Calling Alaska-class (CB-1) fans

[Fliger747]

In the above photo the stem looks to be sharp, the original stem shape was rounded which led to the bow wave disturbance, so WAG that the extension has been fitted. For my model, a WL effort, a moot point.

T

[Build Mon$ter]

Good day all I just recently got my USS Alaska and USS Hawaii, very interesting ships. I haven�t done much research on them yet but have started with the assembly of the Alaska, could upload pics if anyone is interested.

Also I did find out so far that the Hawaii was never completed so I was toying with the idea of making some changes, upgrades, was thinking of replacing the 12 inch turret A with a 16 inch turret.
Let me know what you all think?

Thanks,
Tom

[Build Mon$ter]

I thought about that too, and did a search online for ideas, but to go that rout would be a major rebuild to update the whole ship, I still kind of wanted to keep her in a more WW2 setup.

[maccrage]

her 12" gun turrets were installed as this link shows the forward 2 turrets. https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1203/04020305.jpg
https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1203/040203.htm
could replace the quad 40mm mounts with dual 3" gun mounts like on the Des Moines class heavy cruisers.
https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/134/04134.htm

That's what I'm doing, and thinking about replacing the 5" /38s with 4 Mark 42 5"/54s.

[Fliger747]

Hawaii would be an interesting project as she incorporated many small structural and arrangement differences. Research would be a major effort, though some of the very clear under construction photos are a good start. Postwar these would have remained excellent carrier escorts and capable of any mission an Iowa would have been used for. Though this was the twilight of the Gun Ship, no adversarial such ship of equal power remained in the world.

Tom

[Fliger747]

Interesting that the Alaska�s were all named after the only US territories to be directly attacked during WWII?

I just finished replacing all 14 40 mm quads with my own constructions (3 D printed at home) and also added the ammunition racks to the tubs (also printed). However I have no good info on the racks on the two stern tubs. These tubs were unusual in they incorporated Extended hull plating for about half their distance. They also incorporated an unusual cupola with a large hatch into the tub with a clipping/handling room below.

Cheers. Tom

[Fliger747]

They weren�t built.

[BB62vet]

Bud - "but a territory"

Lou - "What?"

Tom - No, Guam!

Bud - "What a but Guam?"

Lou - "the Cruiser?"

Tom - No, the territory

Bud - "Guam?"

Lou - "I don't know!!"

Hank - "I don't know's on 3rd!!!"



(The Devil made me do it!! - )

[Fliger747]

The historical records do show that Terry went back to England because he was a Tory�

[Fliger747]

On a serious note (Ha!):

I have seen a photo where Alaska has her name in white lettering on the stern, midway to the W/L, but no hull numbers. I have seen Guam with a tiny "2" on the bow but no hull numbers on Alaska. It may have been so small as to not be apparent in the photos? Was Alaska numberless with the idea that none stood for one? If it had a number it was the "other one".

Tom

[Fliger747]

To answer my own question about the hull numbering, Alaska in the Ken Kracht photo displayed earlier does show a white short vertical stripe which must be the hull number! A bit hilarious s the APA's etc had white numbers bow and stern 8' high!

Cheers: Tom

[Ian Roberts]

The Camden photos during the inclining experiment clearly show Alaska's "1" on the bow in the standard 24" size we see on most wartime ships. It's easier to make out on the starboard side as it contrasts well with the black stripe on the forward hull, but it's also visible against the 5-L on the port side in other photos if you look closely. As you note, the "1" is still present into 1945 after the ship paints into Measure 22.

[Fliger747]

I have seen port side photos around that time where it's not clearly identifiable. Of course most of the wartime photos, especially at a distance are quite poor in resolution. At ant rate I'll add them to my ship.

Thanks! Tom

[Build Mon$ter]

Well I decided to post an update of my USS Alaska, I still have quite a bit of detailing to go.
I mentioned in a previous post about an idea I had for the USS Hawaii, converting her number one turret to a 16 inch triple, having had a lot of time to think about it while I work on the Alaska I�ve decided to go one step further and turn her into a true monster cruiser killer. I�m adding the 16 inch and I�m moving the 12 inch to the sturn super firing over her current rear turret along with this I�m thinking of upgrading her bridge to something more like the Iowa class battleships.

[Fliger747]

Your Alaska looks very nice indeed! I updated mine extensively after I got into 3D printing. It is a well proportioned and beautiful warship. Though sometimes denigrated they were by the time they were in service just as valuable as an Iowa as a fast carrier escort. Ships varied in detail and equipment during their careers, yours shows the post shakedown modifications to the bridge area. One interesting thing about these ships seems to be the lack of 20 mm ready boxes, I only found two abeam the stack. The use of centerline 5" mounts and the very open sky arcs made the secondary battery quite effective. Though there were only two Mk 37 directors, both on centerline, the Mk51 directors could also be used in a pinch.

As to a tripple 16" MK 7 installation forward, the hull is too fine at this point to allow any side protection and sufficient hull girder strength because of the large structural penetration. This was always a problem in design of the big gun ships where speed was desired, even the Iowa's.

You might check as to the presence of the 5" mount captains blast hoods. Because of the spacing of the mounts these may not have been fitted, though they were easily removed or added with just several bolts.

Good work! Tom

[Madhatter]

Hi everyone
I have a question regarding the Alaska. Just behind the funnel there is a piece of equipment which sits on it's own dedicated pole-like structure. There is also one up front on the top platform. What is it and if possible, does anyone know where can I find a 1/350 version of this piece?
thanks for any help you can render
kind regards
Simon

[Michael Potter]

Is it: < main battery director mark 38 >

Several 1/350 PE sets contain the fire control radar mark 8. One is < Tom's Model Works > #3505 US NAVAL RADARS

[Madhatter]

Is it: < main battery director mark 38 >

Several 1/350 PE sets contain the fire control radar mark 8. One is < Tom's Model Works > #3505 US NAVAL RADARS

Thank you so very much - you are awesome! It is exactly what I needed to know. That PE set is also just what I needed - so an even bigger thanks again for that. I bought a set to, so that is my project saved.

[Arie]

Can someone tell me what these parts are and what color they are?

[MartinJQuinn]

They are tanks of some sort. Keith Bender explained it to me once, but of course I forgot. He painted his green here:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... 14-046.htm

But I've also seen them painted with the bottom 1/2 black and the top 1/2 painted different colors. The colors, IIRC, designates what is inside.