Observing the Daily Discussions

How was your first week XO? Check out YankeeSailor's first week on the job as XO of the USS Russell (DDG 59). It is a nice wrap up to the intercept of US 193.

Also interesting is the interview with the USS Lake Erie (CG 70) CO at Navy Times.

This Sevmash shipyard story isn't getting the attention it should. If a shipyard is willing to dismiss the largest commercial export shipbuilding contract in Russia, I wonder what India is expecting in regards to that aircraft carrier being built there?

Japan returns to action in the Indian Ocean.

SecDef visits Australia. F-22A is in play?

Bring on more SINKEX? That is what the story says. I know so many of you, like me, are huge fans of the SINKEX at a time when the fleet continues to reduce numbers. The Navy Times reports 2 Spruance class destroyers and the USS Forrestal are among the list.

It sure would be nice if we didn't sink the reserve, but hey, who needs a reserve right? I somehow forgot to post this the other day; the following chart was included with the FY09 budget, which includes many but not all the ships expected to be discarded by SINKEX.