Greetings to all members and subscribers of Americans for a Stronger Navy.
As an organization that promotes Peace Through Strength, we are thrilled to share the latest news in the U.S. Navy’s efforts to maintain and advance its capabilities.
We hope that this story will inform and inspire you to support our mission to build a stronger Navy.
Summary
Leonardo DRS, a leading provider of advanced defense technology, has been awarded contracts valued at over $1 billion to provide integrated electric propulsion components for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation Columbia-class submarine. The Columbia-class submarine is a top priority program for the Navy, and it will replace the fleet of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. The integrated electric propulsion components will be manufactured in the company’s facilities in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Missouri.
Leonardo DRS is known for its market-leading propulsion and power generation technology, with major systems for next-generation submarines and surface ships. The company’s investments in these technologies have created opportunities to use proven electric drive capabilities for future naval platforms.
Key Takeaways
Leonardo DRS has been awarded contracts worth over $1 billion to provide integrated electric propulsion components for the U.S Navy’s Columbia-class submarine program.
The Columbia-class submarine is a top priority program for the Navy and will replace the fleet of Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines.
Leonardo DRS is a leading provider of advanced defense technology, with major systems for next-generation submarines and surface ship.
Conclusion
The U.S. Navy’s investment in the next-generation Columbia-class submarine program represents the importance of maintaining and advancing our national security capabilities. Leonardo DRS’s role in providing integrated electric propulsion components is critical to the success of this program.
As supporters of a Stronger Navy, we encourage our readers to consider subscribing to our organization and helping to build a stronger future for our nation’s defense.
Greetings members and subscribers! Americans for a Stronger Navy values promoting peace through strength, which is our organization’s central theme. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how the USS Ralph Johnson recently assisted a local non-profit organization, Island Girl Power (IGP), in Guam. We hope that this story will inform and inspire our readers to continue supporting a Stronger Navy.
Summary:
Sailors from the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 116) visited IGP in Dededo, Guam, on March 31 to help organize donations of clothing and furniture for the Kurason i’Sengsong thrift store and assist in the community garden. The proceeds from the thrift store help to fund IGP’s core program, which aims to empower young girls in Guam. The sailors hoped that their work would help the mission of IGP and connected them to the greater good of the island’s community. IGP Executive Director Juanita Blaz thanked the sailors for their assistance, which showed the community and its youth that people care about them.
Key Takeaways:
The USS Ralph Johnson recently helped Island Girl Power in Guam.
Sailors helped organize donations of clothing and furniture and assisted in the community garden.
The proceeds from the thrift store fund IGP’s core program, which young girls in Guam.
The sailors hoped to connect with the community and the greater good of the island.
IGP Executive Director Juanita Blaz thanked the sailors for their assistance, which showed the community and its youth that people care about them.
Conclusion:
The USS Ralph Johnson’s recent assistance to Island Girl Power is a heartwarming example of how the US Navy can help local communities.
We hope that this story inspires our readers to continue supporting a Stronger Navy, which values promoting peace through strength. By subscribing to Americans for a Stronger Navy, you can stay informed about our mission and help us achieve our goals. #PeaceThroughStrength
Class and type Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Displacement 9,217 tons (full load)[6] Length 513 feet (156 m)[6] Beam 66 feet (20 m)[6] Propulsion 4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines (100,000 shp)[6] Speed 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) Complement 380 officers and enlisted Armament Guns: 5-inch (127 mm)/62 Mk 45 Mod 4 (lightweight gun) 1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 Machine Gun System 4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns Missiles: 1 × 32-cell, 1 × 64-cell (96 total cells) Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS): RIM-66M Surface-to-Air Missile RIM-156 Surface-to-Air Missile RIM-174A Standard ERAM RIM-161 Anti-Ballistic Missile RIM-162 ESSM (quad-packed) BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC Torpedoes: 2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes: Mark 46 Lightweight Torpedo Mark 50 Lightweight Torpedo Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo Aircraft carried 2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters Aviation facilities Double hangar and helipad
Greetings members and subscribers, we at Americans for a Stronger Navy, are committed to promoting Peace Through Strength. As an organization that aims to inform and inspire, we want to provide the latest news on the recent military drills that China has conducted around Taiwan.
