Calling all Royal Navy Hunt-class (1939) fans

[Mike E.]

All:

Following up on my review of Choroszy Modelbud�s model of ORP Krakowiak, I was wondering if anyone out there could provide some help documenting the camo schemes that she and some of her near identical sistsers (e.g., Calpe and Chiddingfold, among others) wore during WWII.

First off, the instructions show her wearing what looks like an admiralty disruptive scheme in what is said to be 1944. A photo of Krakowiak wearing this scheme can be found at: http://wp39.pl/niszczyciel-orp-krakowiak-2.

Would anyone out there know where other photos of Krakowiak in this scheme can be found? Was the identical scheme worn port and starboard? And would anyone know whether the color call-out for this scheme in the instructions (G10, B30, G45, B55) is correct?

WR?

Another photo of Krakowiak on the aforementioned web site show her in a Western Approaches scheme. Would anyone know whether the darker color is WA Blue or Green, or another color? Does anyone know where one can find other photos of her in this scheme that shows the aft part of the stern (which is obscured in this photo), so that it would be possible to figure out the overall pattern?

HMS Calpe, which was a near identical sister to Krokowiak (in that the bridge pattern�which is different than that of most Hunt IIs�is the same) wore a very interesting geometric pattern early on in the war, consisting of a series of large rectangles and chevrons (see here: http://www.homeoffice.idv.tw/wordpress/ ... _CALPE.jpg). Would anyone know where one can find other photos of Calpe in this scheme? And would anyone know which colors were used?

Finally, WR�s Warship Perspectives Royal Navy Camouflage v. 2, p. 6, shows Chiddingfold in a very attractive four color scheme. As best I can tell, if one replaces the Type 272 radar mounted on the aft searchlight platform with a searchlight, one can use the Krakowiak kit to build Chiddingfold straight out of the box.

I am looking forward to your responses!

Regards,

Mike E.

[Tim Stoneman]

Peter Elliott Allied Escort Ships of World War II (London: Macdonald & Janes, 1977) has a photo of CALPE taken from the starboard side, captioned ".... Calpe at Alexandria, September 1943. Mediterranean camouflage ....". The camouflage is similar in style to that shown in the photo Mike E mentioned, but it's not symmetrical; she has a single funnel band, single Oerlikons in the bridge wings, and the pennant number is black or dark grey, except where it crosses a dark part of the camouflage pattern, where it appears to be the same colour as the light part of the pattern. There's another photo, taken from the starboard bow, in David Williams Naval Camouflage 1914-1945 (London: Chatham Publishing, 2001), in which she appears the same as in Mike's photo, although this photo is much clearer, and again shows a two-colour pennant number.

Tim

[Mike E.]

Tim:

Thanks for your citations regarding photos of Calpe. I will try to hunt those down.

I've also found a few more Hunt IIs that were identical or nearly identical to ORP Krakowiak as depicted by the Choroszy Modelbud kit.

First, it seems that ORP Slazak, at a certain point in her career, had her bridge remodeled so that her appearance was identical to that of Krakowiak (to include addition of the Type 272 radar on the searchlight platform amidships). So I should have not have said that one could not use to kit to model Slazak. Here is a photo of ORP Slazak after the bridge modification:

http://www.wmatlan.else.com.pl/slazak7.jpg

She appears to be wearing a late-war variation of the Western Approaches scheme in which various alternative colors were substituted for WA Blue and Green. If anyone would have any idea as to what those colors might be, I'd be interested to hear.

HMS Farndale and HMS Zetland can also be depicted using the Krakowiak kit. Farndale will have to have the Type 272 radar removed and a searchlight put in its place on the searchlight platform, while Zetland will not require any modification, as far as I can tell.

Here is Farndale. Note she is wearing a scheme that is very close to the aforementioned scheme worn by HMS Chiddingfold, though I think the colors were different.

http://www.naval-history.net/Photo11deF ... Knight.JPG

And here, Zetland is wearing what might be a type of Western Approaches scheme.

http://www.navyphotos.co.uk/zetland%20dww21b.jpg

Anyhow, I hope that helps those of you who would like additional options beyond ORP Krakowiak!

Best wishes,

Mike E.

