Calling all South Dakota-class (BB-57) fans!

[MartinJQuinn]

Another oddball thing I noticed - per a color photo in Classic Warships page 36, and compared to Navource at http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/016025.jpg it appears that during her December '42 shakedown cruise, the radar on the Mk. 37 5" gun directors were unpainted, bare metal!

- Sean F.

I've noticed the same thing in photos of Fletcher class DDs in the Pacific in late 1942 early 1943 - the same radars stand out since they aren't painted.

[MartinJQuinn]

A few photos of the Massachusetts leaving Fore River enroute to the Boston Navy Yard. Photos from NARA, via Fred Branyan. Thank you Fred!

[Cliffy B]

Martin, any chance you have high-res copies of those photos?

[MartinJQuinn]

Martin, any chance you have high-res copies of those photos?

No - these were the resolution that was sent to me. Sorry!

[Tracy White]

The 80-G numbers are in the comments; make a note of them and see how much it would cost to hire a researcher scan them in for you. 80-G is easy to find so they shouldn't charge too much unless they're out to gouge. Maybe an hour or two's work depending on how long it takes the Archives staff to pull the box.

[Michael E.]

All:

Anyone know what is the easiest way to use one of the 1/700 scale Trumpeter SoDak class kits to build USS Massachussetts in her early war appearance, when she wore Ms. 12?

Please advise.

Thanks!

Mike E.

[Atma]

Trumpeter offers South Dakota with SK-2 radar, but I cant find a picture with that, even the decomisioning photos depicts South Dakota with SK not SK-2 here is a picture of South Dakota with SK radar http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/015713.jpg with her 3 forward AA bofors removed cause of wetness, so did I miss something aka South Dakota indeed had in some point of her late carrer SK-2 or Trumpeter is plain wrong and I shall replace the SK-2 ?

[k7rkx]

Hi all.

I'm quite interested in building the USS Indiana in her measure 32 scheme, and was wondering which Trumpeter 1/350 kit would be the best starting point and what major differences would need addressing.

Cheers

[Atma]

Anyone knows if the superfiring turrets of USS South Dakota class might not be able to fire directly over one another cause of blast pressure ?

[Dick J]

Anyone knows if the superfiring turrets of USS South Dakota class might not be able to fire directly over one another cause of blast pressure ?

The South Dakota's had no problems with overpressures on turret I.

[Atma]

I was expecting that, cause the RN had problems with the HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Revenge class in WWI. But that was gone with the new HMS KGV(WWII).
Maybe the quality of stell/sustainable construction techniques have progressed enough to eliminate those blast overpressures.

[JohnD]

Hi, new to this forum, has it been finally settled about the so called "green battleship"? This debate has raged for decades.

[DonBurch]

I'm studying the South Dakota-class of battleships.

I plan to visit the USS Alabama (Mobile, Alabama) in late April. If you have a specific detail in mind I would consider trying to photograph it for you. I'll be checking back here from time to time, just let me know.

[Guest]

I just cross checked photos from all 4 of the South Dakota Class. They in those photos all have deck craines set up in the rear for thier scout planes. I am guessing that they could have been laid down if needed. Perhaps in some of the later war year remodels they could have been removed, however, I doubt it. There are many good articles written on various sites that explain why changes were made and when they were upgrading guns, radar, ect. I know I would not want my war ships to go back out with old style radar or without improved fire control systems. My memory isn't good enough to remembor, what upgrades took place and when!

The USS SD war memorial, here in South Dakota is probably worth your stop if your a big fan. I have personally driven by it hundreds of times, with the idea that I should stop since I live so close. My ex girl friend lived a few blocks away from the corner where it is located. Its on a Key corner in Sioux Falls, SD traffic

Don in South Dakota

[MartinJQuinn]

Hi, new to this forum, has it been finally settled about the so called "green battleship"? This debate has raged for decades.

The Indiana was alleged in one publication to possibly been green, based on anecdotal "evidence". She was not in green, she was in shades of the Purple-Blues. Officially Measure 15, if I recall correctly.

[JohnD]

Thanks Martin, looks like another blue-grey ship to add to the collection. A green battleship would have made a change, maybe that Tirpitz I have waiting to be built? I'm certain she was partly green at one stage in her career.
John

[Auto426]

The USS SD war memorial, here in South Dakota is probably worth your stop if your a big fan. I have personally driven by it hundreds of times, with the idea that I should stop since I live so close. My ex girl friend lived a few blocks away from the corner where it is located. Its on a Key corner in Sioux Falls, SD traffic

I have just come from spending a couple of hours touring the USS Alabama in Mobile Bay. It's a must see for any ship fan in the area. You can move freely throughout the majority of the ship, from one of the main turbine rooms all the way to one of the observation platforms on the main mast. You can even get inside of the 16" and one of the 5" turrets. It's an amazing sight to see for a ship fan like myself.

[drdoom1337]

Can someone please explain exactly what colors the Indiana is. I'm stumped on Navsource. Martin you mentioned different shades of blue and Measure 15? But from my records it shows Indiana being painted in MS12 mod. I'd like to build that ship from the 1/350 Alabama, if not I'll just end up building the Alabama itself, maybe put it on the same base as my KGV in an Atlantic diorama (not a bad idea!).

[Jerry Phillips]

Indiana was one of 3 known MS-15 ships (others are DD Hobson, AO Tallulah). MS-15 called for 4 vertical colors: 5-N, 5-O, 5-H and White (decks/horizontal surfaces 20B), however it appears from photos that only Hobson used White in her pattern. Indiana's MS-15 was short-lived however. By the time she reported for her first combat duty in the So. Pac., late 1942, she was painted in MS-22. The "Green Battleship" theory is false....never happened.

Jerry

[ferg220683]

Hello

I'm mid-build on my Hasegawa 1/700 USS South Dakota. I want to paint it in the blue late war paint scheme. However, it's unclear if the deck is blue too, or if the deck remained the usual tan colour. Can you advise?

Thanks

F