Shipbucket

This is IDAHO (BB-42) in April of 1945 during the bombardment of Okinawa. She is camouflaged in the overall Navy Blue of Measure 21.

IDAHO left Puget Sound after a major refit in January of 1945 to head to the Pacific in support of the landings at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The refit period added ten 5"/38-caliber guns in Mark 30 single mounts along the ship's superstructure; this was the intended "ultimate" authorized refit for all the NEW MEXICO class battleships, but the war ended before similar refits could be applied to IDAHO's sister ships NEW MEXICO (BB-40) and MISSISSIPPI (BB-41). The 5" guns were directed by Mark 33 directors with Mark 28 ranging radar. Main battery fire control was still provided by the original Mark 31 directors fore and aft; the aft Mark 31 Mod.3 unit was fitted with Mark 3 "FC" ranging radar. A Mark 8 "FH" antenna has been fitted above the forward superstructure for 14" gunfire control.

This refit relocated the ship's SK air search antenna to the foremast. SG surface search sets sit atop the mainmast and the foretop. The foretop is surmounted by a small pole extension with IFF antennas and a weather station. The mainmast platforms mount an early TDY jammer installation (aft) and a platform for a magnesyn compass (forward). X-2A beacons for the "NANCY" infrared signalling system sit abeam the SK radar platform. The prominent piping running forward from the aft gun turret is an external line for aviation gasoline.

A Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher of Observation Squadron THREE (VO-3) is spotted on the aft catapult. In service, the ship carried two Kingfisher floatplanes for scouting and gunnery observation. IDAHO would complete the war in this configuration, but the large surplus of warships immediately after V-J Day meant the ship was decommissioned shortly thereafter, going to the breakers in 1947.

a very impressive addition to the archive, good job on it

Gorgeous work

Excellent work Colo.

Lovely work, exceptionally detailed and what we've come to expect from our USN master artist.

Not sure, Ian, that the training 5"in gun is correctly drawn

Thx all.

Colombamike wrote: ↑July 21st, 2019, 9:58 am Not sure, Ian, that the training 5"in gun is correctly drawn

I went back and forth about this - the Profile Morskie plans show the loading machine oriented facing forward, but the ship's booklet of general plans (showing this refit) indicate it faced aft (see below). Naturally clear close up photos of this area after the 1945 refit are nonexistent.



This ship's booklet of general plans was unusually detailed and correctly showed the configuration of almost every part of the ship that matched the period photos. It was often more accurate than the Profile Morskie plans (I never fully trust these anyway after years of finding small (or sometimes big) errors...)

If you have a clear photo of the area showing the loading machine facing forward I will be happy to correct it.

Wow! Excellent job!

I certainly have nothing to add. It's excellent work, inching right up to the line of what might be over-detailed at this scale.

Colosseum wrote: ↑July 21st, 2019, 12:58 pmNaturally clear close up photos of this area after the 1945 refit are nonexistent. If you have a clear photo of the area showing the loading machine facing forward I will be happy to correct it.

Indeed, I have not (yet) found an interesting ref/pics