Summary
Chinese Destroyer Courtesy of DoD
China recently completed three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included “sealing off” the island and simulating targeted strikes. Taiwan detected jets to its east, and China confirmed its Shandong aircraft carrier had taken part. China began the exercises after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California. The drills have not been as big as those that followed Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last August.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary.
Taiwan’s defence ministry detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island on Monday. A senior US official has expressed concern about Beijing’s military exercises, saying they undermine peace and stability in the region.
Key Takeaways
China has conducted military drills around Taiwan, which included “sealing off” the island and simulating targeted strikes.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary.
Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island on Monday.
The US has expressed concern about Beijing’s military exercises, saying they undermine peace and stability in the region.
Conclusion
As a supporter of a Stronger Navy, we hope this update on the recent military drills by China around Taiwan will encourage you to subscribe and stay informed. We want to emphasize the importance of peace through strength and how vital it is for a Stronger Navy.
Our mission is to keep you updated on the latest news and inspire you to support our efforts towards a safer future.
Thank you for your time, and we appreciate your continued support.
USS Niblack (DD 424) picks up three boatloads of survivors from Dutch freighter Saleier, which was sunk the previous day by a German U-boat. The destroyer detects a submarine preparing to attack and drives it off with a depth charge attack. It is the first action between American and German forces in World War II.
1942
USS Thresher (SS 200) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Maru six miles north of Oshima, near the entrance to Tokyo Bay, Honshu, Japan.
1944
TBM bombers and FM-2s aircraft (VC 58) from USS Guadalcanal (CVE 60) sink German submarine U 68 off Madeira Island.
1963
During diving tests, USS Thresher (SSN 593) is lost with all hands east of Cape Cod, Mass., including commanding officer and 17 civilian technicians.
1966
During the Vietnam War, the river patrol boats (PBRs) of River Patrol Force commence operations on inland waters of South Vietnam.
April 11
1783
Congress declares the cessation of arms against Great Britain, just a few days after British Parliament passed a similar resolution, thus ending hostilities of the American Revolution.
1944
USS Redfin (SS 272) sinks the Japanese destroyer Akigumo in the eastern entrance to Basilan Strait.
1945
The kamikaze attacks during the Okinawa Campaign damage eight Navy ships.
1970
Apollo 13 is launched, commanded by Navy Capt. James A. Lovell. The ship endures an explosion forcing an immediate return to Earth. Recovery is by helicopters from USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2).
1991
The U.N. Security Council declares a formal cease-fire ending the Persian Gulf War.
1992
USS Annapolis (SSN 760) is commissioned at the Electric Boat Division at Groton, Conn. The 10th of her Los Angeles “Improved” class of attack submarines.
April 12
1861
The Civil War begins with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter, S.C. The Union Navy plays an integral part blockading Confederates, keeping them diplomatically and economically contained from other nations.
1911
Lt. Theodore Ellyson completes his aviator training at the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Camp at North Island, San Diego, Calif., and becomes Naval Aviator No. 1.
1944
USS Halibut (SS 232) sinks Japanese army passenger/cargo ship Taichu Maru despite the presence of at least three escort vessels.
1945
President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies at Warm Springs, Ga. Besides being the nation’s longest-serving president, he also was an assistant secretary of the Navy.
1962
U.S. Navy demonstrates new landing craft with retractable hydrofoils, LCVP (H), which are named Highlanders. The Navy eventually rejects the craft because it cant keep a straight path like a standard LCVP.
1981
The first re-useable Space Shuttle, Columbia (STS-1) is launched with an all-US Navy crew: Capt. John W. Young (Ret.) is the shuttles commander and Lt. Cmdr. Robert L. Crippen is the pilot.
1986
USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) is commissioned at Bath, Maine.
1993
Aircraft from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and NATO forces begin enforcing the no-fly zone over the Bosnia in Operation Deny Flight.
2003
USS Mason (DDG 87) is commissioned at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is the 37th in the class and the ninth of the Flight IIA variant.
April 13
1940
USS J. Fred Talbott (DD 156) returns to the Panama Canal Zone after providing medical assistance to a passenger on board Japanese steamship SS Arimasan Maru.
1942
USS Grayling (SS 209) sinks the Japanese freighter Ryujin Maru off southest tip of Shikoku, Japan.
