Calling all Cyclone-class (PC-1) patrol ship fans

[carr]

Patrol c

[GTDEATH13]

Interesting class of ships...

The hull is typical of modern Fast Attack Craft and Patrol Craft...

What are its main characteristics?

[les]

I'd love to see one released in 1/72 scale.

[jepot]

i tried to build one almost 3 years ago in 1/700 scale that cost me my eyesight, here is the link:

http://timawa.net/forum/index.php?topic=7816.0

this is its size:



you be the judge - but its very rough around the edges....

[nick]

Ahh! Too small, but excellent!!!

The hull is quite similar to the WWII PT boats, as shown in this picture. Note the number 38 on the hull. I'm not sure what this represents as the class was numbered PC1 - PC14. Possibly from Coast Guard service (some were used by the CG and then transferred back to the Navy).

It's because one unit of the Cyclone class was given to the Philippine Navy, renamed Mariano Alvarez PS-38


Nick

[carr]

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[jepot]

The 1/700 model is outstanding. You must have microscopes for eyes! Well done.

Thanks for the clarification on the "38".

Does anyone know what the doors on the stern do when the RHIB retieval is operating. I assumed they simply swung aside (or possibly inward?) and yet I can find no visual evidence in the very few photos that show this in operation. Bob

thanks for the compliments guys. i believe i have somewhere in my files a clear shot of the rear ramps opened though cant seem to recall how it opened up- ill try to look for it.

better yet ill be in our naval base for a week - fingers crossed if i see it in the docks...ill try to get a pic for you...

[carr]

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[carr]

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[carr]

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[Guest]

Bob,
You are correct. The Cyclone Class has a Wesmar Sonar. The application is for shallow water navigation and moored mine avoidance. I do not have pictures of the hull, but the unit is a through hull system. It would be difficult to see the sea chest opening on a photo.
Steve Johnson

[carr]

I do not have pictures of the hull, but the unit is a through hull system. It would be difficult to see the sea chest opening on a photo.

Do you know approximately where on the hull it is located? Is it a circular opening? Rectangular?

Thanks,
Bob

[carr]

I finally found a decent, though small and somewhat blurry, photo of the stern RHIB launch area. It's a fairly simple arrangement, as I suspected. This is the full size picture. Clicking on it won't zoom it any further.

Cyclone Stern.jpg

[Russ2146]

Bob,

From Navsource:
In the summer of 2002 TORNADO participated in the largest Naval Special Warfare Operational Readiness Exercise to date
In October 2002 TORNADO and all Atlantic Fleet Patrol Coastals transitioned from Naval Special Warfare to the Naval Surface Forces and was assigned to Commander, Amphibious Group TWO.
In September of 2004 TORNADO, along with several other Patrol Coastals, was transferred to the U. S. Coast Guard. USCGC TORNADO (WPC 14) was transferred from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Coast Guard Sept. 29, 2004.Specifications:

Specs:
Displacement 328.5 t. (lt), 331 t. (fl)
Length 170'
Beam 25'
Draft less than 8'
Speed 35 kts.
Complement 28, eight Special Warfare Det

Question I have is what self-sustained endurance they have.
Spec. Ops gave them up. Why?
What did that ORE in the summer of 2002 demonstrate with regard to these vessals?
With regard to your last photo, does the vessal have to come to a dead stop to retrieve the RHIB?

Russ

[navydavesof]

I'm not Bob, but I want to answer anyway!

Question I have is what self-sustained endurance they have.

Really good. That's why they're soooo big. As you will see, most of the Coast Guard cutters look like little bitty PCs. It's all about fuel capacity.

Spec. Ops gave them up. Why?

They're too big. They were sucking a lot of money out of the limited SEAL budget, and the Navy was threatening to take the normal SWOs and enlisted crewmen off the PCs and make SEALs man and operate them (big navy has never, ever, ever liked SEALs. Ever.) "You want ships. Fine. Man them."

With regard to your last photo, does the vessal have to come to a dead stop to retrieve the RHIB?

No you don't have to, but that was proceedure on Sirocco (so I would assume that is proceedure for them all).

[roy allen]

Hi everyone
now please don't jump the gun but what i need to know is this, if a resin kit of this class was available in 1/700 waterline would there be a market for it. There were changes made in the design as each one was launched so would a hull based on cyclone herself be popular.

Let me know what you think please and feel free to check out http://www.finewaterline.com


Roy

[carr]

... if a resin kit of this class was available in 1/700 waterline would there be a market for it.

Speaking only for myself, I would not be interested. A 1/700 Cyclone would be about 2 inches long and that's just way too small. Even 1/350 is too small. I'm looking at doing a scratchbuild in 1/100.

Regards.
Bob

[les]

That would be a great one to do in 1/72nd.

[Sean Hert]

That would be a great one to do in 1/72nd.

That's my thoughts as well.

[carr]

In September of 2004 TORNADO, along with several other Patrol Coastals, was transferred to the U. S. Coast Guard. USCGC TORNADO (WPC 14) was transferred from the U.S. Navy to the U.S. Coast Guard Sept. 29, 2004.

Other than pure cost savings, as Dave indicated, I never did understand the rationale and wisdom of letting the Cyclones go. However, the Navy is now reacquiring them. For instance, Tempest (PC-2) and Monsoon (PC-4) were reacquired on 22-Aug-08, as reported in the May 2009 issue of Proceedings. Apparently, whatever the rationale for getting rid of them a few years back has now reversed itself. I seem to remember reading that the Navy was going to reacquire all the vessels, if they haven't already.

Regards,
Bob