Calling all Forrest Sherman-class (DD-931) fans

[pwhavens]

Anyone out there interested in Forrest Sherman class destroyers? Perhaps we can discuss while we build?

Forrest Sherman DD-931
John Paul Jones DD-932/DDG-32
Barry DD-933
Decatur DD-936/DDG-31
Davis DD-937
Jonas Ingram DD-938
Manley DD-940
Du Pont DD-941
Bigelow DD-942
Blandy DD-943
Mullinnix DD-944
Hull DD-945
Edson DD-946
Somers DD-947/DDG-34
Morton DD-948
Parsons DD-949
Richard S. Edwards DD-950
Turner Joy DD-951


I was stationed aboard the USS Mullinnix (DD944) in 1971-72. We were called to Viet Nam in April 1971 from Norfolk. We steamed through the canal and directly to Pearl (10 days at 25 knots), then a speed run to Midway (33 kt). From Midway, we went to Guam then Subic Bay. From Subic, we conducted three 30 day gun line campaigns near the DMZ and DaNang. We were all awarded the Navy-Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon as we were shot at once (that I know about). During that summer, we stood out a typhoon with the fleet...40-foot seas that seemed at times to almost swallow the ship. The take-home message was faith in your shipmate!

My long term goal is to build a large scale model of the Mullinnix. This model would include some details as they actually appeared in 1971. Details I have in mind are the blistered red-lead gun barrells and the really ugly rusted yellow gasoline barrells attached to the superstructure. Another is the picture of Yosemite Sam painted on the inside of the 5 inch gun mount hatches.

To start, I have found exterior hull and superstructure drawings at the National Archives. Now, all I have to do is to pay for them to be scanned and shipped to me on CD. Hopefully they'll convey the needed hull and superstructure details for a nice hull. Then, I can either obtain a kit (e.g. Bad Models http://www.badshipmodels.com/forrest.html), or try a scratch build.

"The longer ago it was, the better it was."
P

[les]

Go here for a Turner Joy walk around.

[macccdale]

I'd love to take this revell FS kit and make her into Hull with the 8" gun mount forward. That was a big gun....
They are in my mind the most striking USN DDs of all time, my first ship kit too.

Best,
Mac

[desron48]

one of my DREAM builds is to do a FS in 1/48th scale.....anyone know where i can get hull lines for this ship???.....joe

[les]

Scale Shipyard may have one. I think they used to list it in their catalog.

[desron48]

Scale Shipyard may have one. I think they used to list it in their catalog.

i use to work for scale ship yard bout 12 yrs ago.....i know lee upshaw....he has a 1/96th FS but not in 1/48th....joe

[pwhavens]

This one seems to be a good starting place...
http://www.badshipmodels.com/forrest.html
P

[maarten]

Hello gentlemen,
Recently acquired a Revell FS (Thanks Rob!) and am planning to turn her into USS Hull, yes the one with "gun envy". There is a perfectly workable drawing of the gun mount on Navweaps, but she also had the spaces for the twin AA's filled with deckhouses fore and aft. Does anyone know of drawings or good pictures that show general dimensions and shapes for those? I see Floating Drydock has FS drawings but I doubt those contain these although I would gladly be proven wrong and order them. I do believe some other Forrest class ships had this mod, off the top of my head. Many thanks for any input you gents could come up with!

Best regards,
Maarten

[Phil R]

I was lucky enough to see the USS Mullinnix,when she visited Hull ,UK,it must have been in the mid-70`s.I managed to get some photos of her,as she was of the few US warships I`ve seen ,they are among my treasured pocessions!!

Regards Phil

[pwhavens]

Bravo Phil! Could you post one or more for us?
More Mullinnix pics at: http://www.ussmullinnix.org/
P

[Phil R]

Sure thing,here are the pics,I only took three,`cos I was broke in those days!!do wish there was a 350th kit of a Forrest Sherman!!

Cheers Phil

[Rick E Davis]

The SHERMAN class is a favorite. It is interesting that the FLETCHER class was used as the "standard" in there design.

I thought that it may be useful to list the ships in the three groups that the class ended up in after upgrades were started and then the programs were cut-back.

