Calling all Cleveland-class (CL-55) fans

[DrPR]

Atlanta also had two platforms on the forward smoke pipe on Nov 23, 1944.

Phil

[DrPR]

Now here is another question about the 40mm guns. I have noticed that some ships had a radar mounted on the quad 40mm mounts late in the war. When did this modification start appearing, and which ships had it?

Phil

[sandy]

Atlanta also had two platforms on the forward smoke pipe on Nov 23, 1944.

Phil

Hi Phil,

Yes, she did, and while the photos on navsource of CL-104 Atlanta are quite small they seem to show the lower platform is quite substantial and has no antenna. It almost looks like a platform for people.

Interestingly, CL-66 Springfield has the inverted upper bracketry for the DAK on th efore funnel.

All the best
Sandy

[Rick E Davis]

The radar on the quad 40-mm mount (also can be installed on twin mounts) was part of the Mk 63 GFCS which included an updated Mk 51 Mod 6 director as part of the system. These were first installed about April-May 1945 (maybe earlier on some larger units). At any rate the radar antenna mounted on the gun mount is the dead give away.

I have photos of these CLEVELAND Class units with the Mk 63, with these dates:

CL-82 PROVIDENCE on 6 June 1945 at BosNY (on both forward and aft quad 40-mm mounts, maybe has Mk 56 FC Directors installed ... covered in canvas)

CL-89 MIAMI on 16 July 1945 at San Pedro, CA (only on aft quad 40-mm mounts and has Mk 57 FC Directors is installed as well)

CL-105 DAYTON on 23 April 1945 at Philadelphia Navy Yard (on both forward and aft quad 40-mm mounts ... don't see any Mk 56 FC Directors)

Plus views Post-War on some units with Mk 63 GFCS installed.

[DrPR]

I have pictures of the Oklahoma City Cl-91 that appear to show antennas on the quad 40s dated 9 April 1945. Brent Woods has posted some photos of OK City CL-91 alongside Astoria CL-90 on 23 Aug 1945 that clearly show the antennas on some of the quad 40s.

Phil

[Petya]

Hi,

Does anyone know what paint scheme USS Huntington (CL-107) wore in late '48 during her MedTour? I assume it was Measure 27, but I'm not sure. Were the planks painted deck grey or left unpainted?

Peter.

[Cliffy B]

Peter, looks like standard Postwar scheme by 1948 with Haze Gray, Deck Gray, and natural wood. Her SC-1s appear to be overall Glossy Sea Blue.

Several photos are tagged as 1948 in various parts of the Med.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/107/04107.htm

[Petya]

Peter, looks like standard Postwar scheme by 1948 with Haze Gray, Deck Gray, and natural wood. Her SC-1s appear to be overall Glossy Sea Blue.

Several photos are tagged as 1948 in various parts of the Med.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/107/04107.htm

Thank you Sir! So I guess all horizontal surfaces, including turret tops were deck gray. I've seen these photos earlier but couldn't make out the color of the wooden deck. On some photos it looks like raw teak, than looks dark grey on others.

[pghgeorge]

I'm building a Cleveland. Trying to decide which one I'm going to do.

[RNfanDan]

I'm building a Cleveland. Trying to decide which one I'm going to do.

I had a similar problem awhile back.

I decided to turn it into an Independence-class light carrier.

Problem solved!

[DrPR]

Here is a history of the Cleveland class. Some of these ships had interesting histories:

http://www.okieboat.com/Cleveland%20Cla ... story.html

Probably the most interesting Cleveland class action was in the Solomon Islands campaign. The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay pitted four Clevelands against a more powerful Japanese force of heavy and light cruisers. The Clevelands suffered only minor damage while the Japanese suffered much more severe losses:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_ ... ugusta_Bay

The book Night Work by Fletcher Pratt tells the story of Task Force 39 that was composed of USS Cleveland CL-55, USS Columbia CL-56, USS Montpelier CL-57 and USS Denver CL-58. It gives a very good description of the ships' activities in the brutal Solomon Islands campaigns early in WWII.

Phil

[pghgeorge]

I'm going to build the Birmingham. Just got new plans from Floating Drydock.
Here's a link to my build...
http://www.wmunderway.8m.com/cgi/yabb2/ ... 9938/60#60

[pghgeorge]

[Keith T. Bender]

Need props for that hull ? Give me a yell if so,

propmeup1@verizon.net

Keith

[pghgeorge]

I'll soon be needing some props. I'll keep you in mind. Thanks.

[Rob-UK]

Just came across this amazing full color film of CL90 from April 1945, has it been posted previously? if not, watch and enjoy.

http://youtu.be/Qk6xP_vuKqc?t=37s

Full video: http://youtu.be/Qk6xP_vuKqc

[Cliffy B]

Rob, check out this site for more color footage and TONS of photos courtesy of CL-90's photographer!
http://www.mighty90.com/

[scottj]

Thanks, Rob. What a great weathering reference! I was aware of the Might90 sight but the film is fun to see. Having grown up in Astoria I've got a Skywave Miami kit ready to build after I've brushed up my skills a bit.

[SebastianP]

Time for another evil question: For which units of the class would twin 20 mm guns be appropriate, and for which timeframe? Friedman only mentions the Columbia having been planned with four twins and six singles (though this was reverted to ten singles to save weight), and the only drawings that show them are for the post-war Astoria and the Fargo class. (The 1944 photos of Astoria show single guns). I'm kind of assuming that singles are appropriate for all wartime cruisers, but it would be nice to have some confirmation..

[Rick E Davis]

Twin 20-mm guns in most cases wouldn't have appeared until about April 1945 (there were experimental installations on a couple of battleships before then, but it wasn't widespread). So only the units completed after about April 1945 and any that had an overhaul after that date would be likely candidates for twin20-mm "during" the war.

Basically any of the units in the war zone by prior to May 1945, would have had single 20-mm guns.