The Gryphon's Beak

September, 2020

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This has been a unique year in so many ways. One way it has stood out to me (as we head into the final third) is the amazing generosity and thoughtfullness of Second Fleet.

We have, as a Fleet, risen to the challenges presented. We have found ways to help each other deal with the loss of social activities. We have raised funds to help our members in need. We, just yesterday (as I write this) helped save a member’s service dog. We made masks too!

I want to use this month’s dispatch to remind you that you are pretty amazing people. As we head into the last third of the year, with some difficult times sure to come, I want us to hold on to that thought.

You are amazing, and I am glad to have you here in the Fleet. Thank you for making us really be Second to None. All of you.

Comings & Goings

BuShips Directive 2007-04
Decommissioning, HMS Imperatrix
Effective as of 0001 Hours on 31 July 2020, HMS Imperatrix (SD-457) is to immediately stand down all present assignments and/or missions, and is subsequently ordered to return to HMSS Greenwich for decommissioning and crew transfer.

Upon arrival, you and your crew shall make HMS Imperatrix (SD-457) ready in all respects for decommissioning; strike eight bells, strike the colors and secure the watch. You are further ordered to relinquish command of HMS Imperatrix (SD-457) to the Bureau of Ships in the person of CDRE Justin Dupras, RMN, who shall hold temporary command for the duration of the voyage to Manticore for processing and inspection. Thanks is given to the outgoing command team for their service.

BuShips Directive 2007-05
Commander Ross Prosser:
You are hereby directed and required to proceed aboard HMS Valkyrie (SD-355), there to take upon yourself the duties and responsibilities of Executive Officer, relieving Commander Arthur Henecke, DGC, RMN, in service to the Crown. Fail not in this charge at your peril. Thanks is offered to CDR Henecke for his service.

BuShips Directive 2008-02
Effective as of 0001 Hours on 05 August 2020, it is my pleasure and privilege to announce the commissioning of HMS Vixen (DD-174). This is a Chanson class Destroyer and is assigned to the Second Fleet AOR (Chicago, IL).

The following personnel are hereby transferred and permanently assigned to HMS Vixen (DD-174):

S1C Lisa Wiedemann (assigned as CO)
LT(JG) Kerry Kuhn (assigned as XO)
S2C James Dobbs (assigned as Bosun)
PO2 Morgan David

The following Royal Manticoran Marine Corps personnel are hereby transferred and permanently assigned to HMS Vixen (DD-174):

PSGT Martin Tizura
PVT Rhyan Jenkins

The following brevets are hereby authorized:

Lisa Wiedemann to LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, RMN
Kerry Kuhn to LIEUTENANT SENIOR GRADE, RMN
James Dobbs to CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, RMN

Congratulations, and happy hunting!

BuShips Directive 2008-03
It is my pleasure and privilege to announce the appointment of Commanding Officer, Construction and Refit Command, effective as of 0001 Hours on Saturday, August 1st.

Commodore Sir Justin Dupras, you are hereby ordered to report to the Office of the Third Space Lord, whereupon you shall assume the duties of Commanding Officer, Construction and Refit Command, with all rights and responsibilities associated with that role.

BuShips Directive 2008-06
Captain JG Thomas Hathaway IV, RMN, you are hereby directed and required to proceed aboard HMS Ajax (BC-545), there to take upon yourself the duties and responsibilities of Commanding Officer, reliving Captain JG Gordon Klein-Lebbink, RMN, in service to the Crown. Fail not in this charge at your peril.

Additionally, LTJG Jim McCoy, RMN (RMN-5587-18), is assigned as Executive Officer, , and breveted to Commander, relieving Captain JG Thomas Hathaway IV, RMN, in service to the Crown

The Bureau of Ships wishes to express appreciation and thanks to Captain JG Klein-Lebbink and for his service as Commanding Officer of HMS Ajax, we wish him all success in his future endeavors.

June Reports

This is a reminder that your Chapter and MarDet reports are due between June 1st and 10th. One thing I found amazingly helpful when filling them out was to use an online document (Google Docs, Word Online) to keep things organized as they happened. Then, when the reporting month hit, I could just copy and paste them into the reports form, and be done. No trying to remember what happened two months ago at the last minute!

Marines – you now have a new online form to fill out for Bi-Monthly reports. The link is below. It will send the reports to your command triad, your Ship’s CO and to ComForceCom. Please use this form to send in your report that is due on June 5th.

