The Ship Model Forum

Here are some photos of the interior of USS Texas' fighting top.

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-Steve L.

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Thanks for posting these Steve! It is interesting that the decking for the middle level (Battle Lookout Station) is grating and that the three tripod legs are completely enclosed with bulkhead at this level. The plans for Arizona show the exact same thing.
VERY interesting pics!

You're very welcome!

The photos come from a Facebook page found by Martin Quinn.

One can easily image with the actual fire control directors installed inside (they are presently missing from Texas' top), the interior of the fighting top was a very busy and crowded place during operations. Given the height and how much it surely swayed in any kind of sea, it's definitely not a place for those who suffer vertigo or motion sickness.

Below are some photos of USS Pennsylvania's tops as they appeared in early 1942 for comparison. This is likely very close to how Arizona's fighting tops appeared at Pearl Harbor. They are structurally very "busy" with lots of reinforcing straps, window fittings, and festooned with rivets. Notice that the lower levels' strap and rivet pattern differs between the fore top and the main top. The two tops in detail are not identical.






Below is a photo of Pennsylvania's modified fore top, with most of the lowest level's shell cut away. Some of the interior of the upper two levels is visible. The features compare very favorably with those of Texas' fighting top.

_________________
Have fun, Monkey around.™

-Steve L.

Complete catalog: - https://www.model-monkey.com/
Follow Model Monkey® on Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/modelmonkeybookandhobby

This brings up a few other obvious conclusions:
1) It was probably colder than Hell up there with only steel grating for decking. Probably no heating system at all (why would they with the open grating?).
2) As such, all that electrical & instrumentation would be exposed to the salt air & moisture - must have been a real problem for mainenance and reliability.
3) Wind and salt spray would have also been a major problem if manned and the windows were open during heavy seas or storms - hearing must have been extremely difficult.

Now I know why I didn't strike for an FT rating!!!!!

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

Cheers!

_________________
Have fun, Monkey around.™

-Steve L.

Complete catalog: - https://www.model-monkey.com/
Follow Model Monkey® on Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/modelmonkeybookandhobby