Destroyers - Fletcher Class

[blidgepump]

Barber shop pole .....

The British & Canadian North Atlantic convoys displayed an easily recognizable signal during WWII.
Note the "barber shop pole" paint scheme still displayed of RCN ships today.

[Gun Grape]

Hey, look what Revell is releasing.

A platinum edition of their 1/144 scale round bridge Fletcher. Have not seen a price yet

https://www.revell.de/en/products/mo.../id/05150.html

[Gun Grape]

Bildgepump,

you really need to get the Anatomy of the Ship book "The Flower Class Corvette -Agassiz" and the Shipcraft book "Flower_Class_Corvettes"

There is also this

[Gun Grape]

The British & Canadian North Atlantic convoys displayed an easily recognizable signal during WWII.
Note the "barber shop pole" paint scheme still displayed of RCN ships today.

It was only Royal Canadian Navy corvettes from Escort Group C-5. Now it is displayed by all Atlantic based Canadian Navy surface ships.

EG-5 became Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron in the 1950s. Then changed into Maritime Operations Group-5 in 1995. All surface ships on the east coast are assigned to MOG-5. The only ship on the east coast that doesn't wear the barber pole is HMCS Windsor. A SSK

From a Artefacts Canada entry that I forgot to bookmark so I cannot link to(sorry)

"The Barber Pole Brigade consisted of six ships of varying classes all members of the Fifth Escort; Saguenay, Skeena. Wetaskiwin, Agassiz, Sackville and Galt. They operated out of St. John's for North Atlantic duties and all managed to survive their long and weary service. The name for the Squadron came from a conversation in the Crow's Nest between two navy lieutenants from the Fifth Escort Group. They figured that a band of red and white stripes, painted slantwise on the funnels would allow for quick and easy identification. The idea was adopted and very soon the ships of the Fifth Escort Group were sporting the fancy funnels. So well known did the squadron become that a song praising its exploits was written by a young officer named Tony Paddon (then a surgeon-lieutenant aboard the corvette HMCS Kitchener, he later became Lt. Governor of Newfoundland). The squadron went on to earn quite a reputation on convoy escort duty. Some of the original ships left the squadron and others joined, but all through the war there was a Barber Pole Squadron. After the war the tradition faded until it was no more than a memory in the minds of wartime crews. But in 1958 the idea came back to life when a new Fifth Escort Group was formed and it continued the tradition of the Barber Pole."

[Gun Grape]

Ok, trying to find the link I ran across this thread that seems to be pretty good in explaining the history

http://www.worldnavalships.com/forum...ad.php?t=16491

[bbvet]

Gun Grape Wrote:

Hey, look what Revell is releasing.

A platinum edition of their 1/144 scale round bridge Fletcher. Have not seen a price yet

https://www.revell.de/en/products/mo.../id/05150.html

I have heard about this...following your link, the Revell online shop prices the kit at 129.00 Euros = $153.79 (not incl. shipping/VAT). As my version (when completed) will be a 1960s era model of DD-566, I'll stick with the copy of the original kit I have on hand - I don't need all the PE/brass parts for WWII era weapons/masts.

But for someone wanting to build a classic Round Bridge FLETCHER, it's a good start!

Hank

[blidgepump]

Inflation and detail.....

Gun Grape Wrote:


I have heard about this...following your link, the Revell online shop prices the kit at 129.00 Euros = $153.79 (not incl. shipping/VAT). As my version (when completed) will be a 1960s era model of DD-566, I'll stick with the copy of the original kit I have on hand - I don't need all the PE/brass parts for WWII era weapons/masts.

But for someone wanting to build a classic Round Bridge FLETCHER, it's a good start!

Hank

Back in the '60's I'd save up 2 quarters for a ship model, on my birthday I'd get a $1 for a fancy Revell upgrade.... ouch !

[bbvet]

Back in the '60's I'd save up 2 quarters for a ship model, on my birthday I'd get a $1 for a fancy Revell upgrade.... ouch !

I recall - here's a site that will make you cry like a little girl when you see the prices!
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/

Hank

[tbm3fan]

I recall - here's a site that will make you cry like a little girl when you see the prices!
http://www.oldmodelkits.com/

Hank

Good thing I got all my kits years ago in the 90's. Probably numbers 100 models and I only managed to complete a few simple ones as I was trying to learn new skills since my last model build 30 years before. Then the Hornet came along and I decided building the real thing was better than building a model. Then I got married. Then I got a son. The I ended up with several hundred film cameras. Then I ended up with ten cars. So hobbies went ship, cars, photography when my wife isn't reminding me that she needs attention.

A Revell kit with photo-etched parts! What is the world coming to?

[bbvet]

A Revell kit with photo-etched parts! What is the world coming to?

