Posted 5 years ago
fortapache
(3290 items)
This is my big find from Long Beach. It is a three foot long model of a Fletcher Class Destroyer from WWII. The Fletcher class destroyers were a very successful design, they made 175 of them during WWII. US Navy of course. They were used almost exclusively in the Pacific.
Now for some commentary on gun turret nomenclature. I like the British version where A & B are the two front turrets (C if there is a 3rd forward turret). X and Y are the rear turrets and Q, R, S etc. would be the turrets midship. The midship turrets were more commonly seen in WWI. USN just numbers the turrets 12345 and so on. The British version lets you know exactly where the turrets are ie B Turret is the second one forward. Q turret is midship. Here we have ABQXY configuration. The next class the Sumner Class had A, B and X with 2 guns each instead of 1 each as seen in this model. That would seem like a superior design but it was front heavy and lacked the balance of the Fletcher Class Destroyers.
The various weaponry can be seen in the photos. Depth charges, 20mm AA guns and the X and Y turrets can be seen in photo #2. The dual Bofors 40mm AA guns are around the superstructure in photo #3. Wrapping it up are torpedo tubes in photo #4.
I may do a part 2 later on but I think this will do for now.
Special thanks to Toyrebel for identifying this as the Lindberg Blue Devil Destroyer. It is 1:125 scale.
A very fascinating destroyer!! Outstanding detail.
Awesome WW2 destroyer!
Thank you very much Scott.
Thank you very much Newlfd.
Thank you very much Thomas. Would love to see photos of the USS Alabama. One of the reason Tirpitz never went to see was being Alabama was out there waiting for Tirpitz. It was more heavily armed and armored than Tirpitz (sister ship of the Bismarck).
Lindberg Models made a destroyer around this size. It was called a Blue Devil Destroyer on the box, but it was a Fletcher class. I'm pretty sure this is it. The Fletcher's were workhorses and got into to a pretty tough battle at point blank range with Jap cruisers and battle ships at Guadalcanal. They took heavy losses, they were massively outgunned, but turned the Japs back from shelling Henderson Field. I'm sure you would enjoy touring the Alabama as well the USS Drum submarine and the aircraft they have on display there. We love to have you visit.
Thank you very much Toyrebel. This is indeed the Lindberg Blue Devil Destroyer. Even has the same registry #680 which would be incorrect for an actual Fletcher Class destroyer but that is what they used. I shall amend the description.
Thank you
Broochman
jscott0363
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TheGateKeeper
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Thank you SEAN68.
Thank you mikelv85.