Calling all Fletcher-class (DD-445) fans

[Sleepwalker]

Indeed, it's a vent intake. Opening was in the angled front part. Below are antenna trunks, not exaust pipes.

[Secondo]

Indeed, it's a vent intake. Opening was in the angled front part. Below are antenna trunks, not exaust pipes.

D'oh Thanks for the correction, I thought they were a sort of additional boilers' safety valve uptakes

[bwross11]

Guys, I believe that a correction is in order here. Sleepwalker has correctly identified the twin pipes as the antenna leads coming out of radio central. What has been indentified as an exhaust trunk is actually a shelter for the signalman. There was a desk with a hood over the top to afford the signal team a little shelter from weather or from light emission during the nights so they could review signal books. The shelter was mounted in a number of different positions in the area of the flag bags.

Bruce
OSC(USN-R)

[les]

Good call. I figured it was some sort of temporary shelter.

[les]

Small error on the aft 40mm tub. There are two square outcropings on the after deck house just below the 40mm tub. After looking at a lot of pictures I figured out they were shutes to get rid of the expended brass casings. Problem is they don't go up the outside of the tub. They have them on the inside of the tub, but forgot to put them on the outside. Looking at the instructions, I found the individual who drew them showed them as they should have been. Obviously, someone should have checked the master. Maybe if they had read their own instructions????

[Jimmy Conway]

USS CHARRETTE (DD-581)

Former US ship was transferred in 1959 to Greece, Helenic Navy, and renamed "Velos".
I believe this Fletcher keeps the characteristics it had in the time of the transfer, and now it is a museum ship.
For some modelling reference, I put here some pics in a folder, with a lot of details, hoping it can be useful to friends .

http://rapidshare.com/files/270475780/F ... s.rar.html



The Greek Navy destroyer VELOS, formerly the USS Charette, has been preserved as a Museum in the Hellenic Navy Sea Park, Gulf of Athens. On 23 May 1973, VELOS and her crew, while participating in a NATO exercise, was part of a failed mutiny against the Greek dictatorship. Captain Pappas and his crew sailed to Fiumicino, Italy where those who wished to defect were granted political asylum. The Incident attracted worldwide attention. The ship returned to Greece after a month with replacement crew. The VELOS is new preserved as a museum in Faliron, Athens.

[Rick E Davis]

ex-USS Charrette was modified to the SCB-74A mod 4-Gun conversion prior to transfer to Greece. Navsource.org also has a large number of images of this museum ship.

[Secondo]

I have a question concerning the sonar dome: is it true that it had to be slightly offset to starboard, instead of being installed right on the keel line?

[Rick E Davis]

Secondo,

That is correct. Because of the keel, the sonar installation was offset.


Fletcher class Sonar Fairwater.



I'm not sure which sea chest this was for, but it gives a good view of why going THROUGH the keel wasn't an option.

[Secondo]

Thanks Rick, helpful as usual
I think that the second drawing too may well be referred to a Fletcher, because to my knowledge the sonar dome had to be quite near to the bow, just ahead of turret 51, and the section of the hull in that position corresponds well to the one shown in the drawing while the first plate should refer to a position corresponding more or less to the bridge.
Maybe two different installations were used?

[Rick E Davis]

Secondo,

The Fletcher class (and the Benson-Gleaves class) was originally intended to have two different types of sonar installed. Because the DE program took priority and production of sonar couldn't keep up with all of the demand, the Fletchers only had one sonar installed. We have discussed where the single sonar was located on Fletchers and I'm not sure which location was used due to a lack of photos or frame number location provided. The drawing "grabs" I provided were from the BIW Engineering Drawings which were based on the original configuration planned. I think the sea chests continued to be installed and retained for when sonars became available. Postwar there was a sonar dome roughly behind 52 mount and before the bridge.

[Secondo]

Secondo,

The Fletcher class (and the Benson-Gleaves class) was originally intended to have two different types of sonar installed.

I forgot that, sorry.
Based on the photos of the sinking William D. Porter (DD 579) that show the foremost sonar dome in its place, I added it to my model. I would also like to add the second fairwater, I suppose that it had to be plated over but I have no clues about its positioning, I'm just guessing it had to be on the starboard side somewhere near the bridge, perhaps in the position you mentioned, between the bridge and mount 52...

[Jennings]

I've read back through this entire 39 page thread, and I'm utterly confused. There's some great info here, but is there one single drawing (or could someone help me draw one up for everyone's benefit, which I'm happy to do) showing all of the openings on the Fletcher lower hull, what they are, and where exactly (with measurements) they are located?????

I'm so confused.

Tks!

J

[Sleepwalker]

Hi Jennings,

Take a look here: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/plans/index.htm. On the plans list you will find USS Sigsby with nicely shown sonar dome position. I have a photo (at home now) showing USS Uhlman in drydock with sonar dome exposed - it is clearly visible it was shifted towards port side (as shown at the drawings above posted by Rick). Somewhere back in this thread was photo showing close up of the sonar dome.
Summarizing:
1. Sonar dome was place around 5-1 gun.
2. It was placed off ship axis towards port side.
3. Its horizonal cross section was droplet like shape.
4. Size you can deduct from the drawing given above plus comparison with sailor on the photo mentioned.
5. Shape and the placement of the sonar dome was changing in time - finally having position as on Sumner/Gearing destroyers. Such sonar dome has USS Kidd now.

