The Navy is still testing railguns, really really fast railguns.

High-speed camera image of the Office of Naval Research Electromagnetic Railgun located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, firing a world-record setting 33 mega-joule shot, breaking the previous record established Jan. 31, 2008. The railgun is a long-range, high-energy gun launch system that uses electricity rather than gunpowder or rocket motors to launch projectiles capable of striking a target at a range of more than 200 nautical miles with Mach 7 velocity. A future tactical railgun will hit targets at ranges almost 20 times farther than conventional surface ship combat systems.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) achieved a milestone Dec. 10 when it successfully conducted a world-record 33-megajoule shot of the Electromagnetic Railgun aboard Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division.

“Today’s railgun test demonstrates the tactical relevance of this technology, which could one day complement traditional surface ship combat systems,” said Rear Adm. Nevin Carr, chief of naval research.

“The 33-megajoule shot means the Navy can fire projectiles at least 110 nautical miles, placing Sailors and Marines at a safe standoff distance and out of harm’s way, and the high velocities achievable are tactically relevant for air and missile defense,” he said. “This demonstration moves us one day closer to getting this advanced capability to sea.”

Besides the extended ranges, the railgun also improves safety for Sailors and Marines because it will eliminate the need for a high-energy explosive warhead and traditional gun propellants. Removing explosives and chemicals will reduce the munitions logistic chain.

A megajoule is a measurement of energy associated with a mass traveling at a certain velocity. In simple terms, a one-ton vehicle moving at 100 mph equals a megajoule of energy.

In 2008, ONR conducted a 10-megajoule shot for media and visitors at Dahlgren. Today’s demonstration showed researchers are steadily progressing toward developing a gun that could hit targets almost 20 times farther than conventional ship combat systems. A 33-megajoule shot, for example, could potentially reach extended ranges with Mach 5 velocity, five times the speed of sound.

The Department of the Navy’s Office of Naval Research provides the science and technology necessary to maintain the Navy and Marine Corps’ technological advantage. Through its affiliates, ONR is a leader in science and technology with engagement in 50 states, 70 countries, 1,035 institutions of higher learning, and 914 industry partners. ONR employs approximately 1,400 people, comprising uniformed, civilian and contract personnel.

U.S. Navy
By Geoff Fein, Office of Naval Research Public Affairs

The Turkish Dogan Bey power ship sits moored in the southern port of Umm Qasr. The ship provides enough power to run a small Iraqi city. Currently, it feeds into the main Iraqi power grid. Photo by Sgt. Francis Horton

The government of Iraq has been concentrating on providing basic necessities to its people while striving to maintain order and security.

Electricity has been an issue Iraqis are concerned about. In the southern city of Basra and throughout Iraq demonstrations have been held demanding more reliable power.

In response, steps are in place to help ease the power problems.

In the southern port of Umm Qasr, the hub of imports and exports for the country, a large ship sits moored to the docks. It is adorned with Turkish and Iraqi flags painted on the side, and large transformers cover the majority of the deck.

“It’s like an on-land power facility,” said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Frank Bullock, a logistic coordinator with the Joint Interagency Task Force. Reciprocating generators on the deck of the ship use a refined fuel provided by the Iraqi Department of Energy. The electricity is run to the Iraqi power grid. This ship alone has the ability to power Umm Qasr with some left over, he said.

“So far, we have had no security incidents,” said the plant manager and ship captain, Mutlu Cevlik, a Turkish sailor from Istanbul. A five-year contract has been signed with the Iraqi Department of Energy for the ship to provide power, he said. A second ship has also been dispatched from Turkey.

Security cameras and local guards have been hired to help secure the ship, Cevlik said. Around 70 people from Umm Qasr keep the ship safe 24 hours a day. Onboard, Turkish workers keep the generators maintained and running.

Turkish workers run fuel hoses across the deck of the Dogan Bey power ship to keep the generators filled and pumping to capacity. Photo by Sgt. Francis Horton

“Sandstorms are the biggest problem,” Cevlik said. The generators operate as close to full capacity as possible, but during periods of high wind, sand and dirt get caught in the filters causing overheating and automatic shutdowns.

Cevlick is confident issues like these will be easy to get around. The next step is to hire a security officer to help bring the ship up to international safety standards.

“We want to make this environment better,” Cevlick said.

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Francis Horton

Spc. Jennifer Cumbie, a Miami native and a multichannel transmission system operator with Company B, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, and Pvt. Maurice Bailey, a Los Angeles native and multichannel transmission system operator with Company B, inspect helium storage containers on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, July 12. These Soldiers and other members of their team are responsible for keeping the blimp full of helium and in the air. Photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor

Pre-deployment training prepares Soldiers for a wide range of missions they may encounter. Flying a blimp is typically not one of them.

Or at least it wasn’t for Soldiers on Forward Operating Base Warrior, Kirkuk, Iraq, until a new surveillance blimp took its place in the skies above FOB Warrior.