Yea, things change! The FLETCHER kit I have I think does have some PE, but I haven't looked at it lately, so I can't confirm that. However, I did buy it with PE for it from a 3rd party (Eduard [Big Ed]) and since that original purchase of the kit have slowly added 3D printed parts (Model Monkey/diStefan/Bill's Boats/3D Boats by Hawkins - all Shapeways design shops) which cover almost everything I'll need for conversion to the Cold War version (1950's-60's). These include the Hedge Hog weapons, 3"-50cal RF guns, Mk. 32 Triple Tubes, Mk. 56 & 37 FC directors, and a few other assorted accessories to super detail the end product. I may, time permitting, provide 2D CAD drawings to Model Monkey for additional parts to be created and available for further conversion of a typ. FLETCHER kit to the CW Version. This will probably include the tri-pod mast, radars, control boxes/panels, etc. So, this will enhance my model and perhaps others in the future. A third acquaintance who is a naval historical researcher/author is also lending his skills in the way of history/photos/info on these ships that will be necessary for correct design of these parts. Gee, I wish I was retired...........NOW!!!!

As an example, here's an early draft of the mid ships 3"/50cal dual RF mounts on a typ. FLETCHER:


Of course, to produce the gun parts, 3 views will be necessary (to scale) for the 3D designer to take off from - We'll probably also need to produce the tubs, as well. So, all in all, there's a LOT of work that will go into making one of these kits truly represent the typ. CW FLETCHER model - and all differed slightly with placement of deck equipment in similar but not identical locals.



Hank

[blidgepump]

Fletchers on steriods .....

Yea, things change! The FLETCHER kit I have I think does have some PE, but I haven't looked at it lately, so I can't confirm that. However, I did buy it with PE for it from a 3rd party (Eduard [Big Ed]) and since that original purchase of the kit have slowly added 3D printed parts (Model Monkey/diStefan/Bill's Boats/3D Boats by Hawkins - all Shapeways design shops) which cover almost everything I'll need for conversion to the Cold War version (1950's-60's). These include the Hedge Hog weapons, 3"-50cal RF guns, Mk. 32 Triple Tubes, Mk. 56 & 37 FC directors, and a few other assorted accessories to super detail the end product. I may, time permitting, provide 2D CAD drawings to Model Monkey for additional parts to be created and available for further conversion of a typ. FLETCHER kit to the CW Version. This will probably include the tri-pod mast, radars, control boxes/panels, etc. So, this will enhance my model and perhaps others in the future. A third acquaintance who is a naval historical researcher/author is also lending his skills in the way of history/photos/info on these ships that will be necessary for correct design of these parts. Gee, I wish I was retired...........NOW!!!!

As an example, here's an early draft of the mid ships 3"/50cal dual RF mounts on a typ. FLETCHER:
[ATTACH]44564[/ATTACH]

Of course, to produce the gun parts, 3 views will be necessary (to scale) for the 3D designer to take off from - We'll probably also need to produce the tubs, as well. So, all in all, there's a LOT of work that will go into making one of these kits truly represent the typ. CW FLETCHER model - and all differed slightly with placement of deck equipment in similar but not identical locals.





Hank

This modeling thing is really going deep into detail. The 2 dimension plan sheet creates all kinds of hopes to view this model when completed. Keep in touch Hank !

[blidgepump]

Those 3-inch guns ....

The refitting of Fletcher Class DD's after WWII saw several modifications.
Three legged mast in lieu of the single pole design.
Removal of the 20 mm AA guns.
Removal of some 40mm AA guns.
Removal of one of the torpedo mounts.

But those magical high maintenance 3-inch guns that were installed don't get much note...
So here is a profile of a Fletcher DD in all her glory displaying the 3-inch guns.

[blidgepump]

Location...

The refitting of Fletcher Class DD's after WWII saw several modifications.
Three legged mast in lieu of the single pole design.
Removal of the 20 mm AA guns.
Removal of some 40mm AA guns.
Removal of one of the torpedo mounts.

But those magical high maintenance 3-inch guns that were installed don't get much note...
So here is a profile of a Fletcher DD in all her glory displaying the 3-inch guns.

That's a very impressive bridge in the background... anyone know the location?

[bbvet]

BP,

Nice shot of the USS MURREY. She was converted to a DDE in 1951 - my guess is that she was this designation in your photo (due to the early 50s paint scheme). She was re-designated DD-576 on 30 June 1962. DDE's did not have Mount 52, but a Weapons Able ASW mount in its place. Mount 53 is also different from the std. FLETCHER modifications with a 3"/50 in place of the std. 5" mount. No depth charge racks, either.

I think that she is somewhere in the Delaware River channel, but that's just a guess (bridges, etc).

Hank

[bbvet]

With my new scanner, I've been able to scan in some of my old '67 Westpac Cruise photos that were 35mm slides of USS STODDARD (DD-566). Here are a few of the better shots of her. These were taken in March 1967 in Sasebo, Japan while we were in drydock undergoing battle damage repairs from a 4" NVN round in the stbd side of the hull (see the rusty patched area near Mount 33); I was using a Ricoh 35mm SLR:



Gives a good view of the 3"/50 and the Mk. 9 Depth Charge Rack as well as the 5"/38" & deck equipment.

Hank