The Ship Model Forum

would probably be similar radars to a Leahy or Belknap class CG.

SPS48C, SPS43 with SPG55B's for missile fire control

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Tzoli,

CANBERRA was being refitted in Long Beach in late 1969. I was serving in USS NEW JERSEY as we prepared to take her to Bremerton, WA for decommissioning. I have a couple photos of NEW JERSEY at pier side with CANBERRA in the background - she was already undergoing a refit to her RADAR suite when I made this photo in Sept. '69 -

What exactly was being replaced or with I have no idea. Shortly after I took this photo we departed and I later heard that she was subsequently taken from Long Beach for decommissioning as well, without ever being put back into service. Part of the 1969 Nixon 50 ship cutback that took place to pacify the commies in North Vietnam.

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Hank,

The decommissioning of a large number old ships in 1969 wasn't really about "pacifying" anyone except "beancounters". Decommissioning USS NEW JERSEY was part of "Peace Talks", but the real reason so many "Old-WWII era" ships were retired, was to free up funds for cost-overrun projects. The older ships were already being decommissioned in the early 1960s to make way for the Missile Conversions and New-Built Missile ships. By 1964 ALL of the Fletcher's in the Atlantic Fleet had been removed from Active Fleet duty with only NRT units and the DDE conversions remaining. Many destroyers and the few remaining "gun-cruisers" were kept in commission as Vietnam heated up for Gunfire support.

USS BOSTON (CAG-1) and CANBERRA (CAG-2) were reassigned as "gun support" off Vietnam in the mid-1960's rather than recommission any Heavy Cruisers from mothballs. BOSTON had her old - obsolete - Terrier missile launchers "decommissioned" in 1968 and she was reclassified as CA-69 again on 1 May 1968. She went on one last Gun-Line tour and was decommissioned in 1970.

USS CANBERRA was similarly reclassified as CA-70 on 1 May 1968. Her Terrier missile launchers were removed, but she was decommissioned before any additional work was done.

I doubt that either unit was going to get an "UPGRADE" to their missile systems. The cost involved and limited capability of those systems and the age of the two cruisers, made it unlikely. A study to determine the cost of upgrading the missile systems on these two cruisers, was likely done to justify decommissioning them as "not cost effective".

I'm unsure of when either ship last actually had "operational" Terrier missile systems functioning. Other than minor sensors upgrades, and removal of the outdated missile guidance systems, not much would have changed if they had not been decommissioned when they were.

Rick,

Beancounter, OF COURSE!!! How could I forget??? Where are they now?????

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Boston still had her launchers late 1960's early 70's but likely the missiles themselves got removed.

" ... they are still around in the navy ... " ???? Which the twin arm launchers or Terrier missiles?

All of the ships so equipped have been decommissioned and scrapped or made into museum pieces. Even the first few TICONDEROGA class CG's were decommissioned rather than upgrade them to vertical launchers.

The "replacement" missile "Standard" (now several versions) exist as vertical launch missiles.

Upgrading the first "operational" Anti-Air missile cruisers in the USN would have taken much more than simply replacement of missiles. The launchers were the first mod versions, and would need to be modified to launch the Standard missiles or be replaced with a newer launcher. The stowage and handling of the new missiles would require mods. Sensors would all need to be upgraded. All in all a very expensive proposal. Building of new CG's/DDG's in large numbers made more sense.

It could be argued that they were useful as gunfire ships and served multiple tours as such off Vietnam. But, with budget pressures from new construction and paying for ground fighting, somethings had to give.

Regarding the USS Boston and Canberra as Guided Missile Heavy Cruisers ( CAG ) does anybody know how were their radar suite changed in the various years/refits? They seem to be changed quite often.

I seem to remember a few years back that there was talk of Trumpeter putting out a 1:350 scale Baltimore, possibly a Pittsburg subvariant as well. Was this just my imagination? If not, does anybody know why those plans never came to fruition?

Not a rumour - Trumpeter still advertises 1/350 Baltimores as forthcoming in their catalogues. You can see them in the 2023/2024 one, a copy of the page being available in the first post of the Upcoming Releases thread in the Main Forum.

Can't tell you why they haven't put them to market though.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

Trumpeter listed a 1/32 TBD as "Coming Soon!" for about 20 years before it finally materialized. The 1:350 Baltimores (and Nelsons, for that matter) haven't been on the list for quite so long (yet), but Trumpeter has a pretty decent track record of eventually getting around to the things they said they'd do. With many other shiny objects cutting in line ahead of them in the meantime, of course!
Not that I don't feel your pain... I've been looking forward to it myself. I plan to get a Model Monkey late-fit USS Los Angeles bridge set once the kit finally materializes, to build my hometown (more or less) cruiser!

- Sean F.

Remember, models are only a minor part of Trumpeter's business. Their main product is industrial plastic molding. Think of the plastic body of toasters, auto interior panels, body of disc players, etc.