There is only one stipulation with the form at this time. Please do not use autofill. Autofill does not work properly and that information is deleted in the report. You can copy and paste information into the report but forgo the autofill function.

https://buships.trmnbureaus.info/rmmc/

Nominations for HMS Unconquered Class of 2020

Pursuant to Admiralty Order 1511-04, the Bureau of Ships is pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the HMS Unconquered’s Class of 2020. Nominations will be accepted at buships@trmn.org until 2359 CDT (GMT -0500) on 30 September 2020.

Nominations MUST be sent by a Royal Manticoran Naval Commissioned Officer holding the billet of Commanding Officer of a Light Attack Craft, Hyper-Capable Craft, Echelon, Fleet, Bureau, Navy, or Admiralty House. Nominations from allied navies regarding RMN personnel serving their vessels will also be accepted.

Eligibility requirements for each nominee include:

Nominee must have been a member of The Royal Manticoran Navy: The Official Honor Harrington Fan Association for at least one year.

Nominee must be a current or previous member of the Royal Manticoran Naval Branch and have served that branch for at least one year of service; said service to include the entirety of the 2019 calendar year.

Nominees not meeting the above requirements shall be deemed ineligible and dropped from consideration.

Nominees from the Royal Manticoran Marine Corps are handled by the Marshal of the Corps’ Office per AO 1511-04.

Nominees from the Grayson Space Navy are handled by the Office of the High Admiral for the Protector’s Own nomination period, to be announced by the High Admiral.

The ideal nominee has made substantive contributions to the Star Kingdom in the shining example of Edward Saganami, himself. Equivalency in TRMN would be sustained, outstanding contributions with a high quality and service to the Organization as a whole.

The ideal nomination will have detailed information about the nominee and his or her specific contributions between the start of his or her membership up to 30 July 2020 and should include all dates of each action or contribution worthy of nomination. Nominations may also include letters of concurrent recommendation from other ranking officers that bore witness or were directly affected by those contributions.

The Bureau of Ships Committee for HMS Unconquered shall convene beginning 15 September 2020 to consider nominations received thus far. This committee is made up of the senior officers of the Bureau along with the sitting Annual Commanding Officer of Unconquered. The committee will also include representatives from the Bureau of Personnel to advise the committee. Please be advised that this committee shall render decisions based on the strength of the nomination for each nominee; it is therefore important that the nominations be as detailed as possible to provide said nominee with the best possible chance for selection and induction.

Nominations for the billet of Annual Commanding Officer of HMS Unconquered will not be accepted by this Committee. The selection of the Annual Commanding Officer is reserved for the Third Space Lord per Admiralty Order. Any endorsements or recommendations may be sent directly to the Third Space Lord at 3sl@trmn.org.

Sanctioned RMN LARP

To: All Officers, Enlisted, and Civilians in the Grand Alliance

From: Martin A. Lessem, KSK, GCR, GCE, SC, DSO, CGM, Admiral of the Fleet, First Lord of the Admiralty, Duke, New Scania

Re: LARP and RMN

This is to announce the following:

TRMN has been approved to run, with the help of Quest Adventure Gaming, a single run RMN LARP (Live Action Role Play)

This LARP will follow the HMS Ballista, CA-586, a Saganami-C class Heavy Cruiser from Manticore, as she conveys military observers from the Grand Alliance, to the Solarian System and meets up with the Grand Fleet, to put a rubber stamp on Admiral Alexander-Harrington’s terms of surrender.

The LARP will run in November of 2021 onboard the USS Edson, DD-946, a decommissioned Forrest Sherman class Destroyer in Saginaw Bay, Michigan.

It will be open to TRMN players and non-TRMN players, and a price, which will be all inclusive to cover participation, food, lodging, and uniforms will shortly be set once we know the maximum number of players possible. For those TRMN members who are able to use their own uniforms, based on the Characters you sign up for, this will be permitted. The Characters will be pre-written, so you will not be playing your TRMN personas, but some of them may be mentioned in the overall story.

As this has been approved by David Weber, the story itself will be canonical, even if the outcome may divert due to players being players.

Further information on this will follow as we begin putting things in place together with Quest Adventure Gaming.

