User Alvama draw this ship: http://shipbucket.com/images.php?dir=Re ... %20106.png
In the meantime some new findings help to update the design. I try to sum up the background:
In February 1942 the Banckert fought together with theVan Ghent against the Japanese invasion in Palembang. End of February, she was so badly damaged that it was abandoned 2.3.42. For this purpose, they were fired from the submarine K-XVIII with the onboard gun. The Japanese raised and rebuilt it as patrol boat 106. (P-106 or PB-106 is just a Western designation) However, it was not completely finished.
Original image of Banckert as P-106: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IJN_PB106-1946.jpg
According to HP Models a sketch was published in a publication in the '70s who mentions the P-106 as a carrier of two landing craft. They also have 12 x 2.5cm Flak worn (probably 4x3). This coincides with the technical specifications in http://www.navypedia.org/ships/japan/ja ... nckert.htm .
http://propnturret.com/tully/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=422 contains some valuable information, in particular:
There is a sketch of PB106 in Shizuo Fukui's book "Japanese Naval Vessels at the end of World War II" (on page 48), with the following comments:
"She is ex Dutch destroyer Banckert (Yarrow design). Built by Burgebhouts in 1930. Originally she carried 4 x 12cm guns, 1 x 8cm H.A, several machine guns and 2 x 53cm triple T.T. She was sunk at Soerabaya in March, '42, salvaged & refitted by Japanese Navy but not completed. Projected to be used for patroling, escorting & transporting. 2 x 14m Daihatsu are to be carried on deck. Speed reduced to about 26 knots. Her fittings armaments are not mounted. Only engines repaired. She was moored without commision at Soerabaya at the end of war." (Spelling as per original)
Curiously, Fukui lists her as having four boilers, when she was built with three. Projected armament was two 8cm H.A. guns, four triple 25mm MG and 24 DC. According to the sketch ("this sketch is shown presumptively"), one 8cm was to be mounted in original "A" 12cm position, the second in the original Dutch 7.5cm HA position between the funnels. The triple 25mm mounts were to be mounted to port and starboard, two immediately ahead of a Japanese style bridge, the other two to port and starboard of the original forward torpedo tube mount position. DC racks and throwers aft. Daihatsus stored at level of original aft torpedo tube mounts. Tripod foremast immediately aft of bridge, original deckhouses aft of funnels removed. Tripod mainmast between aft 25mm AA mounts and Daihatsus.
From this information, in conjunction with the known picture, there are the following conclusions:
- Dutch armament removed. Instead, planned 2 * 8cm, 4 * 3 * 2.5cm AA, 24 DC, 2 * 14m Daihatsu landing craft. Positions as described above: 8 cm in front of the bridge, 8 cm behind the front funnel. The triple AA aside and in front of the bridge. Further triple AA on the sides of the former forward torpedo mounts. DC at the stern.
- Slow down: This is usually done to save room for increased bunkers capacity for increased range. While the restoration at least the rear was removed, possibly even both. It is plausible that was not planned to take the rear boiler back into operation. Accordingly, I start from only one funnel.
- The photo also shows the Dutch bridge. It makes no sense to maintain that in this phase, in order then to replace it later.
- The position of the Daihatsu typically was at a ramp at the stern. However, a position as shown in the drawing can not be excluded. For this a strong crane is required. In any case, the rear deck houses are completely eliminated. Overall, removing the aft funnel allows to move the crane position forward to obtain enough room for the Daihatsu - plausible also in conjunction with the depth charges at the stern.
- As foremast a typical Japanese tripod mast of this time is to be provided. I see no reason to doubt Alvana's radar positioning.
(Sorry this is jpg, did not find how to upload the png directly to here)
Thank you Kim for the crest
