Washington

Seeing is believing, just not on the Internet

By David Larter on November 4, 2010 Washington

There’s an old saying in the journalism community: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. The lead story on Drudge Report today proclaimed that the U.S. Navy is sending 34 ships to Mumbai, India, to provide security for President Obama’s visit. The story links to an Indian news report you can read here. This is what Drudge seized on: He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as…

And the winner is … both

By David Larter on November 4, 2010 Navy, Ships, Shipyard, Washington

Yesterday, in-house heavy hitter Chris Cavas broke the news that both Lockheed Martin and Austal USA have been waiting for all year, and both companies can be happy with it. After a year-long wait, the Navy will ask congress for permission to award both companies 10 LCS hulls. The service’s leadership thinks competition between the companies has driven down the program’s costs. Cavas writes: Under the new proposal, the Navy would split its buy equally each year between Lockheed and Austal USA. Two ships would be awarded under the 2010 budget and two in 2011, with four ships year each…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on May 21, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Coast Guard, Congress, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Mishaps, Naval Academy, Navy, Personnel, Ships, Sports, Submarines, The Pacific, Washington

It’s been another busy week for the Navy. Here are seven stories in seven minutes from the past seven days that are worthy of notice: 1. Defense Bill passes HASC. This bill has tons of important stuff – far too much to put in this blog. You can check Monday’s edition of Navy Times for the complete scoop. But among the highlights is this news that lawmakers bucked the Pentagon’s 1.4 percent pay raise request, and looks to instead give service members a 1.9 percent boost. In addition, the bill aligns the 30-year shipbuilding plan with the QDR, which bodes well…

Gates claims sanity

By Lance Bacon on May 20, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, leadership, Navy, Personnel, Washington

For the second time in as many weeks, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has publicly proclaimed his own sanity. Or at least that he is “not crazy.” The first happened May 7 when he told reporters: I may want to change things, but I’m not crazy. I’m not going to cut a carrier, OK?” The comment was in response to headlines Gates made on May 3 when he questioned the need for 11 carrier strike groups. Today, Gates conceded a fiscal fight when the House Armed Services Committee decided the Pentagon’s basic pay raise from 1.4 to 1.9 percent. As first…

Carrier move to Mayport dead in the water?

By Lance Bacon on May 20, 2010 Carriers, Congress, Navy, Ships, Washington

Last week, Florida’s fight for a carrier was staggered by this Government Accountability Office report. Seeing the Sunshine State was standing on spaghetti legs, Rep. Glenn Nye, D-Va., on Wednesday night landed what Virginia lawmakers hope to be the knock-out punch. It happened as the House Armed Services Committee considered the 2011 defense bill.

Reporter's Notebook: CNO @ Heritage Foundation

By Lance Bacon on May 14, 2010 Aviation, Ballistic missile defense, Carriers, China, Environment, Foreign navies, leadership, Maritime operations, Navy, Personnel, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

Date: May 13, 2010 Location: Heritage Foundation, Washington D.C. Subj: CNO comments In a speech and response to questions offered at the Heritage Foundation Thursday, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead urged fiscal responsibility yet downplayed talk of further cuts to Navy ships and programs. He agreed with Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ call for greater scrutiny in procurement, and said he is a “proponent” for considering revisions to decades-old laws governing personnel issues. (You can read more about that in Monday’s edition of Navy Times). Other highlights:

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on May 7, 2010 Carriers, Congress, Foreign navies, leadership, Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Naval Academy, Navy, NECC, Officers, Sea Air Space, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The Middle East, Washington

Defense Secretary Robert Gates dropped the bomb of the week. In his first invitation to the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space symposium, Gates suggested a need for cutting carriers, sinking SSBN(X) and eliminating Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. You can read Gates’ speech here, and find out how this affects you in Monday’s edition of Navy Times. Speaking of amphibious operations, the personnel bubbas in Millington are starting to dry out. Two days of rain dumped more than 14 inches in the area. A levee couldn’t hold the water back and the base was flooded. This delayed one promotion board and threw many administrative matters into…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 30, 2010 Aviation, Coast Guard, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Morale, Navy, Officers, Personnel, Pirates, Royal Navy, Ships, Submarines, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that subs are now officially open to women. In other career news, the active duty master chiefs list was released. The Coast Guard is holding its ground in the oil spill – and against critics. and the Army cancelled the Non-Line of Sight Launch System, which will likely have significant ramifications for the Littoral Combat Ship. Here’s seven stories in seven minutes from the past seven days that you may not have seen, but are worthy of notice:

Carrier builders don't buy SecDef's plan

By Lance Bacon on April 29, 2010 Carriers, Congress, Navy, Ships, Washington

The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition brought more than 130 members from its 400 constituent companies to Capitol Hill Thursday to urge continued support for the aircraft carrier program. The sixth annual breakfast, held at the Rayburn Building, was attended by Reps. Glenn Nye, D-Va., and Rob Wittman, R-Va. Both serve on the House Armed Services Committee and both are very vocal on keeping a minimum of 11 carriers in the fleet through 2039. As one might expect, the construction and capabilities of the forthcoming carrier Gerald R. Ford was the top topic. Scoop Deck had a good talk with…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 22, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Military Sealift Command, Navy, NECC, ordnance, Recruiting, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The deckplates, The greenside, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Green Hornet on Thursday took to flight – the fighter jet, not the super hero. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and JP-5. That same day, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding a 2004 attack that killed four American security contractors. Two others will soon have their day in court. And on Wednesday, the Navy implemented its first change in 17 years to…

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