The Ship Model Forum

Does anyone have ideas as to what the Brooklyn/St. Louis class cruisers would have looked like had they gone through the FRAM program? I only have things such as twin 3 incg guns replacing the Bofors 40mms. I always wondered hoe these would have looked, and well, I still do. Anyone have any ideas?

PS - I'm sorry for coming out with a new thread every few days and and almost taking over this section.

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines

Considering they were 1930's technology and designed to fit within ridiculous treaty restrictions (IE very thin skinned, cramped, and overweight by the end of the war) I seriously doubt they'd be very useful postwar. We sold/scrapped them all by 1951. We had plenty of 6" Clevelands anyway which still weren't perfect but were a better design. The Treaty ships were simply built too close to their limits to offer up any real ability to be upgraded much past 1945 standards.

Still, IF they had survived into the early 1960's I could foresee them undergoing maybe a CLK style conversion like the Norfolk. Strip off all the guns and replace with twin 3"/70s, add sonar, ASROC, and Mk-32 tubes. Simplify the superstructure some, make it boxier for more room. Maybe try to cram some flagship facilities on board given their size. Don't know, would have to give it more thought. I know Chile and Argentina used a few for many years afterwards but I think they were worth more as flagships then combat vessels.

Just my $0.02 mind you.

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Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984

Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984

Didn't the Clevelands have some stability issues? I mean, the islands are made of aluminum. I read somewhere that though they were well-like ships, they were terrible at stormy weather. By the way, I recall something about an idea to upgrade the Wichita. Since the only difference between them is the armament, why couldn't the Brooklyns have undergone a similar change? I'll try to locate the source in all my book.

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines

Well, I have a different, WWII era idea these could have undergone...A rescue ship. With downed airmen and drifting sailors, why weren't some older ships made into fast rescue/hospital ships? I know there were seaplanes, but these had limited capacity, considering there were ships with some 300+ men left adrift in the waters. If the no. 3/4 mounts and midship equipment removed, there would be room for medical facilities and a boat deck. The remaining nine 6 inch guns is still a very potent defensive weapon, as well as the AA guns. I am currently putting this idea to work on a Rudderrow class DE I had scavenged for spare parts a while back.

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines

Well, a few of them went on soldiering for another 30 years in South American navies. I do not know the specifics, but I imagine that they were somewhat modernized to make them useful for their new owners. That included new sensors and probably some upgrade to the AA fit, while retaining the punch of the 6in main armament.

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Jean-Paul Binot

The Phoenix went on to become the General Belgrano for Argentina, thereby meeting its demise at the hand of the British during the Falklands War.

How is your Rescue ship idea coming along Sr. Gopher?

So far, all of my ideas are on hold. The rescue ship, my truk diorama, and my super battleship were either destroyed or damaged when an accident with a hammer claimed them. Now, they are going through the redesigning stage.

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines

I believe the Cleveland’s were basically modified Helena’s with the #3 turret replaced with 2 Mk38s 1 fore & 1 aft.



Adding sonar to this class would be a waste, they were too big to be useful in ASW roles & would have to stop dead (and as a sitting target really dead) to get a reading.