IMPORTANT NOTE – This is not to be construed as blanket permission for TRMN LARPS. This event is a one-off, and approved by David, and supported by BuNine to ensure as much adherence to canon as possible.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have and they will be answered as soon as possible.

Charity Tracking

Remember to send in any charity giving or activity – through TRMN or not – to our Charity Tracking Officer, Lieutenant Commander David Oliver Kling (intel@2ndfleet.trmn.org).

We are wanting to get a good picture of how we, as a group, are involved in charity work. This is compiled and sent upwards.

It isn’t just money – we want to know if you volunteer your time too! Let us know, and we can even promote your charity here, helping get the word out to a wider audience!

Upcoming Events

As COVID-19 continues to flare in many states, large gatherings are being canceled across the board. Until it is safe to do so, Fleet advises considering all conventions ‘probably canceled’ for the foreseeable future.

We will return to our regular list of events once the situation allows.

Blood Drive Flyers!

BuComm-Approved blood drive flyers are available!

Each poster is available in 11 x 17 as a form-fillable PDF. Just enter your specific details, and your customized Blood Drive flyer is ready to go!

I want to thank SMAJ Brad Handley, MARDET Ajax, for spearheading the project, coming up with the idea and providing excellent suggestions on changes to the design. There is a ready-to-use version linked below:

Gryphon’s Wings Fleet Relief Project

On May 23rd we launched the Gryphon’s Wings Fleet Relief Project. The response has been overwhelming, and I am humbled by the generosity of our members.

We are currently in the midst of a Global pandemic. However, while we are all in the same storm, we are navigating the waters on different ships. Sometimes these waters will be more than we can handle on our own, and we need an extra hand on deck. We want you to know that the 2nd fleet is here for you.

To that end, we are asking for donations to create an emergency relief fund to be used for TRMN 2nd Fleet members. This fund’s target is to provide immediate short term relief of an urgent crisis. For example: Sending someone grocery money for a weeks worth of groceries (as a lot of food banks are running out of food, short on volunteers, and closing), providing gas money for a week so someone can still travel back and forth providing care-giving to a family member, covering the co-pay cost of a doctors visit, and other small emergency expenses. Anything helps. I am asking for a $5 monthly commitment – the cost of a Starbucks coffee – to assist. Please join me, and those who have already donated, in making TRMN more than just a fan group. Click here, or the banner below, to donate. Meet the Test.

At the same time, we know some are being affected by the effort to combat the virus,including job loss, other reduction of income, medical difficulties, etc. This can result in a tough choice between shelter, transportation, food, or medical care. That is an impossible choice no one should be required to face, and we want to help how we can.

To apply for a Visa Gift Card for you or another member, please click here.

Only the 2nd Fleet CO will see who the requester and/or the potential recipient is. This will never be held against you in any way. We don’t ask for or expect repayment. This is not charity, we are simply keeping the RMN tradition of seeing that a Queen’s Navy is well rested, well fed, and healthy before going into battle. And this is a battle where victory will be measured in not just survivors but in the quality of that survival.

To request assistance, please click here.

Marksmanship Update

By order of CO 2nd Fleet, the following marksmanship awards are issued effective 1 September, 2020:

PISTOL MARKSMAN CERTIFICATE

LCDR John R. CHAMBERS, HMS Havoc

CPO James MORPHEW, HMS Havoc

S2C Daniel SPEARS, HMS Havoc

S2C Jesse LINN, HMS Havoc

RIFLE MARKSMAN CERTIFICATE

DCM2 Morgan DAVID, HMS Vixen

CPO James DOBBS, HMS Vixen

Ranger Blythe DOBBS, HMS Vixen

RIFLE SHARPSHOOTER AWARD

CAPTJG Sam DIETZMANN, HMS Demon

LCDR Lisa WIEDEMANN, HMS Vixen

MCPO Rick Waterson, HMS Demon

PISTOL SHARPSHOOTER AWARD

LCDR John R. CHAMBERS, HMS Havoc

CPO James MORPHEW, HMS Havoc

S2C Daniel SPEARS, HMS Havoc

S2C Jesse LINN, HMS Havoc

The Tradition Lives!

