Calling all USS Benson/Gleaves class (DD) fans

[Rick E Davis]

Barry,

They didn't drop depth charges off the sides of destroyers from the roller storage racks. Actually there was no way to do that because of the way the racks were built. These storage rack contraptions were designed to slide a charge onto a tray that would then place the charge on the launching arbor in the ASW mortar and then the next charge would be rolled down into place for the next loading. As you can see the storage racks didn't overhang the side of the ship. These racks can vary from ship to ship in details, but they never overhung the deck. The drop racks on the fantail did.

A "Mare Island" installed rack


A "New York Navy Yard" installed rack without the charges in place

[Stratboy]

Thanks Barry, but the Woodland Scenics ones are pretty close for the scale, you have to look pretty close to see the differences in font, I appreciate the offer though!

Rob

[DrDull]

Thanks, Rick. Those photos help a lot. I do appreciate it. Barry

[taskforce48]

In this famous photo of the Laffey I noticed something odd, look just forward of the 20mm mount supports on the deck. There is a very large "drum", I didn't pay much attention to it before thinking it to be just another depth charge but then the "oh Duh" light went on in my head an noticed that it is twice the size of the other DC's on the throwers. I did some further digging around and found this on several other ships but the best photo is one taken onboard the Farenholt while she was fitting out. Now it shows an empty space but a large bracket(?) mounted to the deck which clearly is there to hold this drum. Did they experiment with 600lb DC's that just rolled off of the side? I can't imagine what else this could be and it has the look and size to be a 600lb DC as compared to the 300Lb ones on the throwers. I don't have access to my computer with the Farenholt photo but I am including one of the Laffey. The name escapes me right now as to the other ships that had this feature, Barry's question just reminded me that I wanted to ask this DC related question.

[Cadman]

Interesting. It looks like a roll off depth charge judging from the opening in the net.

[Dick J]

I don't think a side-roll-off DC would provide enough safety margin for the ship. Since she is pulling along side another ship, I think that the object is more likely to be a fender.

[Rick E Davis]

I think Dick is right, a fender would make sense, although normally they use those reed fenders. Why they would put one "large" Depth Charge to drop off the side would not seem worth it. I looked at another photo of Laffey where you could see the end of the "barrel" more clearly and it looks like a ... barrel ... looks larger than a 600# DC. The only other thing I can think of is that for some reason they have a barrel rigged there for quick jettison ... but what would be in it is beyond me.

Here is the same barrel rigged on Farenholt on 24 August 1942. She still had this after getting two twin 40-mm mounts at Pearl Harbor.

[sixman]

Looking at the previews of the Dragon release fo the USS Livermore, the 5' guns are shown with and without blast bags. Were the 5' guns always setup with blast bags or was this a modification that occurred at a point during the war?

[Cadman]

Looking at the previews of the Dragon release fo the USS Livermore, the 5' guns are shown with and without blast bags. Were the 5' guns always setup with blast bags or was this a modification that occurred at a point during the war?

The canvas covers are removable and you might see the same ship with and without them at various points in their careers.

[Cadman]

I think that the object is more likely to be a fender.

There is a photo of the Gleaves class DD with the barrel clearly visable shown on page 41 of the Classic Warships new Buchanan book. It looks just like a 55 gal drum. It wouldn't make a very good fender. Note also that there is a rope fender stowed further aft in the same view.

I agree that a roll off depth charge is risky, but I don't think it is a fender.

[Capt652]

A rigging Question

For the '45 version of Buchanan, and referring to the box art picture on the Dragon kit, the top most line connecting just below the radar on the mainmast, is it a single line back to the rear mast? And where does it go forward of the main mast?

Thanks

[Dick J]

If it is actually a 55 gal drum, there is another possibility. The ships carried at least one motor whale boat. Perhaps the gasoline was stowed in a 55 gal drum that could be quick-released when combat threatened.

[Charles Landrum]

A great picture from LIfe of USS DORAN. This shows the two manual target detection and tracking stations behind the main director on the Gleaves Class. Dragon is a little fuzzy on the details and most photos do not show this angle.


Here is the page with links to other photos of USS Doran
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l? ... f84bb7afa0

[sixman]

Does the Cyber Hobby release of the USS Buchanan have the correct armament to be used as a Gleaves class with the MS 32 camouflage scheme? If not, what would need to be reomved/replaced? Would the Dragon USS Buchanan be a better starting point?

[Capt652]

When portraying the '45 version of the Buchanan what be the amount of weathering at the time of the surrender? Did the ship get 'spiffed' up ie; fresh paint? It certainly seems possible that the ship would receive some attention since all the dignitaries would be up close and personal.

[Cadman]

When portraying the '45 version of the Buchanan what be the amount of weathering at the time of the surrender?

She was weathered. Get the new Buchanan book from Classic Warships for the best photos of her in Tokyo Bay.

Does the Cyber Hobby release of the USS Buchanan have the correct armament to be used as a Gleaves class with the MS 32 camouflage scheme?

No changes, just paint.

[Capt652]

HI Tim

Would the book you referenced have any clear pictures of rigging and flag halyards?

Thanks again for answering the questions I ask.

Timm

[ar]

See Model Ship Builder No 28, which has a complete set of drawings of the rigging and the long wire antennas.

HI Tim

Would the book you referenced have any clear pictures of rigging and flag halyards?

Thanks again for answering the questions I ask.

Timm

[Cadman]

I have all the articles that Alan Raven references in the old Model Ship Builder scanned. I am working on getting them ready to post. I can send you a pdf of that section and yes it does show rigging. Really detailed stuff. They were among the references that I used to build my CAD model of Buchanan. The ship he built was McCalla and it was a close sister to Buchanan.

[DrDull]

I'm about to start rigging my Ellyson model and am very interested in the MSB article you mention, Tim. The Model Ship Builder issue you mention. Do you know the date? Thanks, Barry