by Mike Glasgow » Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:48 pm
As everyone knows, many of the detailed books on the Fletcher class destroyers are out of print. I have the Squadron book on Fletchers, the Cassin Young book and the �general� WWII destroyer books. I have collected many pictures off the web but there are certain areas on the Fletcher class ship I need help with. Please refer to the following questions for the 1943-1945 Fletcher class:
#1. On the quintuple torpedo mount, is there only one �power drive� unit on the lower side, toward the back end of the tubes (left side) or does each tube have that unit underneath?
#2. Does anyone have any detailed views of the large 30�? or 36�? searchlight? Is it the same searchlight used on the USS Missouri?
#3. Can someone describe the inside construction of the flag lockers?
#4. Anyone have close up drawings of the quintuple torpedo mounts (launchers) from different sides?
#5. Can someone describe the inside of the exhaust stacks, are they divided with walls, or do they just have a grill at the top?
#6. Anyone have drawings or closeup photos of the magnetic compass and stand?
#7. When did the Fletchers start using the sonar domes on the forward part of the keel?
#8 Was the deck sheer �curve� made up of flat section plates, and if so how large was each flat plate piece? And does anyone know why the aft deck was slightly concave near the aft depth charges?
#9 Were any round bridge Fletchers converted to square bridges?
#10 Looking at hull cross section drawings of the Fletchers, I noticed all the bulkheads and superstructure walls are perpendicular to the keel, it also looks like the each deck was not at right angles to the walls, is this true?
#11 Pictures of the 20mm ready ammo lockers on deck show them raised up off the deck , can anyone describe the supports?
Thanks for any tips and clues in helping answer these questions, please excuse my multiple posts.
As everyone knows, many of the detailed books on the Fletcher class destroyers are out of print. I have the Squadron book on Fletchers, the Cassin Young book and the �general� WWII destroyer books. I have collected many pictures off the web but there are certain areas on the Fletcher class ship I need help with. Please refer to the following questions for the 1943-1945 Fletcher class:
#1. On the quintuple torpedo mount, is there only one �power drive� unit on the lower side, toward the back end of the tubes (left side) or does each tube have that unit underneath?
#2. Does anyone have any detailed views of the large 30�? or 36�? searchlight? Is it the same searchlight used on the USS Missouri?
#3. Can someone describe the inside construction of the flag lockers?
#4. Anyone have close up drawings of the quintuple torpedo mounts (launchers) from different sides?
#5. Can someone describe the inside of the exhaust stacks, are they divided with walls, or do they just have a grill at the top?
#6. Anyone have drawings or closeup photos of the magnetic compass and stand?
#7. When did the Fletchers start using the sonar domes on the forward part of the keel?
#8 Was the deck sheer �curve� made up of flat section plates, and if so how large was each flat plate piece? And does anyone know why the aft deck was slightly concave near the aft depth charges?
#9 Were any round bridge Fletchers converted to square bridges?
#10 Looking at hull cross section drawings of the Fletchers, I noticed all the bulkheads and superstructure walls are perpendicular to the keel, it also looks like the each deck was not at right angles to the walls, is this true?
#11 Pictures of the 20mm ready ammo lockers on deck show them raised up off the deck , can anyone describe the supports?
Thanks for any tips and clues in helping answer these questions, please excuse my multiple posts.