[mike mccabe]

Krakowiak is just fine for me

Mike

[Mike E.]

Mike:

I like the Krakowiak just fine as well. But I would just like to be able to confirm the colors used in that 1944 scheme depected in the instructions. I am suspicious of the color call-out. Any info you or others would have would be much appreciated.

And anyhow, I enjoy the detective work and research involved in finding the other Hunt IIs that can be built using the Krakowiak kit.

I look forward to your wonderful build of this great kit.

Mike E.

[mike mccabe]

I look forward to your wonderful build of this great kit.

Mike E.

Ooh, no pressure then!

Yes I was a little unsure of those colours too, not sure if you have it but the Polish magazine Modelarstwo Okretowe has some colour profiles of the Polish Hunts in special No 2 from 2006. The colours for the scheme you mention on Slazak are shown as what looks like a white / light grey / dark grey combination. The scheme in the photo of Krakowiak is shown as what looks like B55. Unfortunately my inability to speak Polish is of no help in translating the text so I can't say much more than that, nor indeed the source of the information.

Mike

[ARH]

Would this help.

[Mike E.]

ARH:

Thanks for taking the time to post these, but they are some of the same photos that appear in the link I posted previously. But I appreciate your assistance.

Happy modeling all!

Mike E.

[ARH]

ARH:

Thanks for taking the time to post these, but they are some of the same photos that appear in the link I posted previously. But I appreciate your assistance.

Happy modeling all!

Mike E.

It was nothing to do with the photo,s, I translated it for you.

[Tim Stoneman]

My earlier post had a slight error - the photo in Elliott's book was taken from the port side, not starboard. There's a poor reproduction of the photo at http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Shi ... 71-01.html.

[Rob]

They were originally called "Fast Escort Vessels" but this was likely a term carefully chosen as a concession to assure funding and avoid the "D" word among politicians, than any technical or practical variance in their status. In the end, all such political pretense was done away with and they were became Escort Destroyers. The Hunts were armed (in the majority) as escorts and therefore, could qualify as DEs by that navy's standards.

I think it's largely a matter of semantics.

They were reclassified post-war as frigates.

Cheers,

rob

[Mike E.]

Tim:

Thanks for providing the link. That's a spectacular shot, even if the quality isn't great! Many thanks for that!

And it's a great scheme!

Mike

[Mike E.]

All:

Here is a very nice shot of ORP Krakowiak from the same site that Tim Stoneman directed us to for the photo of HMS Calpe.

http://www.photoship.co.uk/JAlbum%20Shi ... 15-01.html

It is lister under Silverton, which was her name before being transfered to a Polish crew.

Tim, thanks for tipping me off regarding the existance of this site. It has some great photos I've not seen before.

Mike E.

[Mike E.]

All:

Surfing the web, I came across these picture of HMS Calpe during the sinking of U593 (done in conjunction with the USS Wainright). A fascinating series of shots.

http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-593SinkingPhotos.htm

Calpe is wearing her interesting Mediterranean scheme depicted in the aforementioned links that Tim Stoneman and I provided.

Enjoy!

Mike E.

[Lou Coatney]

There is a cardstock model plan for it on my http://LCoat.tripod.com webpage.

[roy allen]

Just a quick heads up for any that are interested.

A 1/700 type IV will be released end of March/early April.


Roy

[Rick E Davis]

I posted this on the Main Forum Page, but thought I should add it here as well.

Another couple of oddball photos I came across at NARA II. These photos were taken of the BAE PRESIDENTE VELASCO IBARRA (ex-HMS MEYNELL) and aboard the BAE PRESIDENTE ALFARO (ex-HMS QUANTOCK). These two were bought from the UK in 1955, refitted and transferred to Ecuador, one unit on 16 August 1955 (ALFARO) and the other shortly afterwards (from Janes Fighting Ships). In June 1956 they both came to the USA for training with USN personnel.

I thought that the close-up view of the twin 4-in mount was really nice.

[Mike E.]

Thanks Rick! Very interesting!

[davepb]

Hi, does anyone know of available models of the good looking WWII destroyer?
Dave

[Timmy C]

Dave, I merged your post into this thread, where this post mentions a 1/700 kit.