For CO 2nd Fleet:

Issued by:

KEVIN WALSH, NS Senior Chief Petty Officer, RMN 2nd Fleet Range Officer

August Honors – Awards

Queen's Bravery Medal

CDR Linda PETERSEN, RMN HMS Invincible
CIVILIAN Daniel JOHNSON, SFC HMS Sabrepike
CAPTJG Kevin JOHNSON, RMN HMS Sabrepike
S1C Lisa JOHNSON, RMN HMS Sabrepike
CIVILIAN Rebecca JOHNSON, SFC HMS Sabrepike

Mentioned in Dispatches

S1C Lisa Ann WIEDEMANN, RMN HMS Demon
LTJG Kerry KUHN, RMN HMS Demon
SGM Jeffrey HUGHES, RMMC HMS Havoc

Conspicuous Bravery Medal

CIVILIAN Daniel JOHNSON, SFC HMS Sabrepike
CAPTJG Kevin JOHNSON, RMN HMS Sabrepike
S1C Lisa JOHNSON, RMN HMS Sabrepike
CIVILIAN Rebecca JOHNSON, SFC HMS Sabrepike

Meritorious Service Medal

LTSG Kerry KUHN, RMN HMS Vixen

Survivor's Cross

CAPTSG Elisa L. RANDALL, RMN HMS Invincible
CIVILIAN Aria RANDALL, SFC HMS Invincible
PO1 Tammy Lynn COLLINS, RMN HMS Demon

Manticoran Combat Action Medal

3rd Award

CAPTJG Bruce CREWS, RMN HMS Enterprise

2nd Award

LTJG Kerry KUHN, RMN HMS Demon
PO3 Danielle E OSTACH, RMN HMS Demon

Enlisted Space Warfare Pin

1SGT Ben OVERMYER, RMMC MARDET Valkyrie

Aerospace Basic Observer Wings, Enlisted

S3C Dimitri DALLAS, RMN HMS Gryphon

Ranks on awards are listed at the time of award, and may have changed by publication.

August Honors – Promotions

Congratulations are extended to the following members on the occasion of their promotions as noted.

Board Promotions
Timothy Bailey, RMN, HMS Musashi, to Captain, Senior Grade
Richard Davenport, GSN, HMS Death Claw, to Captain
Sherman Day, RMN, HMS Demon, to Rear Admiral of the Red
Rick Matheny, RMN, HMS Invincible, to Captain, Senior Grade

HMLAC Gungnir

Matthew Ian Leifson Jr to Petty Officer 1st Class, effective 1 August 2020
Jason L Sperka II to Petty Officer 1st Class, effective 1 August 2020
Ronald Ochsendorf to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 14 August, 2020

HMS Ajax

Linda L Martell to Spacer 1st Class, effective 24 August, 2020
Michael Spagnuolo to Lance Corporal, effective 24 August, 2020
Cecilia McCoy to CR2, effective 24 August, 2020
Lynn M. Allen to Senior Clerk, effective 24 August, 2020
Robert Isaac Elton, Sr to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 24 August, 2020

HMS Demon

Shana Border to Spacer First Class, effective 22 August, 2020
Lesley Carhart to Spacer First Class, effective 22 August, 2020
Jessica Chadwick to Spacer First Class, effective 22 August, 2020
Louisa Feimster to Spacer First Class, effective 22 August, 2020
Mike McCain to Lance Corporal, effective 22 August, 2020

HMS Enterprise

Steve Pontious to Senior Chief Petty Officer, effective 8 August, 2020
Vicky Pontious to Senior Chief Petty Officer, effective 8 August, 2020

HMS Galahad

Loni Marie Leigh to Private First Class, effective 22 August, 2020

HMS Gawain

Grant Dobbe to Petty Officer 1st Class, effective 2 August, 2020
Lance Hansen to Petty Officer 3rd Class, effective 2 August, 2020
Daniel Kurtycz to Petty Officer 3rd Class, effective 2 August, 2020
Andrew Griesel to Spacer 1st Class, effective 2 August, 2020

HMS Havoc

Jonathan Atkins to Petty Officer 3rd Class, effective 1 August, 2020
Jesse Linn to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 3 August, 2020
Daniel Spears to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 3 August, 2020
Christopher Carter to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 21 August, 2020
Kassandra Chambers to Cadet Ranger 2, effective 21 August, 2020

