Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

[Dan K]

I did not realize until today that West Virginia also had a splinter shield mounted on one of its 5.25" mounts. I thought these were still in the evaluation phase and limited to just Maryland.

Anyone know when these shields were installed on either ship, and would they have been installed in pairs?

[SeanF]

I did not realize until today that West Virginia also had a splinter shield mounted on one of its 5.25" mounts. I thought these were still in the evaluation phase and limited to just Maryland.

Anyone know when these shields were installed on either ship, and would they have been installed in pairs?

Not sure when, but I wouldn't have noticed them had Trumpeter not called for them in their instructions!

- Sean F.

[Jeff Sharp]

Hi Dan,
Mary�s was installed during her Puget Sound refit which ended in August �41.
I don�t see any evidence of one on WeeVee in this July 25, �41 pic.

[Dan K]

Great shot, Jeff. Thx. Wish we could put a date on her installation(s).

Do you know if they were paired up, or just one mount?

I'm struck by the thought that 6 months peacetime evaluation was superseded by one day's worth of wartime evaluation.

[Jeff Sharp]

Dan,
That is a great question and one I had not considered before! I assumed that both WeeVee and Mary had one on each side of the ship but I�m not so sure now. I�ll have to dig though a few photos to see if I can find any good looks at the starboard side of either ship.
This pic of Mary at Puget Sound in July shows no shield.

And this pic of her at Pearl suggest no shield on that side either.


Still trying to find some kind of look at WeeVee�s starboard side.

[Mr. Church]

Some colour footage of U.S.S. California from 1942 while still under repair after the Pearl Harbour attack:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyEH_IfQgkg

As per screenshot below, her name is still visible on her stern in raised letters though they are painted over:

[Dan K]

Thx for the nice blow up shot of MD, Jeff. It seems pretty clear that her arrangement is limited to the one shielded mount. I would suspect the same for WeeVee.

Since I'm starting to putter around with a MD build on the side, I'm noticing more and more of her details. Such as her 5-L starting one deck higher than the other ships, particularly WeeVee. Also, I don't see the 12' navigation rangefinders emplaced on the navigation bridge level (under the 5" directors) in any of her PH photos, unlike her sisters. That's a bit surprising. Any ideas on when/why these were removed? During the June refit?

It's always nice to see that clip of California. I found it instructive. Thx for posting.

[Jeff Sharp]

Dan,
Although not conclusive, this shot suggests also that WeeVee did not have a shield on the starboard side either.

[Dan K]

I concur. Thank you for taking the time to research this.

You know, that's a very instructive shot. Is that a crop of one of the post attack pics? Lots of details.

[Rick E Davis]

The overhead view is one of several aerial survey photos taken on 10 December 1941. Some are better than others. From the time stamp of the camera, it appears the aircraft flew around Ford Island at least twice and the Navy Yard once.

[Jeff Sharp]

Yeah, this is a crop of a much larger photo from that day. I�ve studied these shots hundreds of times and never caught the lack of gun shields on the starboard sides of these two ships. Time to correct this detail on my models. I love it when new details like this pops up on these ships!

[Dan K]

Another, more minor detail that I just noticed - a small antenna atop WeeVee bridge mounted rangefinder. I'm debating whether or not to add this.

I don't see it on the other sisters.

[Dick J]

Another, more minor detail that I just noticed - a small antenna atop WeeVee bridge mounted rangefinder. I'm debating whether or not to add this.

I don't see it on the other sisters.

To me it looks more like an antenna spreader, similar to the ones on IJN turret tops. The lower framework rotates with the rangefinder and the upper "T" shaped structure remains stationary. Look closely and you can see the wires.

[Dan K]

Agreed. That's actually what I meant to say. Haven't seen that before on one of these BBs.

[Dan K]

Anyone know what color were the man overboard, breakdown, and truck lights?

[taskforce48]

According to this document from Researcher @ Large, the Man Overboard and Breakdown lights were red on the Washington and South Dakota Class. Sure it would have been the same on the 1941 Big 5. It calls out several other lights including the truck ones, but no color is given.

HTH
Matt

[Dan K]

That works for me.

Much appreciated, Matt.

[davidwaples]

Hi all,
While at the IPMS Nationals I saw a wonderful model of the USS Tennessee dated December 7, 1941. It was an amazing model and won first place in its category. Rightfully so. What I have a question about, and in no way taking away from this model, is the deck color. It was painted blue, the forward turret tops painted white, and one of the most aft turret top painted red. I'm wondering from an historical point of view should the deck have been painted? I only know enough about this to be dangerous, but I thought that these decks were natural until after the war started. Interested to hear your thoughts.
Take care
Dave

[rdh]

Hi Dave

Latest research I've seen says Tennessee and Nevada had painted decks. If I remember what I've read, correctly no other battleships did at that time

[Rick E Davis]

Go to this link for the documents and images showing what Richard says is correct, that USS NEVADA and USS TENNESSEE had painted decks at the time of the attack. Plus, the documents list other ships directed to paint their decks for evaluation. Also, the battleships still had the turret top color codes for ID at the time of the attack.

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