Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

Post a reply

Confirmation code
Enter the code exactly as it appears. All letters are case insensitive.

BBCode is ON
[img] is ON
[url] is ON
Smilies are OFF

Topic review
   

Expand view Topic review: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by MartinJQuinn » Tue Jun 23, 2026 6:03 pm

Thanks all! Appreciate the assist!

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by FFG-7 » Tue Jun 23, 2026 4:10 pm

it appears I stand corrected because of this tho 1939 Wee Vee version.
Attachments
Sheet 5 - Bridges & Platforms.jpg

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by BB62vet » Tue Jun 23, 2026 1:42 pm

In comparison between the photo presented and official 24" searchlight photos - details point to it being a 24" searchlight, not a 36". And also as mentioned, the size!

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by FFG-7 » Tue Jun 23, 2026 9:27 am

Dan, look at the size of the light compared to the 2 guys to the left of the light.

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by Dan K » Tue Jun 23, 2026 7:25 am

I have to disagree. It's a 24" signal light. Compare it to the other 24" on the deck below vs. the 36" lights aft.
Attachments
80G19947crop.jpg

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by FFG-7 » Mon Jun 22, 2026 11:22 pm

is at least a 36" when doing a size comparison with the 2 men to the left of it.

Re: Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

by MartinJQuinn » Mon Jun 22, 2026 8:35 pm

36" searchlight?
80G474937_close up.jpg

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Sat Mar 21, 2026 1:33 pm

Comparing the picture that Jeff posted (left) to the 1937 shot I posted (right), it does seem like that pipe from the incinerator to the funnel was modified at some point.
BB48 West Virginia 01.jpg

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Sat Mar 21, 2026 9:41 am

Found some additional photos, cropped them to show the forward funnel piping arrangement on BB-48. First one is from 1937, the second from 1939. Photos are from NARA II, via Roger Torgeson.
BB48 West Virginia 6Apr1937 80-G-466160_crop.jpg
BB48 West Virginia 6Apr1937 80-G-466160_crop.jpg (45.52 KiB) Viewed 1716 times
BB48 West Virginia 9Feb1939 80-G-466161-crop.jpg
BB48 West Virginia 9Feb1939 80-G-466161-crop.jpg (71.32 KiB) Viewed 1716 times

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Thu Mar 19, 2026 8:04 pm

Thanks Jeff. I guess it was the incinerator then. From the port side it looked like the pipe went much farther forward.

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by Jeff Sharp » Tue Mar 17, 2026 9:53 pm

Here's a look at it.
Image

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by FFG-7 » Tue Mar 17, 2026 7:06 pm

the pipe in the photo is in the same location as on the plans & is the pipes on the other battleships the same od as the upper part of the pipe near the top of Wee Vee's funnel?

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Tue Mar 17, 2026 6:47 pm

I saw that too. You may be right, but this seems to go farther forward, and the pipe is larger than the incinerators found on other battleships.

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by FFG-7 » Tue Mar 17, 2026 2:14 pm

1939 Sheet 6 - Upper & Superstructure Decks shows the garbage incinerator was located there.
Attachments
Sheet 6 - Upper & Superstructure Decks.jpg

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Tue Mar 17, 2026 12:38 pm

Question about West Virginia's forward funnel. I am going to guess that the item circled is a pipe venting from the crew's galley, which was located just forward and below the funnel. Trying to figure out where it connects, as it's obviously been severed in these photos.
WestVirginia01a.jpg
WestVirginia02a.jpg

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by Jeff Sharp » Sun Mar 08, 2026 12:41 pm

Hi Martin,
Those were indeed dumpsters in the 2nd photo. Here is a look at Maryland's from above.
Image

Also worth noting in the 1st photo, notice that the life lines (railing) are only two bar, not 3 bar on the upper deck and they are painted light gray.
I suspect they were a lower profile to accommodate clearance for the casemate guns.

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by Jon C Ryckert » Sun Mar 08, 2026 12:14 pm

Dan K wrote: Sun Mar 08, 2026 10:41 am I concur with the ID of the garbage dumpster, raft, pelorus, voice tube and signal light.

I do think those are 3 sailors handling a pole of some sort. I don't see that as a permanent fixture.
I don't have plans for this ship, but could that be a saluting gun? Just a WAG.

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by MartinJQuinn » Sun Mar 08, 2026 11:37 am

Thank you gentleman

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by Dan K » Sun Mar 08, 2026 10:41 am

I concur with the ID of the garbage dumpster, raft, pelorus, voice tube and signal light.

I do think those are 3 sailors handling a pole of some sort. I don't see that as a permanent fixture.

Re: Calling all Pre-war "Big 5" (TN/CO class) fans

by Jon C Ryckert » Sun Mar 08, 2026 7:20 am

I believe we are seeing dumpsters in the second photo. Arizona had them also.
Arizona pic from 10-13-1941 001.jpg
Arizona , Aug 41.jpg

Top