Calling all O'Brien-class DD (1915) fans

[GrahamB]

Hello,

just a question about the torpedo arrangement of this class. My scant sources conflict - either twin 18" or triple 21". I have an Iron Shipwrights model to build and would like to get this right - the kit supplies twin torpedo tubes. Can anyone confirm?
Cheers,
GrahamB

[GrahamB]

Hi David,

OK- this another variation on the theme but makes sense. Perhaps the Squadron Signal book (with triple 21" tubes) got it wrong. An intermediate step between the twin 18" tubes (8 of them) and triple 21" (12).

Cheers,
GrahamB

[Rick E Davis]

First off, it your primary reference source is an OLD Squadron book on USN ships, written by anyone other than David Doyle, it likely will be inaccurate in part or even whole. Dr Friedman's USN DESTROYER book and Paul Silverstone's Pre-WWII book are better sources on these WWI era destroyers.

Starting with the CASSIN class, first of the so called "Thousand Tonners", the USN destroyers were built with an up-gunned armament from previous five 3-in guns to four 4-in guns and four twin torpedo tube mounts. Several units from this group were used by the USCG after WWI with the torpedo tubes removed.

The "Thousand Tonners" consisted of 20 destroyers all of similar design (differences in vents and other details/refinements);
The CASSIN class (DD43-46)
The Repeat-CASSIN class, known as AYLWIN class (DD47-50)
The O'BRIEN class (DD51-56)
The Repeat-O'BRIEN class, known as TUCKER class (DD57-62)

Navsource has many images of these destroyers.

[GrahamB]

Thanks Rick.
The Squadron book is one of several references (books and internet) but the torpedo-tube solution seems to have been found now. My first tricky job is to construct shields for the forward 4" guns as photos of my subject, USS Winslow, has these - as did several others in the class during 1917-18.
Cheers,
GrahamB

[Rick E Davis]

Graham,

The shield on the forward 4-in gun was pretty much a wartime standard mod for all USN destroyers operating as convoy escorts. I suspect the shield was added due to the weather conditions encountered on cross-Atlantic convoy escort duties as gun crew protection and observed RN practice.

So your subject is USS WINSLOW (DD-53), maybe this image will be useful. I came across this image, a postcard, at a vendors table at a Military Collector's Show. A poorer quality version of this image had been miss identified years ago as another USN destroyer, "likely" USS DOWNES (DD-45) ... http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/1217132626.jpg ... and ... https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... 92952.html ...) based on the camouflage pattern worn. But, it turns out that USS WINSLOW also wore this nearly the same pattern. You can clearly make out the hull number (on the hull below the bridge).



For completeness, here is an image of USS DOWNES (DD-45) with close to the same pattern.

[GrahamB]

Hi Rick,

thanks for the photos I had seen the Winslow/Leviathan photo recently but it was buried somewhere in someone's Photobucket files. I chose this ship for one of the attractive dazzle patterns (N24 ADM) in the wonderful new book "The Easter Egg Fleet" by Aryeh Wetherhorn. Loads of inspiration in there.
Cheers, GrahamB

[GrahamB]

Hi All,

I'm wanting to make a start on an Iron Shipwrights 1/350 USS O'Brien class destroyer - but as USS Winslow in fancy dazzle camouflage. References for these are very thin on the ground and I'm wanting to know what the decks were covered with (maybe apart from focsle) - perhaps a corticene-type material? And colour? Also trying to work out from where the anchor chains originate. I just cannot get a clear view of this in spite of seeing photos of the fine USS Sampson builders model (a closely related but later class) and even of the later "flush-deckers"! Very frustrating.

The boat derricks are also a problem and I cannot see if the original versions with the support brackets (part P in the kit) were simplified when the USS destroyers were sent to the real war in the Western Approaches (also losing the extensive awning supports too).

Any help gratefully received.
Cheers,
GrahamB