HMS Invincible

Ann Randolph to Petty Officer 2nd Class, effective 24 August, 2020
Elizabeth Neitz to Senior Cadet Ranger, effective 24 August, 2020
Colin Whitehead to Senior Cadet Ranger, effective 24 August, 2020
Aria Valentine Randall to Cadet Ranger Three, effective 24 August, 2020
Shelley Wolf to Staff Sergeant, effective 24 August, 2020
Marty Byers to Lance Corporal, effective 24 August, 2020

HMS Juno

Mathew J Roden to Petty Officer 2nd Class, effective 14 August, 2020
Siu Chung W Yuen to Spacer 1st Class, effective 14 August, 2020

HMS Musashi

Carl Ervin to Spacer 2nd Class, effective 1 August, 2020

Fleet Command & Staff Information

CO, Gryphon Fleet

co@gryphonfleet.org

Rear Admiral of the Red
Geoffrey Strayer
KDE, KR, SC, CGM, GS

XO, Gryphon Fleet

Vacant

Bosun, Gryphon Fleet

bosun@2ndfleet.trmn.org

Senior Master Chief Intelligence Mate
Kevin Walsh, NS, QBM

Chief of Staff

cos@gryphonfleet.org

Captain, Senior Grade Zach McCauley

Flag Captain

co@hmsgryphon.trmn.org

Captain, Junior Grade Christina Swanson

Flag Lieutenant

flaglt@gryphonfleet.org

Lieutenant Senior Grade Kerry Kuhn

Fleet Medical NCOIC

medical@gryphonfleet.org

PO2 Steven Bobula

Intelligence Specialist

intel@2ndfleet.trmn.org

Lieutenant Commander David Oliver Kling

JAG Ombudsman

ombudsman@2ndfleet.trmn.org

Captain Larry Dale French Sr
GCE, RMMC

Legalman

legalman@2ndfleet.trmn.org

CPO Christina R Doane

Operations Officer

operations@gryphonfleet.org

Lieutenant Commander Patrick Giese

Personnel Officer

Captain (SG)
Jamey Salsberg
KDE, MC, OC

Range Officer

marksmanship@2ndfleet.trmn.org

Senior Master Chief Intelligence Mate
Kevin Walsh, NS, QBM

RMACS Liaison

ascl@gryphonfleet.org

Captain, Junior Grade Christina Swanson

Training Officer

bosun@hmsgryphon.trmn.org

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Derek Firehawk Sauls

Gryphon Fleet Order of Battle

Task Force 21

Covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Task Group 21.1

LAC Wing 30

HMLAC Gungnir, Willmar, MN
HMLAC Superior, Duluth, MN
SMLAC Arminius, Minneapolis, MN

Destroyer Squadron 265

HMS Javelin (DD-264), Big Lake, MN
HMS Lodestone (DD-64), Elk River, MN
HMS Merlin (CA-270), St. Cloud, MN

Independent Commands

HMS Hellhound (DD-446), St. Paul, MN
HMS Invincible (SD-455), Plymouth, MN
HMS Juno (BC-726), Willmar, MN
HMS Leonidas (BC-584), Grand Forks, ND
HMS Valkyrie (SD-355), Minneapolis, MN

Task Group 21.2

Independent Commands

HMS Borzoi (DD-438), River Falls, WI
HMS Gawain (DD-481), Madison, WI
HMS Musashi (BC-775), Milwaukee, WI

Task Force 22

Covering Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan

Task Group 22.1

LAC Wing 62

GSNLAC Lilla Björn, Marquette, MI
HMLAC Scythe, Portage, Indiana

Independent Commands

HMS Apollo (CL-80), Lafayette, IN HMS Demon (CLAC-62), Hammond, IN HMS Gryphon (SD-153), Indianapolis, IN HMS Hotspur (DD-02), Rantoul, IL HMS Samurai (CL-356), Goshen, IN HMS Vixen (DD-174), Chicago, IL HMS Wolfhound (DD-437), Mt. Prospect, IL

Task Group 22.2

Cruiser Division 711

HMS Death Claw (CA-437), Cincinnati, OH HMS Hexapuma (CA-412), Mount Vernon, IN HMS Sabrepike (CA-417), Franklin, OH

Independent Commands

HMS Galahad (DD-478), Columbus, OH

Task Group 22.3

Independent Commands

HMS Ajax (BC-545), Windsor, Ontario
HMS Beowulf (BC-739), Lansing, MI
HMS Enterprise (BC-480), Rochester Hills, MI
HMS Helen (BC-570), Fruitport, MI