Fletcher class destroyers

[Novice]

Not a pre war request or a post war one, but can we have the USS Pringle (DD-477)?

[darthpanda]

Looks like You're aiming at doing whole WW2 USN.

Some day. I have to prevent myself from being led astray by the constant requests for pre-war and post-war ships.

Look great! are you going to do Mahan, Gridley, Benham and Allen M.Sumner class?

[Colosseum]

I will eventually try to get to the Mahan, Gridley, and Benham classes. The Allen M. Sumners are here.

As for the usual question about postwar ships and Fletcher DDs operated by other countries, the answer is (as usual) that I plan to only draw USN wartime ships as I need to keep a reasonable objective otherwise I will go nuts. Layered PSD files (or stripped versions with no railing or other clutter) are always available to anyone who asks via PM.

[CHiP]

Looking forward to seeing the Mahan class.

[Colosseum]

Update to a classic of mine (that actually turned out to be a project in and of itself):



This is JOHNSTON (DD-557) during the Battle off Samar on October 25th, 1944. The ship is camouflaged in Measure 21.

JOHNSTON was one of the "square bridge" FLETCHER class destroyers, which incorporated a revised/simplified open bridge based on British war experience. Wartime refits and revisions to the class added two more 40mm Bofors twin mounts amidships (abeam the no.2 stack), and replaced the 20mm Oerlikons normally fitted ahead of the bridge with another pair of twin Bofors. The SC-2 air search antenna and SG surface search antenna sit at the masthead (the standard authorized radar fit for destroyers by 1944).

JOHNSTON was sunk by gunfire in this configuration during the Battle off Samar (part of the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf), with 186 men killed in action.

[emperor_andreas]

Awesome work!

[Colosseum]

This is THE SULLIVANS (DD-537) in November of 1944, while operating in the Pacific. She is camouflaged in Measure 21.

THE SULLIVANS shows the standard mid-to-late war authorized AA configuration, with five twin 40mm Bofors mounts -- two abeam the pilothouse, two abeam the number 2 stack, and one on the aft deckhouse. These were controlled by Mark 49 directors as launched, but replaced with the simpler Mark 51 in 1944. Radar fit is the standard SC-2 air search mattress at the masthead with SG surface search below it. A TBS tactical radio antenna sits atop the portside yardarm. Note the clover emblem on the forward stack, an iconic feature of this ship. Built at Bethlehem Steel's San Francisco yard, THE SULLIVANS shows a distinctive feature of ships built or altered at this yard -- a rub strake installed amidships below the waist 40mm position.

THE SULLIVANS survived the war, serving in the postwar US Navy, before becoming a museum in Buffalo, New York.

[emperor_andreas]

Very nice work!

[Colosseum]

Back at it after some time off.



This is HOEL (DD-533) in October of 1943, at the conclusion of a refit period at Mare Island. She is camouflaged in the overall Navy Blue of Measure 21.

As built, the ship went to sea for trials with three twin 40mm Bofors mounts (one of the aft deckhouse and two amidships), all controlled by Mark 49 directors. Post-shakedown alterations removed the 20mm Oerlikons originally ahead of the bridge and replaced them with two more twin Bofors mounts, directed by simpler Mark 51 directors mounted on the bridge wings. HOEL would go to the combat zone in this configuration.



This is HOEL (DD-533) in October of 1944 at the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The ship is camouflaged in Measure 32/1D.

HOEL has received Mark 51 directors for the 40mm Bofors guns, replacing the earlier Mark 49s. Otherwise, the ship is nearly identical in configuration to her late 1943 appearance. HOEL would be lost in this configuration during the Battle off Samar, with 253 officers and enlisted men going down with the ship.

[BB1987]

It is always a plasure to see your destroyers.