Calling all Independence-class (CVL-22) fans

[Tracy White]

Independence and Princeton had a different arrangement than the others where one radar was on what looked like a saw horse platform versus a pole mast with a circular platform on the other ships - at least as launched. I'll be able to look over the differences more when I get home and have access to my high-resolution photos.

[Mike W]

Independence and Princeton had a different arrangement than the others where one radar was on what looked like a saw horse platform versus a pole mast with a circular platform on the other ships - at least as launched. I'll be able to look over the differences more when I get home and have access to my high-resolution photos.

No problem! Annoyingly the forward hangar sides are badly warped outwards, so don't fit properly. Not sure how to fix that.

thanks
Mike

[Tracy White]

OK, I thought I had copies of the "as launched" CVL-24 in high resolution but I had miss remembered. I do have a "good enough" shot from Rick Davis dated December of 1943. Early 1944 should be the same as the 1/350th CVL-23 Princeton, so you can use the instructions on this review of it as a bit of inspiration (this page). One difference is the small platform midway up the mast that has the searchlights and reproducers (speakers). Belleau Wood had the two reproducers that were on the port side overlooking the flight deck whereas the Princeton kit has a smaller platform with a single reproducer

[Mike W]

OK, I thought I had copies of the "as launched" CVL-24 in high resolution but I had miss remembered. I do have a "good enough" shot from Rick Davis dated December of 1943. Early 1944 should be the same as the 1/350th CVL-23 Princeton, so you can use the instructions on this review of it as a bit of inspiration (this page). One difference is the small platform midway up the mast that has the searchlights and reproducers (speakers). Belleau Wood had the two reproducers that were on the port side overlooking the flight deck whereas the Princeton kit has a smaller platform with a single reproducer

Thanks for that! That should help. Now I just need to fix the warped parts!

thanks
Mike

[Mike W]

Mike, if the parts have not broken off, do you have a heat gun or a hand held hair dryer?

I have neither and both parts are snapped (I tried hot water). Dragon have been contacted.

thanks
Mike

[Richt03]

Hi out there. I am wanting to add the CVL Independence into my FLAT TOP board game by making her an excellent silhouette. Can someone out there please send me a line drawing in high resolution JPEG scan of the light carrier Independence? (The Squadron magazine might have a good line drawing of her; I purchased Squadron's "Carrier Escorts" book recently for this reason.)

I sure will appreciate this.

~ Rod H

[Ian Roberts]

Gents - on page 15 of this thread Tracy White attached a photo of the forward 40mm gun tub and associated director on CVL-22. I'm working on a drawing of CVL-23, using the Floating Drydock "TFW" plans as a guideline, and can't decipher the structure under the forward 20mm tubs in this area. There appears to be a walkway under the tubs (this is visible in great detail on the 1945 refit photos of COWPENS), but the TFW plans show a confusing series of structures here. The plan views of this platform indicate it extending out from the Mark 51 director foundation to meet the 20mm tubs.

My question: did CVL-23 have the same arrangement as CVL-22 during this period? If so, I will draw this area based on Tracy's photo of CVL-22. If not I'm back to the drawing board

See here for the outboard profile segment in question on the TFW CVL-23 plan. I'm baffled by this truly.

[Ian Roberts]

Hmmm, let me try it by attachment -- see below.

[Ian Roberts]

Another one for you guys - I'm stumped by what "G.F.S." stands for in the CVL-26 booklet of general plans (see attached).

This is in the forward-most area of the starboard galleries. The TFW plans of Princeton don't label anything in this location, despite the plans clearly showing some equipment in this location. The only thing that's actually labeled is the life ring with light - the rest is just drawn in without any labels (see below).

For what it's worth, the TFW plans of Princeton show this area with a venturi shield that isn't there in the January 1944 refit photos. I'm also doubtful of the "door" indicated on the TFW plans. Photos of Cowpens at the 1945 refit show very obvious firefighting gear in this location, but no door. This brings me back to the "G.F.S." in the BOGP from Monterey - any idea what this could be? None of the abbreviations in the BOGP explain what it is. Here is a photo from the Cowpens refit in 1945 (yes, I appreciate this is not necessarily representative of the fit of Princeton in 1944, but this is all I've got to go off ) Is the box bracketed to the bulwark on this position the sound "reproducer" mentioned on the BOGP?

CVL-25 COWPENS 05-1945

From the above photo, it looks to me like this position was used for firefighting gear (I assume the rolled up hose on the hangar is a firehose). The two standing cylinders are new to me (this is my first time really digging in on a carrier) - but I assume these are related to firefighting (maybe pumps of some sort?) due to their proximity to the hose reel. I found this photo of CVL-30 postwar that seems to show a similar arrangement (any clarification on what this is would be really helpful):

cvl-30.png (57.42 KiB) Viewed 19349 times

Any help is, as always, much appreciated. To summarize my areas of confusion:

1) What is the "G.F.S." mentioned in the BOGP of CVL-26?
2) What is located in the fwd most gallery position on the CVLs in general?
3) What is the box bracketed to the bulwark in the photo of Cowpens attached? If it's a reproducer - can someone shed some light on why carriers have so many reproducers? I assume this is because flight deck operations require a lot of coordination but again, I'm an amateur when it comes to CVs...

[Ian Roberts]

Yes, well aware of the fact these are different ships and different time frames. I only have a few clear photos of Princeton, so I started looking at different ships to try to get an idea for what was being shown on the TFW plans. This has been helpful in the past to identify arrangements if a sister ship had the same configuration, but the subject ship has no clear photos or close ups. In this case I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this position on the ship to understand exactly what was located here on Princeton. I never fully trust drawings (even the TFW stuff) and always try to find photos to verify whatever I'm drawing, hence my difficulty here.

[Charybdis]

Ian, the two cylinders are [fueling stations]. GFS = Gasoline Fueling Station? These are usually located equally in the catwalks around the flight deck on US carriers of the time. They would definitely be there as built.

I would imagine the reason for so many reproducers was the sheer noise during flight operations made it difficult to hear.

Looking forward to seeing the completed drawing.

EDIT: Not foam generators. I jumped in without checking. My bad.

[Charybdis]

Examples of Gas Station on Essex class:



https://www.dropbox.com/s/lfsgniwrznl7u ... n.jpg?dl=0

[Ian Roberts]

Pretty conclusive! Thanks Charybdis! I noticed they are always near a racked hose, so I guess this is the same hose used for fueling the aircraft?

I had wondered if they were foamite-related as well. Thanks for the clarification.

[Kevin Meadows]

When was the 20 mm Gallery removed from between the stacks on the Independence? Has a definite date been determined?

[Foute Man]

Uploaded some free plans for USS Cowpens (1945 BOGP & 1944 GA) & USS Monterey (1950 BOGP) to the Webarchive. The plans for Monterey are wellknown, but the plans for Cowpens have only been released in the past few years.

USA - CVL-25 USS Cowpens Booklet of General Plans (1945)

USA - CVL-25 USS Cowpens General Arrangement (1944)

USA - CVL-26 USS Monterey Booklet of General Plans (1950)

more free and legal plans for US (built) aircraft carriers here