The Ship Model Forum

[quote=WeekendWarrior post_id=1096843 time=1772562850 user_id=261958]
In reviewing photos of the Asiatic Fleet DDs, it looks like they had weather shielding around their forward galley deckhouse .50 cals during early WWII.

However, in reviewing the later photos of the ships at Mare Island (the only closeups of these areas) the shields appear to extend the deck forward, wrap all the way around, necessitate the removal of the forward companionway and be much more substantial.

I was wondering if anyone had more insight into the configuration during Java? The DD-219 wreck photos don't know the forward extension of the deckhouse at all.
[/quote]
As far as I can tell, while in the Asiatic Fleet, the forward set of .50 cal positions you are talking about was added directly on the existing deckhouse one starboard, one port, with no forward extension to the deckhouse (Other than the .50 ammo locker/bin overhanding off of the weather shielding.

After going to Australia or to the United States (At least Australia in the case of the USS Barker), then a more substantial platform was added which does overhang. I am guessing this is due to a combination of size, weight, and recoil force of the 20 mm that replaced the .50 cal. To my knowledge the 20mms and accompanying forward deckhouse extension were only added after the survivors left the Asiatic/ABDA Theater

There was a previously unknown deck extension/ .50 cal platform added to the aft of the deck house (at least for most of the ships, the USS John D Ford notably appear to have not received this upgrade by the outbreak of the War in the Pacific, but she is the one exception as far as I can tell), as I noted earlier on in this thread, and as the pictures from the wreck of the Edsall definitively show. It would seem that the platform was good enough that the Japanese kept it on the Stewart after her capture, but not strong enough for a 20 mm mounting, as it seems to have been removed the second the Asiatic fleet survivors made it in for any form of a refit.

I recently finished my model of an Asiatic fleet destroyer and will post a picture or two when I get a second. The difficult part is that no current models on the market accurately represent what they looked like during the Dec 1941-February 1942 window and do require some modifications no matter what kit you are using.

Hope this helps and best of luck with the build!

In reviewing photos of the Asiatic Fleet DDs, it looks like they had weather shielding around their forward galley deckhouse .50 cals during early WWII.

However, in reviewing the later photos of the ships at Mare Island (the only closeups of these areas) the shields appear to extend the deck forward, wrap all the way around, necessitate the removal of the forward companionway and be much more substantial.

I was wondering if anyone had more insight into the configuration during Java? The DD-219 wreck photos don't know the forward extension of the deckhouse at all.
[attachment=4]Screenshot_20260303_074649_YouTube.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=3]Screenshot_20260303_083123_Gallery.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]Screenshot_20260303_083041_Gallery.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]Screenshot_20260303_083032_Gallery.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]0521722.jpg[/attachment]

I too, have a Revell 1/240 4 piper in the stash. So far, I have the GMM pe for it, and have found some 3dp parts, which the base kit sorely needs. When I get to it, I'll likely build a mid-1918 fit, to have a WWI DD on display. My cursory look thru yeilded a lot of info. Any consensus on a good book that covers 4 pipers?

I do have an answer on that... looks to be canvas shielding. I'm considering adding that... but splicing PE is a nightmare.

[attachment=0]1_4c1f7f4fb0ffa723973f7284f7dbc84e (1).jpg[/attachment]

That looks very fine to me--altho' I am not a model builder--and my only hands-on experience was with the old Bluewater [b]USS HOUSTON (CA-30)[/b] kit...helping a friend who built two of them for [b]CA-30[/b] survivors some 30 yrs ago, both models now in the Navy Memorial in DC.

I am attaching a pic I have of [b]DD-227[/b] from roughly the period in question (1939-40)...and see nothing much to alter except that area on the open bridge above the pilot house. It appears they elevated that aft section slightly. Whether that was metal windscreen or canvas, I can't say. Knowing how 'frugal' the old Asiatic Fleet had to be, I could well imagine it was canvas [?]

HTH

Great photo, thank you!!!! I realized belatedly the galley on the Bluejacket kit is slightly too short... hence I went with a "close enough" configuration on the ready service racks.

She's about 90% complete in the photos. I need to add flags, replace the whaleboats with more accurate 3D prints and add in a few details. Feedback is very welcome as I am a novice.

The model depicts DD-227 circa 1937-39, before her foremast was cut down.

[attachment=4]20251206_100231.jpg[/attachment][attachment=3]20251206_100237.jpg[/attachment][attachment=2]20251206_100244.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]20251206_100249.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]20251206_100310.jpg[/attachment]

that flag was there to let the Japanese aircraft know that the ship was American not Chinese.