1944
USS Harder (SS 257) sinks the Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi, 180 miles SSW of Guam.
1952
During the Korean War, sorties launch from USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) and Boxer (CV 21) and deliver 200 tons of aircraft ordnance to the North Korean target area.
1960
The Navy’s navigation satellite, Transit 1B, which demonstrates the first engine restart in space, is placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida, by Thor-Able-Star.
1981
AV-8A Harriers deploy as a Marine Air Group on board an amphibious assault ship for the first time.
1996
USS Carney (DDG 64) is commissioned at Mayport, Fla., her homeport. The destroyer is the 14th of the Arleigh Burke-class and the first to be named after Adm. Robert Carney, the Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.
April 14
1898
The first post-Civil War hospital ship, USS Solace (AH 2) is commissioned and soon participates in the Spanish-American War attending to wounded servicemen from battles in Cuba
1942
USS Roper (DD 147) sinks German submarine U 85 off the Virginia Capes. Before being sunk by Roper, U 85 sank three Allied merchant vessels.
1945
USS Tirante (SS 420), commanded by Lt. Cmdr. George L. Street III, attacks a Japanese convoy in the approaches to the Yellow Sea and sinks a transport ship and two vessels. Street earns Medal of Honor for his actions.
1969
A North Korean aircraft shoots down an unarmed EC-121 propeller-driven Constellation, killing all 31 crewmembers on board.
1988
During Operation Ernest Will, USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) strikes an Iranian mine off Qatar, injuring 10 sailors. Four days later, the US Navy retaliates with Operation Praying Mantis, which strikes Iranian oil platforms, sinks an Iranian frigate, patrol ship, and damages another frigate.
April 15
1912
The scout cruisers USS Chester and USS Salem sail from Massachusetts to assist RMS Titanic survivors, and escort RMS Carpathia, which carried the survivors of the Titanic, to New York.
1918
The First Marine Aviation Force, under the command of Capt. Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC, is formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla.
1945
USS Frost (DE 144) and USS Stanton (DE 247) join to attack German submarine U 880 north-northwest of the Azores, which sinks at 01:14.
1961
The first nuclear-powered frigate, USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25), is launched at Quincy, Mass.
1962
USS Princeton (LPH 5) brings the first advisory unit to Vietnam and the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 362 SocTrang, Mekong Delta, South Vietnam.
1986
Operation El Dorado Canyon. Aircraft of USS America (CV 66) & USS Coral Sea (CV 43) attack Libya.
Greetings to all members and subscribers of Americans for a Stronger Navy. We believe in promoting peace through strength, which is a valuable central theme of our organization mission.
In this blog post, we will summarize a recent event related to the US Navy in the South China Sea.
Summary:
The US Navy has sent a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Milius, close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, near the South China Sea. Mischief Reef, which is claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, has been militarized by China.
The sailing was consistent with international law, and the US Navy asserts that China’s actions are in violation of the Law of the Sea Convention. China has claimed almost all of the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters, including many distant islands and inlets, and has militarized many of them.
“No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms,” the US Navy said.
The US Navy announcement came after China’s military simulated precision attacks against key targets in Taiwan.
China called the USS Milius mission “illegal trespassing.”
The US regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the region, defending the rights of vessels of any nation to operate in the area.
Key Takeaways:
The US Navy has sent a guided-missile destroyer close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, near the South China Sea.
Mischief Reef has been militarized by China, which is in violation of international law.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters and has militarized many of the islands and inlets.
The US regularly conducts FONOPs in the region to defend the rights of vessels of any nation to operate in the area.
Conclusion:
It is essential to promote peace through strength, as our organization mission states, and the recent US Navy’s action in the South China Sea is an example of how we can achieve it. By following international law and conducting FONOPs, we can defend the rights of all nations to operate in the region.
We encourage all our readers to support a Stronger Navy by subscribing to our website and staying informed on these critical issues.
Greetings to all members and subscribers of the Americans for a Stronger Navy blog. Our organization’s mission is to promote peace through strength.
Today, we are excited to share some news regarding the U.S. Navy’s plan to purchase new aircraft that will act as communication links between the government and nuclear forces worldwide.
