Archive for the ‘Sea’ Category

China’s Carrier Seen From an Airliner

Photo of China’s starter carrier.

Navy’s Big Biofuel Bet: 450,000 Gallons at 4 Times the Price of Oil

Not cheap:

The Navy previously paid about $1,000 for each barrel of biofuel it bought to test out in its jets. This new purchase, at first, will cost just as much: $26 per gallon, or $1,092 per barrel. That biofuel will then be blended with an equal amount of fossil fuel, producing 900,000 gallons — and an effective price of about $15 per gallon for that 50/50 blend. It’s “roughly half of what was paid in 2009,” according to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy Tom Hicks, who serves as Mabus’ point man on energy issues.

But it is still far more than the Navy currently pays for its JP-5 jet fuel: $3.97 per gallon, or $167 per barrel.

As a developmental effort, this is something that Murdoc can get behind. First, the money poured into this should help get the foundation for more of this sort of thing up and running. Second, it will help get the military prepared to save some money (hopefully) down the road. Finally, it is an insurance policy against a severe restriction on the availability of traditional fuel.

Go read the whole thing at Danger Room.

Marines from the Assault Amphibious Schools Battalion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., practice maneuvering amphibious assault vehicles into the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme RIchard (LHD 6). (U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Joe Kane/Released)

That appears to be a AAVR-7A1 recovery variant of the Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAV) with crane, winches, and other recovery gear.

The MK 38 25mm machine gun aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57)fires during a gunnery exercise. Mitscher is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Deven B. King/Released)

The Mk 38 is an M242 Bushmaster chain gun.

Quicken Loans Carrier Classic is Prepared for Anything

Production is underway on the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

The Michigan State Spartans are set to take on the University of North Carolina Tar Heels at the first ever college basketball game on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.

Preparations to set up for the event have been taking place throughout the week, with the construction of bleachers seating 7,000 people and a full basketball court on the flight deck of Carl Vinson.

Sailors assigned to the “Seahawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41, are assisting with the setup of the event. Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Marco Gilio and Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Carlin Henderson have donated over 30 hours of their time assisting with the construction of the event. In return, the squadron will be giving them tickets to the event.

The game will be played on Friday, Veterans Day, 11/11/11. Magic Johnson and James Worthy will be honorary team captains. A secondary court with smaller stands is being built on the hangar deck in case of foul weather.

Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Marco Gilio, Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Aaron Armellini, and Naval Aircrewman 3rd Class Carlin Henderson, all assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41, volunteer to set-up bleachers for the Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The three will get free tickets to the game. The Michigan State University Spartans are playing the University of North Carolina Tar Heels aboard Carl Vinson for the first ever Quicken Loans Carrier Classic on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Amanda Huntoon/Released)

More photos below.
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Explosive Ordnance Disposal 2nd Class Bradley Kelly, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 2, takes a tactical position after rappelling from an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9 during a fast-rope exercise aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). George H.W. Bush is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility on its first operational deployment conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jessica Echerri/Released)

Though that appears to be fast roping, not rappelling.

Updating yesterday’s story:

The uncharted wreck found yesterday, off Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, is likely to be a World War II Japanese submarine.

Underwater vision taken by the Australian Minehunter, HMAS Gascoyne shows the wreck of a submarine, 55 meters below the surface in Simpson Harbour. The wreck is partially buried in the harbour floor but remains upright.

There had been initial media speculation that this may have been the wreck of HMAS AE 1 – Australia’s first submarine, lost in waters east of Rabaul during World War I in September 1914.

The imagery obtained by HMAS Gascoyne was examined by RAN historical staff, who concluded that the wreck is not AE 1 but a Japanese submarine.

The Royal Australian Navy will now work with Japanese authorities to assist in determining the wreck’s identity.

HMAS Gascoyne was taking part in Operation RENDER SAFE – the Australian Defence Force (ADF) contribution to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in the Pacific. This year, RENDER SAFE is being conducted in Rabaul over the period 18 October to 4 November.

I noticed that a story about this wreck made the front page of Yahoo News today.