This is the only authentic view I could find offhand, and may not be very helpful, but it does show that some 4" ammo containers seem to be angled (upper R)...
Of more interest to me was the American flag spread atop the aft awnings.
Taken somewhere along China ca. 1939-40, on either EDSALL or POPE.

HTH

Does anyone have reference photos showing the galley roof of a pre-war Asiatic Fleet DD?

I'm building the old 1/96 Bluejacket kit using the Floating Drydock plans and I have identified several possible inaccuracies. It appears two ready ammunition lockers were angled in front of the No.2 funnel. I also believe the 4 inch ammunition racks were angled to fit around the rear of the funnel. The Floating Drydock plans also show a 4 inch practice loader on the galley deckhouse. I am curious if anyone has good reference photos of this device.

[attachment=2]plans.jpg[/attachment][attachment=1]gun racks.jpg[/attachment][attachment=0]0521114.jpg[/attachment]

Those are beautiful! I'd love to do one in 1/72 scale.

quote="WeekendWarrior"][quote="raven316"]............. incorrect listing of it as a WWI [b]Light Cruiser PT Boat.[/b] [/quote]
[i]Very[/i] nice set of models you have there WW!

Re the advertising listing above for other model, now [i]there's[/i] a contradiction in terms. Guess they were thinking an [i]awfully[/i] big PT boat then. :smallsmile:

[quote="raven316"]Hi I ran across a large scale (I think) model of a Four Stacker in an antique store . It's 2 1/2 feet long and is in good shape. There is no information on her aside from an incorrect listing of it as a WWI Light Cruiser PT Boat. This is obviously not the best picture but it's the best I could get. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/324/19064291991_97f17e5c5c_k.jpg

Anyway I bought it for $300 and wondered what ya'll thought?[/quote]

Sorry to resurrect a long lost post but is your model similar to these from my own collection?

Some photos of the wreck here.

https://maritime-executive.com/article/ocean-infinity-finds-wreck-of-wwii-destroyer-that-was-captured-by-japan

:thumbs_up_1:

An expedition dove on Stewart, DD-224. She's in good shape. You can recognize her in the sonar scan.

[url]https://fox40.com/news/california-connection/shipwreck-ghost-ship-uss-stewart-pacific-california/amp/[/url]

Agree with you G-Opt. There are 2 renditions which exist of your image, the one you have posted Incorrectly captions the ship as Peary, the second labels the ship as Whipple. Four pipers are not my forte, but given her movements and layout, I would guess the ship to be Whipple. I suggest the location is the Brisbane River, likely taken at Hamilton wharves, and the date approx. early May 1942. At a guess, given the freeboard and accommodation ladder, the cruiser from which the image was taken may have been HMAS Australia.

Either way, Sydney or Brisbane, it would be well after the Java Campaign & after the dissolution of the old Asiatic Fleet.
Does not appear to be NEI waters, in any case.

The image posted by G-Opt looks very much like the Brisbane River.

[quote="GregoryC"]That book has been on my to read list for a while, I'll have to move it up. And no matter who Pillsbury thought was firing, her thinking it was friendly fire is just tragic.[/quote] If one could only own one book on (the naval events of) the Java Sea campaign then I think [i]In The Highest Degree Tragic[/i] would have to be it. Without a doubt the most thoroughly researched and up to date account at the present time.
:thumbs_up_1:

That book has been on my to read list for a while, I'll have to move it up. And no matter who Pillsbury thought was firing, her thinking it was friendly fire is just tragic.

Re the death of PILLSBURY, if you can find the article in the August 2013 issue of [i]America in WWII[/i] zine, it has the details. These were also incorporated (with a few more from the IJN side perhaps?) in the 2017 book, [b][u]IN THE HIGHEST DEGREE TRAGIC[/u][/b] (Potomac), which has many previously unpublished photos & rare interviews w/Asiatic Fleet vets, etc. For anyone who has a genuine--or even passing--interest in the Asiatic Fleet, the book is worth getting.

https://www.amazon.com/Highest-Degree-Tragic-Sacrifice-Asiatic/dp/1612348203/ref=rvi_d_sccl_2/144-6630632-3862366?pd_rd_w=QVHsR&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=YMYB1TREXZRR1G4FVE20&pd_rd_wg=6MeMB&pd_rd_r=88584e83-5263-40bc-b2bc-986fe619a84d&pd_rd_i=1612348203&psc=1

The similarity of TAKAO-class and BROOKLYN-class cruiser main battery arrangement was most likely the explanation for PILLSBURY's weird behavior that night...As the Japanese ships had intercepted her in exactly the area designated by COMSOWESPAC for fleeing Allied ships to meet up and move south to Oz...

FWIW