The blimp began operating June 28, and is part of a growing number of these blimps currently being used across Iraq.

This equipment takes a special group of Soldiers operating day and night to keep it in the air and out of harm’s way.

“If the blimp starts losing helium, or if it needs to be patched, we take it down, find the hole and fix it,” said Spc. Jennifer Cumbie, a Miami native and a multi-channel transmission system operator with Co. B, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division.

The Soldiers are also on the lookout for bad weather and heavy winds, which can affect the stability of the blimp.

“In the communications world, Soldiers who operate their systems are in control of troubleshooting and can easily identify where a problem can, or has occurred,” said 2nd Lt. Valerie LoSchiavo, the officer in charge of the blimp team and a platoon leader with Company B, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “But this mission holds challenges and variables that are difficult to predict or determine.”

And the unpredictability of this weather has made the job of these Soldiers challenging.

“It has been a learning experience,” said Spc. Marshall Austin, a Wilkesborow, N.C., native and a shift leader with the blimp team.

“We all learned an entirely new system,” said LoSchiavo. “But the team has adapted to the task with ease. They have done an outstanding job,” said LoSchiavo.

“When they found out about it they were excited to do something new,” she said. “It gave us something to focus on and put our energy into.”

DVIDS
Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor

Chief Warrant Officer Russell Faulkner of St. Louis heats a piece of stainless steel in Baghdad, March 22. Faulkner plans on turning the piece of metal into a quality theater-made knife. Photo by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

As the smell of burnt metal clouds the stale air and bright-red ambers bounce across the floor, a Soldier with Special Operations Task Force – Central mentors other troops about the untold art of knife-making.

In his spare time, Chief Warrant Officer Russell Faulkner, the honorary blacksmith of his Special Forces unit, teaches a weekly class on the creation of knives to enthusiastic students.

“It’s very rewarding for me personally to watch someone do something they never thought they would ever be doing,” said Faulkner. “Some people have never even touched a hammer – literally.”

One student, Pfc. Kevin Haskins of Oxford, Ohio, said it feels good to be able to find something to do in his spare time while deployed.

The light-wheel vehicle mechanic added the class is both productive and entertaining at the same time.

Faulkner’s blacksmith class focuses on basic knife structure, strength, shape and purpose.

The native of St. Louis said that the purpose of the knife – whether it’s hunting, fishing, skinning, self-defense, decoration or art – determines what type of metal should be used and how much will be needed for the project.

According to Faulkner, he hopes his students walk away from his class with a family heirloom.

“From the Civil War to World War I to the Korean War to Vietnam,” Faulkner said. “Knives that were [hand] made are worth more to family members than any amount of money.” However, he further explained that quality theater-made knives have been known to be worth a lot, if not in sentiment, in monetary value.

Haskins said he doesn’t plan on selling anything he makes in country – he’s either keeping them or giving them away as presents. The former art student is currently on his third project which he intends to give to his girlfriend back home.

As long as Faulkner could remember he has always experimented in the craft of “making something out of nothing.” But, he didn’t start to sharpen his raw talent until he met his previous battalion commander and his friend Charlie Ochs, a master bladesmith, who taught him how to make knives correctly.

Service Detachment Commander 1st Lt. John Eimers saws apart a piece of metal in Baghdad, April 13. Eimers of Chicago is one the Special Operations Task Force – Central Soldiers who is crafting knives with the help of Chief Warrant Officer Russell Faulkner of St. Louis. Photo by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

“Because he shared it with me, I want to share it with them,” Faulkner said pointing at his students who were busy working on their knives. He explained his passion for the lost art is driven mostly by being able to pass it on to others.

And the chief warrant officer, who plans on becoming a shop teacher when he retires, added that the experience so far has been good instructing practice.

“You learn more from teaching it then you do from doing it,” he said.

He explained that the experience has helped him get a grasp on the numerous teaching styles that fit best with the many different personalities and skill levels.

The students in his class come to him with a wide range of ability and experiences.

According to Haskins, Faulkner has all the qualities to make a great teacher.

“He has been very patient and understanding,” Haskins said. “He understands where students should start [and] how to teach all the basics. He’s truly good at what he does.”

Chief Warrant Officer Russell Faulkner (left) of St. Louis teaches Pfc. Kevin Haskins of Oxford, Ohio, how to properly sharpen a theater-made knife in Baghdad, March 22. Photo by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

Lightheartedly, Haskins said he would love to do this all the time when he gets back home as long as he could find all the equipment at a price he could afford.

However, until then he will have to continue to create theater-made knives for his friends and family with Faulkner’s assistance.

Over his last two deployments, Faulkner has helped craft over 200 knives and has taught more than 30 students.

Despite what parents have been telling their children for decades, the 20-year-veteran and his fellow Soldiers continue to play with fire and have fun with sharp objects in hopes of “making something out of nothing.”

DVIDS
Story by Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma