Calling all HMS York and HMS Exeter (WWII) fans

[KevinD]

Hi Gents,

Having been queried a few times re the accuracy of the fore-gun angles on the painting I had commissioned after we discovered the wreck of HMS Exeter back in 2007, thought I'd post the following which shows just what an acute angle the fore guns could train aft on. Schematic from official plans of Exeter: Red dots mark B turrets angle of train, green dots A turrets. As they say, or to paraphrase in this instance, a schematic is worth a thousand words.

It also shows just who Exeter was concerned with / firing on in her last moments, i.e. the southern Jap cruisers, Haguro and Nachi, which were not abeam as portrayed in Capt Gordon's post war drawing.

Also recent historical photos have turned up that seem to confirm that one of Exeters port torpedo warheads 'dislodged' prior to firing and now rests (or did before her recent salvage) under the tubes, as is shown in u/w photos I took.

For more info on the background of the painting, should one so desire, please visit; http://www.jamesaflood.com/exeter.html

[73north]

Just to give the Forum the good news that the art-work has been created for the Kit Box to display and advertise -
for the Trumpeter 1/350 scale HMS Exeter Kit
The artist has also created artwork for the HMS Kent and Cornwall kits , as well the HMS York ( sister ship to Exeter )
This is the 2018-2019 Catalogue page from Trumpeter themselves .... so hopefully in the near future , we will have a companion to HMS Belfast !

[Ady]

Looks like an early war version from the box art. I wonder if they'll release an as sunk version too!

[Richard Durham]

Aoshima's recently released 1/700 Exeter is in the as-lost configuration and appears quite good.

[steviecee]

The Aoshima Exeter hull measures about 9.9 inches long and according to the O/A length in Wiki it should be 9.85 in long so it is to scale

[Ady]

Any pictures of the parts? I'm still waiting on mine coming from Japan.

[Mike E.]

All:

Just found this photo online of HMS Exeter during her refit in Devonport after the Battle Plate action. Looks like the newly built pom pom platform has been fitted but the guns have not yet been installed, and catapults have not been refitted. Anyone know where this is from--a private collection maybe? Would be great to to find additional shots from this series--if they exist.

http://www.shipsnostalgia.com/gallery/s ... 40/cat/511

Best,

Mike E

[KevinD]

Thanks for posting the repair photo Mike!

Some other Exeter photos here (not of her under repair though) that some may not have seen.

https://hiveminer.com/Tags/exeter,navyphoto

[tjstoneman]

A built-up model (https://twitter.com/inutaron/status/1000030185675108353) from Aoshima's EXETER kit (and the Aoshima photo-etch set) show RDF (radar) Type 285 on both for'd and after HA.DCTs, and RDF Type 282 on pompom directors on the after superstructure. Although photos show the framework to take the aerials on the HA.DCTs, I've seen none showing the actual aerials for 285, or 282 arrays - and printed references show only Types 279 and 284 being fitted.

Were these sets (285, 282) fitted when she was lost?

[Richard OMalley]

Started a 1/96 scale plug for HMS Exeter

[KevinD]

profile morskie drawing from either book 111 or 119?

Colour me slow, but which of the above post are you referring to here?

[KevinD]

you are slow. Richard's 8:47am post.

Strange, they don't look like any PM drawings I have seen, but what do I know, its been a while since I had any of my PM copies in hand. The copyright imprint "drawings prepared for "R O'M" is what made me ask, as didn't realise PM prepared drawings for individuals is all.

Pardon my ignorance and thanks for you expertise.

[Richard OMalley]

s
Sorry I was working .Yes they are Profile Morskie plans .They aren't from a book ,they were e-mailed to me .

[KevinD]

Perhaps we had that question already:

which deck colour had Exeter when she was sunk?

According to British and Commonwealth Warship Camouflage of WW II, Volume 3 by Malcolm Wright the wooden decks were not painted and the steel decks were in 507 B.

Ok, I tried to find photos showing the decks, which was not so easy.

There is this photo:
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205016739

1) I agree, the wooden decks appear to be wooden. But when was the photo made?

2) Another one, labelled with February 1942:

http://britishimerialglory.tumblr.com/i ... 4887265173

Pardon this very very very late answer on this but just noticed no one had answered your question;

Your question I have now labeled 1 is captioned in my collection as "May 1941'. I also have a similar, but only 'similar' one labelled "late 41 or early 42", but that has no Walrus on board and just looks 'different' somehow. The picture you refer to was taken by a RAF plane. I'll try and find out exactly the date but I lean towards May 41. My copy came from a knowledgeable Exeter historian. But that's not 100% proof of course, but...........................................It'll do me till proven otherwise.

As for the 2nd one, definately 100% Feb 42, Java Sea, no doubt about that one.

[dick]

1) = 18 May 1941

[KevinD]

1) = 18 May 1941

Yep, agreed May, you just beat me to the punch Dick!

But I didn't know the date, so thanks!

[maxim]

Thank you!

What do you think which deck colours Exeter had when sunk?

[KevinD]

Thank you!

What do you think which deck colours Exeter had when sunk?

Not meaning to be sarcastic but your guess is as a good as mine on that one. Maybe Dick knows?

[dick]

My interpretation of the May 1941 (black and white) aerial photos is that her decks were at that time stained/painted a uniform colour (presumably grey) the tone of which matched the overall grey of the ship.

Apart from the photos of her listing over and sinking which are not much help, I have two versions of the same 1942 aerial photo that might help to answer the question re her decks at the time of her loss. It was taken by the Japanese on 15th February 1942. It seems to show that the maintenance of the staining/painting of the wooden decks was breaking down and bare wood is exposed in some areas. But that is a bit of a guess and my copies of the photo are of poor quality - maybe someone has better or others from that time?

[KevinD]

Maybe this is of some help?

Possibly the burial service for the airmen that perished when her Walrus crashed into the sea. Not sure if this happened late 41 or early 42. Please correct me if I am on wrong on those dates, as cant find my reference re same and Capt. Gordon's comment re same.

That is, Capt. Gordon was very lucky, as in the previous flight of same Walrus off said ship he was a passenger, so lucky for him it didn't crash then!