
Lockheed Martin will provide engineering and manufacturing services to integrate the Littoral Precision Underwater Mapping Array (LPUMA) sensor into the ADUUV. LPUMA is produced by the Applied Research Laboratory in Austin, Texas. The first phase includes the design, fabrication and testing of a single ADUUV to support risk reduction for the Mission Reconfigurable UUV (MRUUV).
The ADUUV, the first underwater vehicle of its kind designed to accommodate interchangeable modular payloads that can be swapped out for various missions, is the precursor to the MRUUV. The system will be deployed from a Virginia-class or Los Angeles-class submarine for launch and recovery through submarine torpedo tubes and be used for clandestine intelligence collection, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as mine reconnaissance and tactical ocean survey.
"The LPUMA sensor suite advances the revolutionary ADUUV's capabilities to the next level," said Jim Weitzel, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems & Sensors vice president for Mission and Unmanned Systems. "By adding the next generation of precise 3D bathymetry and object detection and classification capabilities, the ADUUV can more rapidly change its mission from mine countermeasures to intelligence and surveillance, and expand to other missions as well."
Volunteers to help with visitors' queries
By Jason Christley, New London Day, 9 Jan 06
Groton - One of the most noticeable things about walking through the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Museum is a layout designed to invite a self-navigated tour of submarine history.
Which is fine - until visitors have a question. And then the realization sets in that, outside of the employees in the museum store, there really isn't anybody around to supply any answers. It's a concern that retired Capt. Mike Reigal, the museum's executive director, hopes to remedy with the implementation of a volunteer docent program.
“It puts a real human face on the museum,” Reigal said. “There are times one can walk into the museum and not see anybody, except for other visitors. It kind of depersonalizes the whole thing.”
Reigal hopes to have the first in a three-step process implemented by early February. This would cover having volunteers at the door to serve as greeters and all-purpose question-and-answer stations.
The second and third steps would include having volunteers available to give lectures on particular exhibits and, eventually, lead regularly scheduled tours. The timetable for those steps would be based on volunteer interest and the number of museum patrons.
“The whole idea is to enhance the museum exhibit,” Reigal added.
According to Reigal, an estimated 150,000 people pass through the museum each year, which has served as the home for the Historic Ship Nautilus since 1985. Most of that traffic flows through from June to September, with the heaviest coming in July and August.
Sometimes, said Reigal, it's simply a matter of having somebody there to point out where the restrooms are or where someone can get a drink. Other times it may be to help a visitor understand an exhibit more clearly.
“Implicit in that is the need to have people there to answer questions and point people in the right direction,” Reigal said. “Because people do ask questions.”
Reigal has now begun to coordinate volunteers to serve as docents. He met with members of the Groton base of the U.S. Submarine Veterans in December.
“We've got a lot of submarine guys with experience - that have been there - that can talk intelligently about the submarine life and community,” said John C. Carcioppolo, a retired master chief petty officer and commander of the Groton Subvets. “It's a chance for them to continue the submarine heritage that they once served in.”
Carcioppolo said close to 20 members have already volunteered.
“Once it gets started, we'll catch some additional people,” Carcioppolo said. “And we've got a lot of guys that are retired and have a lot of time on their hands.”
Subvets helps supply docents to other naval museums around the country, including the USS Pampanito Submarine Museum & Memorial at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco and the USS Cod Submarine Memorial in Cleveland. Those museums are privately run, while the Nautilus is the only submarine museum operated by the U.S. Navy.
Reigal, who has conferred with other museums in the region about their docent programs, hopes to have the volunteers begin training in the last two weeks of January so they would be able to begin serving as early in February as possible.
“It is a natural thing and it's time,” Reigal said, “so were going to do it.”
By Rich Chang, Taipei Times, 9 Jan 06
A war of words erupted last week about the appropriateness of expanding the nation's submarine force, with some opponents of a proposed arms procurement deal saying subs are offensive weapons, and are therefore inappropriate for Taiwan's defense.
The decision to delay the purchase of PAC-3 Patriot anti-missile batteries until next year and to include P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft in the regular defense budget has left the eight diesel-electric submarines -- worth NT$299 billion (US$9 billion) -- the only item included in a special arms budget.
The most recent battle is a result of a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator's comments opposing the procurement of the submarines from the US.
Last week, KMT Legislator Su Chi published an opinion piece in a Chinese-language newspaper titled "New thinking on Taiwan's arms procurement." In the piece, he urged the country to devote itself to a "defensive" military, rather than the "offensive" military he said the Chen administration was trying to build. He said the change was necessary due to limited funds in recent years.
"Taiwan should boost its defensive capabilities and aim to survive a `first strike' during a Chinese military attack. It is not necessary to spend huge amounts of money on offensive submarines," Su added.
KMT Legislator John Chiang last week said that American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Director Douglas Paal had confirmed that the items and price of the arms procurement budget are adjustable, depending on Taiwan's needs.
Chiang then proposed that Taiwan should not buy the submarines currently included in the arms package, saying their "attack" capabilities are unnecessary and inappropriate for the nation's defense-focused military policy.
The KMT legislators' comments regarding submarines immediately sparked a debate between legislators and military experts.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) then launched a vigorous defense of the submarine purchase.
DPP Legislator Lee Wen-chung published an article in a Chinese language newspaper's opinion page titled "Submarines: Critical for Taiwan's defense," saying that "due to China's weak anti-submarine warfare capabilities, a Taiwanese submarine force would be able to survive a first strike from China's ballistic missiles and cruise missiles attack."
Advanced submarines have high survival rates in wartime because of their stealthiness underwater, Lee added.