[MEGADETH9mm]

Finally finished it. Tried my best to patch a hole in the water right stern, you can barely tell with the naked eye for my home display. radar is still bent too far back, no smoke stack stains, forgot to blacken bullet hole on fuselage of betty. Casing will come next when i get around to it. History of this scene below.

USS Hudson DD475, Guam, Summer 1944

"One day while patrolling north of Guam we passed close to the wreckage of a Jap Betty, one their most effective bombers, and noticed one survivor still with the plane. Putting our motor whaleboat in the water with a small well armed party we tried to encourage the Jap to surrender; he resisted and tried to swim away from the boat which quickly overtook him and picked him up. He was aboard for a week and at first seemed scared to death. We rigged a hammock for 11tojoll as he was called, forward of #1 stack and the torpedo tubes, stationed a guard with him and took good care of the young airman, about eighteen. Finally he was transferred by hi-line to one of the new battleships for interrogation - I might add we were trying out a new rig and he was the first to use it!"
-story taken from here: http://bobrosssr.tripod.com/475hist1.html The Hudson was a valiant ship and crew that did more than enough to help win the war, hope I did a decent enough job to honor these sailors and the Hudson.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0316.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0317.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0318.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0319.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0320.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0321.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0322.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0323.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0325.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0326.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0327.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0328.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0329.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... CN0330.jpg

[MEGADETH9mm]

here's a couple closeups of the Hudson, which i failed to provide last posting:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... close1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... close3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... close2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... close4.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:USS_H ... 547502.jpg

[Secondo]

Well done, I always like models that carry a particular feeling with them

Now I have a pair of questions concerning USS O'Bannon: as my second Fletcher hull is on the slipways, I had to decide which ship I could represent, without modifying too much the basic Revell kit.
I wish to build O'Bannon as she was when this photo was taken, in August of 1943



There are two "dark spots" concerning her armament and the Measure she was wearing. She surely had an additional 20mm on the flying bridge, but I don't know if the 1.1" quad mount was still on board, or if it had already been replaced by the Bofors. Also, the fantail area is a bit mysterious, it seems there could have been another gun tub there.
About the Measure, I have read that she was wearing Ms 14, but I know that the other ships of her Squadron were in Ms 21, and it seems unlikely that her painting was different from that of her sisters...

[Rick E Davis]

By August 1943 O'Bannon was painted in Ms 21 ... likely was repainted the first week of November 1942. Nicholas, O'Bannon, and Chevalier retained the quad 1.1-in mount at that time. Chevalier was lost with it and the other two were updated to the standard five twin 40-mm mount configuration in late 1943. All three of these ships had additional 20-mm guns added after arriving in the South Pacific. Nicholas and O'Bannon arrived with six 20-mm guns and Chevalier had an elevated centerline 20-mm platform/gun added just prior to heading to the Pacific, giving her seven 20-mm guns. All three received four additional 20-mm guns ... one atop the pilothouse and three on the fantail. The fantail arrangement was similar ... BUT NOT EXACT ... layout as was seen on later FLETCHERS and there wasn't a full bulwark around them. I'm on the road right now, but I'll try to remember to post an image of the fantail of one of these ships with the three 20-mm guns.

[Secondo]

By August 1943 O'Bannon was painted in Ms 21 ... likely was repainted the first week of November 1942. Nicholas, O'Bannon, and Chevalier retained the quad 1.1-in mount at that time. Chevalier was lost with it and the other two were updated to the standard five twin 40-mm mount configuration in late 1943. All three of these ships had additional 20-mm guns added after arriving in the South Pacific. Nicholas and O'Bannon arrived with six 20-mm guns and Chevalier had an elevated centerline 20-mm platform/gun added just prior to heading to the Pacific, giving her seven 20-mm guns. All three received four additional 20-mm guns ... one atop the pilothouse and three on the fantail. The fantail arrangement was similar ... BUT NOT EXACT ... layout as was seen on later FLETCHERS and there wasn't a full bulwark around them. I'm on the road right now, but I'll try to remember to post an image of the fantail of one of these ships with the three 20-mm guns.

Many thanks, I knew you would have been the one to save me So, it seems that it's going to be a really interesting -even if not extensive- conversion work.
We should point out that Revell offers only the Bofors, also for Chevalier: the other Fletcher builders, be warned about that fault...

[MEGADETH9mm]

Well done, I always like models that carry a particular feeling with them

Now I have a pair of questions concerning USS O'Bannon: as my second Fletcher hull is on the slipways, I had to decide which ship I could represent, without modifying too much the basic Revell kit.
I wish to build O'Bannon as she was when this photo was taken, in August of 1943



There are two "dark spots" concerning her armament and the Measure she was wearing. She surely had an additional 20mm on the flying bridge, but I don't know if the 1.1" quad mount was still on board, or if it had already been replaced by the Bofors. Also, the fantail area is a bit mysterious, it seems there could have been another gun tub there.
About the Measure, I have read that she was wearing Ms 14, but I know that the other ships of her Squadron were in Ms 21, and it seems unlikely that her painting was different from that of her sisters...

those guys are hauling *ss!