NGaged wrote:
Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone could tell me if there were any significant differences between the Wisconsin and the Mighty Mo by the end of WWII. I've pored over pictures and as far as I can tell, the two were nearly identical, right down to the arrangement of bulkhead details. I was wondering anyone could confirm my suspicions?
Thanks!
Missouri received 4 MK-57 directors around spring 1945, 2 between forward MK-37 director and the forward director fire control tower, and 2 on the aft fire control tower behind the aft funnel. All the picture I’ve seen of the wisconsin in 1945 show she did not have them.
Missouri was built with sk-2 dish antenna on her foremast, Wisconsin was built with sk mattress antenna in the same location and didn’t receive an upgrade to sk-2 until after the war.
Wisconsin’s main top mast Behind the aft funnel was always significantly and noticeably taller than Missouri’s. Missouri only had an SG radar at the top of her main mast through out the war. Wisconsin Had an SC radar added on the top of her main mast Sometime between Jan and July 1945
Missouri has a TBS antenna mounted ahead of the SG radar platform on the main mast. On the Wisconsin the TBS antenna seems to be mounted on the yard arm under the SG radar.
Although both ships carried the same measure 22 camo pattern, the executions differ in detail: 1. The top of Missouri’s 5 inch gun houses were painted haze gray, somewhat against regulation. The tops of Wisconsin’s 5” gun houses were painted deck blue, as per regulation. 2. Missouri’s 16” barrels are painted uniform haze gray. Wisconsin’s countershaded with deck blue on top and haze gray on the bottom. 3. Missouri’s bollards are all painted navy blue. Wisconsin’s all haze gray.
The steam pipes feeding the whistle on the sides of the forward director tower are routed differently between the two ships.
At the back of the director tower, above where the tower joins with the fire funnel, there is a slot on the Missouri that allows the foremast to be lowered into it to enable the ship to pass under the Brooklyn bridge. I believe this slot is not there on the Wisconsin or New Jersey.
Missouri received a small platform on the Front the director tower for mouNting a TDY antenna in spring 1945. Wisconsin appears Not to have received a similar platform at the end of the war.
The boarding ladder stowed again the aft superstructure is stowed sitting on the deck on the Missouri. And affixed to the side of the superstructure some distance off the deck On the Wisconsin.
The bulwark behind the 20mm oerlikon tubs at the extreme bow of the Two ships are different. Wisconsin is built like the Iowa and New Jersey. The back side of the bulwark is longer and rounded off Compared to missouri.. Missouri’s bulwark is unique and squared off. The arrangement of wind deflecting Venturi on the front side of the tubs are also different.