Calling all USS Nevada BB-36 and USS Oklahoma BB-37 fans

[MartinJQuinn]

Interesting photo - one I've never seen before - of Oklahoma, post salvage. I found it on Facebook, and, after saving, forgot to make note of which page I saw it on I believe it was one of the battleship-related pages, I just forget which one.

[Jeff Sharp]

Sad to see her in that state.
Here are a couple more.

[raggs]

Great shots Jeff. I've never seen these before. So these pics would have put the OK in the west loch with all the assembling landing craft. Lots of LCT6 in the pic.
Maybe late 44 early 45 for a date.
I find it interesting the turret structures are rebuilt.

Thanks,

Paul

[MartinJQuinn]

Is the circled item an inclined ladder or vertical ladder?

OkieSpottingTop.jpg (32.02 KiB) Viewed 29389 times

I'm guessing an inclined ladder, but wanted other opinions.

[MartinJQuinn]

Next question: The rig of Oklahoma's spotting tops.

Regarding the forward spotting top, while Nevada seemed to have a rig similar to Arizona's, it appears Oklahoma kept the original rig of her fore top.

Here she is in the late 30's:

Here is a crop of the same shot, focusing on the forward spotting top:

Looking at these photos from late 1941, it seems that not much, if anything has changed, at least on the forward spotting top.

Anyone think differently?

Regarding the aft spotting top, it appears that the lower yardarm is still there on the main top, only the mast has changed.

Appreciate anyone's insight or take on these questions.

TIA

[taskforce48]

Martin,

As far as can be seen in the few 1941 images of her, you are correct for the foremast in that very little changed. The addition of the birdbath on the mainmast changed it up a bit with the larger mast being removed and replaced with a smaller one on the aft end of the Birdbath.

Some more detail of the foremast, but from 1932

HTH,

Matt

[MartinJQuinn]

Great pictures Matt, thanks. The bottom one creates a new dilemma, though. I was going to use a turned brass yardarm from Master and attach it to the back of the spotting tops. I always thought the yard arm was attached TO the spotting top. I don't think I ever realized the yardarm protruded FROM the spotting top on either side. Sh*t.

[taskforce48]

I was going to use a turned brass yardarm from Master and attach it to the back of the spotting tops. I always thought the yard arm was attached TO the spotting top. I don't think I ever realized the yardarm protruded FROM the spotting top on either side.

Perhaps one of their longer ones run through the spotting top? Master is also kind in etching a centerline in their yardarms giving you a nice reference to cut in half.

Matt

[MartinJQuinn]

Martin, sheet 3 Outboard Profile of the Booklet of General Plans agrees with Matt picture but does not appear on sheet 5 Bridges & Superstructure Deck.

Thanks. I see the masts but not the yard arms in the drawings.

I was going to use a turned brass yardarm from Master and attach it to the back of the spotting tops. I always thought the yard arm was attached TO the spotting top. I don't think I ever realized the yardarm protruded FROM the spotting top on either side.

Perhaps one of their longer ones run through the spotting top? Master is also kind in etching a centerline in their yardarms giving you a nice reference to cut in half.

Matt

Yeah, that's an idea. I just need to figure out how far out from the sides of the spotting top the yard arms protrude. Looks like the yards on the forward top are longer/wider than those on the main top.

[taskforce48]

To follow up my funnel schematics from a few years ago for the 1941 version Oklahoma and Nevada, I give you some views of the 1944 fit of Nevada's funnel. While the Nevada seems to have been stripped to the deck for her post Pearl harbor refit, the original funnel was either modified or they rebuilt the base of it to her earlier plans. The extension was added and some of the auxiliary piping was adjusted along with her horn and whistle being relocated to the face of the extension. Designed using her 1945 BOGP and the few images that show the funnel in detail.

Matt

[Tracy White]

FWIW I *think* there are plans for the class in microfilm at NARA.

[MartinJQuinn]

There is a quartet of "cages" underneath the SL platform on Oklahoma.

OkieSLplatform.jpg (21.07 KiB) Viewed 28743 times

Two questions:

1) What are they for?
2) Anyone have any better pictures of how they are attached to the underside of the SL platform?

I looked at all the pics I had and the BoGP, but I haven't quite figured out the placement. I may just leave them off, as I'll have to cut the PE to fit the support struts on the 3D printed SL platform to get them to fit.

[taskforce48]

Martin,

They are associated with the Searchlights. I will look if I have any clearer OK/NV images but here are a couple of Pennsylvania�s.

Matt

[Dan K]

Yes, but what were the cages/baskets used for?

I'm guessing they were installed aboard all the standard BBs.

[taskforce48]

I am trying to find my source, but I have seen these referenced somewhere as "Searchlight Control Platforms". They do seem to be empty semi enclosed boxes that were meant for standing in, but there seems to be nothing in there that looks like controls or other equipment. Wild guess, perhaps they were some sort of lookout blind? With the light blocked above, less chance of observer having their vision impaired by the light?

A couple more shots of Nevada's, not very clear

Matt

[taskforce48]

there is a panel on at least 2 of those cages

That very well may be, almost any clear image shows nothing there earlier than 42, so I did not take them at face value. But it is possible due to angles and shadow, that the controls were moved around and were closer to the inboard. This image of Maryland I believe shows a panel closer to the mast which could have been Searchlight controls.

Matt

[Dan K]

Better view of MD's, circa 1939. Definitely some panels mounted on the cage sides.

[Dan K]

The axle of each searchlight extends down thru the platform. And, it has a handle to each side at its bottom, almost like a periscope. Unless that is a bar running thru the post and attached to the sides of the cage. As if an anchoring point.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks guys. As Matt said, maybe it's a primary or even secondary control station? I have to imagine those things got HOT and BRIGHT when in use.

Matt - those pictures help. Looks like the bottoms of the platforms are perforated, not solid, and are not square (as the kit PE is) or even rectangular, as the Big 5 one's are. They are more pie shaped.

I think I'm going to leave them off.

[Dan K]

I think I'm going to leave them off.

Collective GASP...............