Summary:
The Navy is preparing to replace the E-6 Mercury with the E-XX, a new aircraft that will be based on the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft. The E-XX will be responsible for transmitting messages to missile submarines and other nuclear forces, including the launch codes for nuclear weapons if necessary.
United States Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury of Strategic Communications Wing ONE, Task Group 114.2, based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, high over Colorado Aug. 23, 2019. The E-6B was refueled by a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, also from Tinker AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)
The Navy will release a requirements list for the new plane, with three test aircraft set to be built soon, followed by a contract for nine more by 2025. The 12 new aircraft will replace the 16 E-6s currently in service.
The TACAMO (take charge and move out) planes are responsible for relaying Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) to submarines at sea. The submarines are armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles and are tasked to disappear into the oceans to evade detection.
TACAMO planes ensure that the National Command Authority can command nuclear forces even in the midst of a nuclear war. One
TACAMO plane is usually in the air at all times, and it’s not uncommon for up to six to be in the air at once.
The new E-XX TACAMO will trail long wires that transmit very low-frequency messages, which can penetrate seawater and reach submerged submarines. Lockheed Martin’s entry for the E-XX competition is the EC-130J TACAMO, a plane it is co-developing with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman along with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, Crescent Systems, and Long Wave Inc. to partner to develop a solution for the US Navy’s E-XX TACAMO requirements.
Key Takeaways:
The Navy is preparing to replace the E-6 Mercury with the E-XX, a new aircraft that will be based on the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft.
The E-XX will be responsible for transmitting messages to missile submarines and other nuclear forces, including the launch codes for nuclear weapons if necessary.
The TACAMO planes ensure that the National Command Authority can command nuclear forces even in the midst of a nuclear war.
The new E-XX TACAMO will trail long wires that transmit very low-frequency messages, which can penetrate seawater and reach submerged submarines.
Lockheed Martin’s entry for the E-XX competition is the EC-130J TACAMO, a plane it is co-developing with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.
Conclusion:
The TACAMO aircraft are some of the most important planes in the entire U.S. military arsenal, as their job as an essential link in nuclear command and control means they truly live up to their hype as the “deadliest planes in the world.” We hope this news has informed and inspired our readers to support a Stronger Navy. Let us work together to promote peace through strength.
The USS Florida U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Lynn Friant
The U.S. Navy has deployed a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, USS Florida, to the Middle East in support of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain.
The submarine entered the region on Thursday and transited the Suez Canal on Friday. The USS Florida is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to ensure regional maritime security and stability.
The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) makes her way through Cumberland Sound to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Florida will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006, in Mayport, Fla. Florida is the second of four SSBN submarines to be converted to the guided missile SSGN platform.
Armament
4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 154 × BGM-109 Tomahawks in 22 groups of seven
The 5th Fleet patrols the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil transits. Its region includes the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen and the Red Sea stretching up to the Suez Canal, the Egyptian waterway linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean Sea.
Press reports reflect that China conducted “Joint Sword” drills and combat patrols around Taiwan from April 2-4, 2022, involving 71 warplanes and nine naval vessels in a show of force against Taiwan’s sovereignty according to Japan Times.
According to the Eastern Theater Command, the drills were conducted in the waters and airspace to the north, south and east of Taiwan. It warned that it is a serious warning against the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ collusion and provocation with external forces, and it is a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 45 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the most in a single day since Taiwan began releasing daily tallies in 2020. The exercises were held days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen incurred Beijing’s wrath for meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
China has not ruled out the use of force to take Taiwan, which it regards as its own territory, and has denounced Tsai’s meetinyg with McCarthy as “collusion” between Washington and Taipei, promising to take “resolute and effective measures” in response. The latest military exercises by China have been criticized by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry as a threat to “regional peace, stability and security,” adding that China had “used President Tsai’s visit to the United States as an excuse to conduct the military exercises.”
Japan has watched the area with trepidation, with senior officials fearing that conflict in the Taiwan Strait would also constitute an emergency for Japan. Okinawa Prefecture’s Yonaguni Island sits about 110 kilometers from Taiwan, and growing concerns over a possible war have helped Tokyo push through a dramatic shift in security policy and boost in defense spending.