Guided Missile conversions (4 units):

DDG-31 (ex-DD 936) Decatur
DDG-32 (ex-DD 932) John Paul Jones
DDG-33 (ex-DD 949) Parsons
DDG-34 (ex-DD 947) Somers


ASW Upgrade Mod (8 units):

DD-933 Barry
DD-937 Davis
DD-938 Jonas Ingram
DD-940 Manley
DD-941 Dupont
DD-943 Blandy
DD-948 Morton
DD-950 Richard S. Edwards


Not Upgraded except for some experimental Mods (6 units):

DD-931 Forrest Sherman
DD-942 Bigelow --- Vulcan Phalanx Test Ship
DD-944 Mullinnix
DD-945 Hull --- Mk 71 8-in. Gun Test Ship
DD-946 Edson --- NRT ship in 1977 (only one of the class to serve that mission)
DD-951 Turner Joy

I always liked the ASW Mod myself, particularly USS DAVIS ... for some reason.

[pwhavens]

Yes, we saw several of the sister ships outfitted with the then latest ASROC, etc. They kept Mullinnix as a gunship and used her on the VietNam gunline. Here are some pics from the spring of 1972 in the South China Sea. If preparing an action model, painting the gun barrells will require some additional work. Another realistic option is to leave the barrells with redlead. The gunner's mates dispensed with painting the gray because the barrells would just be replaced when we got back to Subic Bay after 30 days of shooting.

Torpedo tubes starboard and central ladder from 01 to 02 level just after the forward stack.

Haze gray blisters off after shooting.

[Rick E Davis]

I found these Photos of DAVIS at NHHC this last December. They were taken on 31 October 1970 at Boston Navy Yard as she finished her ASW Mod.

[pwhavens]

Great photos Rick! Thank you.
P

[GTDEATH13]

Would someone please explain what where the various changes this class underwent and why some ships retained their initial pennant numbers and some became ddgs? Where there any versions in the class? I have seen some ASW versions...

This class of ships had the same propulsion plant with the CF Adams class exscept some variations in equipment... I have a detailed discription of it if anyone is interested...

[Rick E Davis]

All of the SHERMAN class started out with more or less the same configuration (some differences in location of fire control directors) of three 5-in mounts and two twin 3-in mounts. In the early 1960's the intent was to convert ALL of them to Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) similar to the C.F. ADAMS class. The plan provided for a TARTAR launcher/missiles at the loss of two 5-in guns. See images at Navsource ... http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/936.htm ... After four units (on the list above) were converted in 1966-67, the project was cancelled and no more were converted. Then it was designed to basically give the remaining 14 units a "FRAM-like" upgrade to enhance ASW. The main ASW upgrades were improved sonar and ASROC (see the DAVIS images) at the expense of one 5-in mount. But, with the draw-down of the Vietnam War and cuts to Defense spending in the early 1970's, this program was also terminated after eight units were upgraded. They were still destroyers and didn't change designations (DD). The remaining units remained as "gun-ships" in a sense, retaining three guns. But, some of these six units were used in armament experiments. In these configurations is how the class ended their careers in the early 1980's.

The original two twin 3-in mounts were reduced to one mount on some units prior to the ASW upgrade and eventually removed altogether from the others.

[tincanman]

Hello All:

Trying to post this again. I served on the USS Edson DD946 in the early 70's and was aboard when she got her FRAM upgraded. I am building a 1/96th model of her as she looked when I was aboard. I am using The Scale Shipyard hull and fittings package along with the Superstructure kit from Mr. Nelson Petteys.
I would love to talk more about these beautiful ships and share whatever information I have. Talk to you all soon, here are a few pictures of my Edson.

Mark
ex-EM2 USS Edson DD946

[les]

I sent walk around pictures of Turner Joy and they're in the gallery files somewhere.

[texaswtr62]

I agree, the photos are fabulous and would be a tremendous reference for anyone building that class of destroyer. I'm presently building a 1/96 scale model of the USS Aaron Ward DD-483, using plans from The Floating Drydock and nearly four feet long. It is a real challenge after being away from model ship building for a few years amd is one of my retirement projects. I've built several platic kits of the Forrest Sherman in smaller scales, along with kits of various Flecther class tin cans. I plam to build the USS Buckley DE-51 next in 1/96 scale and eventually build a Fletcher Class later this year or early next year. To me, the 1/96 scale is ideal for a display model as well as an RC version and can be detailed practically to the max. Will have to go back and look at the Floating Drydock listings and see if they have plans for the Forrest Sherman.