From a tactical point of view, Lee said, a Taiwanese submarine force would be able to blockade and counter-blockade China's ports and sea lanes. Strategically, the submarines "offensive" capabilities would deter China from waging a war against Taiwan because of the huge cost.
Lee calculated, additionally, that because of China's sparse anti-submarine warfare capabilities, Beijing would have to spend around eight times the amount spent on Taiwan's submarine force to build up adequate capabilities, including procuring anti-submarine aircraft, minesweepers, mine-sweeping helicopters, anti-submarine missiles and destroyers. Therefore, the move would distract China from concentrating on its offensive capabilities.
DPP Legislator Shen Fa-hui, a member of the National Defense Committee, last week also published an opinion article in response to Su's comments. He said it was ridiculous for Su and the pan-blue parties to think that Taiwan should boost its anti-missile capabilities, and yet block the procurement of the Patriot batteries.
Even people who are more interested in the military than in politics decided to have their say.
Mei Fu-hsing, director and editor-in-chief of the military journal Taiwan Defense Review, last week published an article in a newspaper opinion page titled "A defense-focused military: The KMT wants Taiwan to take a beating from China," arguing that the nation could not simply rely on a purely defensive military.
"The nation should seek to take strategic advantage in the Strait," Mei said. He added: "even if Taiwan wants to resume cross-strait talks with China, it should have strategic military power as bargaining leverage."
"A strategic submarine force can increase China's risk, cost and uncertainty of launching a war, and therefore may deter it from starting a war against Taiwan," Mei added.
However, Professor Yu Pen-li of Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of American Studies, last week published an opinion piece in a Chinese-language newspaper criticizing the Minister of National Defense Lee Jye's promotion of the expensive submarines, saying it was "patronage," because Lee came from the submarine fleet force.
"While US officials from various departments and think tanks have warned Taiwan of China's military threat and urged the country to make anti-missile capabilities its priority, as a former naval official, Lee still insists on building a submarine force -- the most controversial item in the special arms package," he wrote.
The Minister of National Defense originally designed a NT$480 billion (US$14.5 billion) special budget to buy three Patriot anti-missile batteries, eight diesel-powered submarines and 12 Orion aircraft from the US.
However, facing heavy opposition from the pan-blue camp, it decided to delay the purchase of Patriot missile batteries until next year because the pan-blues have insisted that the referendum held in March 2004 in tandem with the presidential poll was a public "veto" of the purchase.
Pan-blue legislators said that according to the Referendum Law, a referendum that fails to get the number of votes necessary to make a valid result cannot be put to a vote for another three years.
The vast majority of the people who voted in the referendum voted in favor of it.
Therefore, the 12 Orion aircraft included in the regular defense budget have faced less opposition.
Gizmag.com, 06 Jan 06
Deep Flight is a radical new design approach to underwater vehicles that uses wings instead of a traditional ballast system to "fly" through the ocean depths.
Hawkes Ocean Technologies design and engineering team are developing the craft with the eventual aim of reaching a depth of 37,000 ft and undertaking an "Ocean Everest" expedition into Mariana's Trench, which contains the deepest places known on Earth.
This new mode of exploration is also available to the public through adventure tours and a new Sub-Sea Flight School.
The Deep Flight I prototype uses short inverted wings to provide "negative" lift and pull the sub down. When cruising this downward force negates the buoyancy of the sub and thrusters are used to drive it up or down. This is the same principle that applies in aircraft as opposed to traditional systems which -like a hot air balloon -rely on variable weight and or displacement, like ballast and buoyancy tanks or drop weights.
The micro-submersible acts like a pressure suit fitted to a human body and creates a unique environment for the pilot, who lies horizontal along the length of the craft. Unlike other submersibles, it needs no mother ship from which to operate, greatly reducing costs and removing barriers to wider access to deep-sea exploration.
Engineer and pilot Graham Hawkes has taken Deep Flight I to approximately 150 ft as part of television projects, but its full capabilities allow for a 1-4 hour flight and 18 hours life support to depths greater than 3000 ft. The small size (3.9m long x 2.4m wide and 0.9 m high) and maneuverability of the vessel enable a roll-range of 360 degrees, plus a fast descent (480 feet/minute) so that maximum time can be spent at the bottom.
Deep Flight II is a more versatile that has a modular design catering for three configurations - a single or two person fast survey craft, a two person work and hovering station or with one person or two person in prone position as per Deep Flight I.
Designed for deep-ocean and underwater filmmaking, the subs are fitted with up to four high-definition television cameras and can handle 70 mm large format (IMAX) equipment. The standard lighting configuration includes 4 wing-mounted and 2 pod-mounted high intensity (forward and downward) lights.
The latest submersible - the Deep Flight Aviator - is a purpose built two-seat underwater flight trainer in which the public can undergo the first underwater pilots' license testing at the Hawkes Ocean Technologies Sub-Sea Flight School.
The first course began in March 2003 and enquires can be made about the second flight school (scheduled for mid- 2003) via the www.deepflight.com site where there's also more information on exploration projects undertaken by Hawkes Ocean Technologies.
Only a handful of submersibles around the world cater for diving below 100ft and although deep-sea submersible scan be hired - it reportedly cost US$40,000 a day to use Russian MIR submersibles in the filming of the movie Titanic - it's well beyond the reach of most people. Through the new training school and adventure packages over 2-days culminating in a deep flight experience, Hawkes Ocean Technologies hope to broaden access to the last great unexplored realm.
NSL Capital Chapter Winter Luncheon
Naval Submarine League, 6 January 2006
