Archive for the ‘Sea’ Category
Navy ships from Chile, Colombia, Peru and the U.S. prepare for a live-fire exercise as part of the Pacific phase of Unitas 52 off the coast of Chile July 1, 2011. Unitas, Latin for "unity," is an annual USSOUTHCOM-sponsored, multinational naval exercise designed to enhance security cooperation and improve coalition operations between South American and U.S. maritime forces. (DoD photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Steve Smith, U.S. Navy/Released)
X-47B UCAS
Manned Surrogate Using X-47B Software Makes Trial Landings on USS Eisenhower
The U.S. Navy and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) have successfully completed a demonstration of the ship-based software and systems that will allow the X-47B unmanned air vehicle to operate from the deck of an aircraft carrier.
The test, conducted July 2 in the western Atlantic with the Navy carrier USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69), culminated with several successful launches and recoveries of a manned surrogate aircraft equipped with X-47B precision navigation control software.
“This manned surrogate test event is a significant and critical step toward landing the X-47B on the carrier deck in 2013,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, U.S. Navy, program manager, Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS). “It represents the first end-to-end test of the hardware and software systems that will eventually allow unmanned systems to integrate safely and successfully with all aspects of carrier operations.”
and
First, they used early versions of the software that the X-47B will use to operate at the carrier to simulate command and control, air traffic control and navigation exchanges between the aircraft and the carrier. Then they progressed to more robust simulations that included X-47B avionics and an X-47B mission operator station, all in the NASIF lab.
Next were flight tests of X-47B hardware and software installed on a King Air Beech 300 aircraft. The King Air flew in the vicinity of CVN-69 – both pier-side in Norfolk, Va., and while underway – to test mission management, command and control, communications, air traffic control and navigation functions between the X-47B software and the ship.
In addition to the King Air, the test team used a surrogate F/A-18 aircraft equipped with X-47B software and avionics to evaluate the most challenging areas of launch and recovery operations. Initial testing at Patuxent River focused on verifying that aircraft sensors, navigation, guidance and control systems were ready for shipboard testing.
U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II aircraft with Marine Attack Squadron (VMA) 214, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) land aboard the flight deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) during flight operations in the South China Sea June 29, 2011. VMA-214 was conducting an air qualification exercise in order to provide air support to the 31st MEU during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (DoD photo by Lance Cpl Steve Acuff, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)
The US, Spain, and Italy still operate Harriers. The Brits retired the last of theirs in December.
A couple of weeks ago there, was a report that the US government had bought some of the retired British planes for spare parts to keep the Marine Harriers flying until the F-35B arrives, but the Ministry of Defence denied it. Does anyone have any clarification on this story?
USS Enterprise (CVN 65), right, the U.S. Navy’s oldest aircraft carrier, passes USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the newest aircraft carrier, during a transit of the Strait of Bab el Mandeb in the Red Sea June 20, 2011. George H.W. Bush arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility to take over operations from the Enterprise. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brooks B. Patton Jr., U.S. Navy/Released)
U.S. Navy divers view a 22-ton engine block off the coast of Bridgetown, Barbados, June 16, 2011, during Navy Diver-Southern Partnership Station (ND-SPS). Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 was participating in ND-SPS, a multinational partnership engagement designed to increase interoperability and partner nation capacity through diving operations. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jayme Pastoric, U.S. Navy/Released)
So what do we think this block might be from?
Back in 2007:
German minehunter Gromitz grounded in 2007
Missed this when it happened. Here’s a little more info:
German Navy Type 332 Frankenthal class mine hunter M106 Grömitz (built 1994) based in Kiel — will remain for some time on the rocks where it grounded in the night of Feb 21 off the harbor Floræ on way to Bergen. While hull remained so far undamaged in the grounding, the bunker fuel will have to be taken off before salvage. This probably will have to be undertaken by a sheerleg as a tug could cause hull damage when towing the ship off the rocks where Grömitz is stuck fast with its bow pointing to the sky. Cause of the grounding was said to be a navigational error, but the small island could possible not be detected by radar in snowy conditions. Ship was underway with other NATO-units within a mine hunting exercise. She was expected in Bremerhaven the forthcoming weekend but this is very unsure now.
Sometimes you post photos just because they’re cool:
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 81 maneuvers during an air power demonstration over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza/Released)
The Robotic Hull Bio-inspired Underwater Grooming tool, or HULL BUG, is being tested by the Office of Naval Research as a hull-cleaning device. The HULL BUG is similar in concept to an autonomous robotic home vacuum cleaner and uses a biofilm detector to differentiate between the clean and unclean surfaces on the hull of a ship.
More info here.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 breaks the sound barrier during an air power demonstration over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), June 6, 2011, in the Pacific Ocean. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 were under way in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza, U.S. Navy/Released)
Cool:
In commemoration of the Battle of Midway, fought June 4-7, 1942. The U.S. Navy effectively destroyed Japan's naval strength by sinking four of its aircraft carriers. It is considered one of the most important naval battles of World War II. Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) created posters for a Battle of Midway Remembrance Dinner. (U.S. Navy photo illustration by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Larry Wolfe/Released)
Full story: NAS Meridian Holds Battle of Midway Commemoration