Key takeaways:
China conducted “Joint Sword” drills and combat patrols around Taiwan from April 2-4, 2022, involving 71 warplanes and nine naval vessels in a show of force against Taiwan’s sovereignty.
The Eastern Theater Command warned that it was a serious warning against the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ collusion and provocation with external forces, and it is a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 45 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the most in a single day since
Taiwan began releasing daily tallies in 2020. The latest military exercises by China have been criticized by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry as a threat to “regional peace, stability and security.”
Japan has watched the area with trepidation, with senior officials fearing that conflict in the Taiwan Strait would also constitute an emergency for Japan.
Our mission is to educate policymakers and the public about the crucial role of a strong Navy and advocate for investments in shipbuilding, modernization, and maintenance. Today, we’ll be discussing China’s recent patrols and inspections in the Taiwan Strait and why a strong Navy is essential to preserving peace through strength, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of navigation.
China Increases Patrols and Inspections in Taiwan Strait Following High-Level Meeting with U.S. Officials
Courtesy of the CIA
China Increases Patrols and Inspections in Taiwan Strait Following High-Level Meeting with U.S. Officials
China has launched a series of patrols in the Taiwan Strait and ordered inspections of ships, which Taiwan has rejected and urged its shipping companies to ignore. The inspections could impact passenger and fishing vessels as well as commercial and shipping vessels.
The Chinese move comes after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, prompting China to vow to take “strong” measures if the two leaders went through with the meeting.
The U.S. has pledged unwavering bipartisan support for Taiwan, while China has said it will resolutely safeguard its country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after pro-democratic forces based there lost a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.
Key takeaways:
China has launched patrols in the Taiwan Strait and ordered inspections of ships, but Taiwan has rejected these measures and urged its shipping companies to ignore them.
The Chinese inspections could impact a range of vessels, including passenger and fishing vessels as well as commercial and shipping vessels.
China’s actions came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, which prompted China to vow to take “strong” measures.
The U.S. has pledged its unwavering bipartisan support for Taiwan, while China has said it will resolutely safeguard its country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after pro-democratic forces based there lost a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.
Americans for a Stronger Navy is a non profit group advocating for a robust US Navy to maintain the nation’s maritime superiority and safeguard its interests and peace through strength.
As part of its mission, the group highlights the importance of investing in advanced naval technologies and capabilities to ensure that the Navy remains ready and capable of defending against any potential threat.
USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Mason (DDG 87) engage a GQM-163, supersonic target, launched by the NASA’s Wallops Fight Facility in Virginia using AEGIS combat system and SM-2 missiles.
The exercise took place on 27 March 2023, and the footage of the event was released by the Navy.
https://youtu.be/n6171Y8F15I
Northrop Grumman GQM-163 Coyote
Philippine Sea and Mason are underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) with Carrier Strike Group TWO. SWATT is the surface force’s premiere advanced tactical training exercise, increasing warfighting capability and tactical proficiency across all domains.
Northrop Grumman
The US Navy has successfully destroyed the supersonic target GQM-163 Coyote during an exercise in the Atlantic Ocean near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
The GQM-163 Coyote is a high-performance target used for training purposes and was developed by Northrop Grumman for the US Navy to replace the MQM-8 Vandal. It is capable of reaching Mach 2.6 (3,210 km/h) at 5-9 meters and Mach 3-4 (3,700-4940 km/h) at 1.5-16.8 km altitude, with a range of 83km and the ability to reach 17km into the sky.
Lockheed Martin Aegis system
During the exercise, the US Navy used at least two Raytheon Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) interceptors to destroy the GQM-163 Coyote. The missiles were launched by the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87), both of which are equipped with the Aegis system.
The Aegis system leverages a combination of software, sensors, and weapons to detect, classify, track, and defeat threats. It integrates the flow of information from multiple ships and aircraft to comprehensively counter large-scale attacks.
The successful exercise demonstrated the effectiveness of the Aegis system and the SM-2 missiles in countering supersonic targets. The Navy’s ability to detect, track and destroy such high-performance targets is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of maritime operations.
Overall, the successful exercise is a testament to the US Navy’s commitment to maintaining a high level of readiness and preparedness in the face of potential threats. The Navy’s continued investment in advanced technologies and training exercises ensures that it remains capable of defending against any potential adversaries.