Scale 1/144

This model represents the "dog-bone"-shaped 20mm Oerlikon cannon platform added to many Benson class and Gleaves class destroyers.  Noted naval historian Rick E. Davis explains, "One of the more interesting configurations found on the original group of BENSON-GLEAVES class units, DD421-DD444, were the about 16 units that replaced the aft torpedo tubes with a platform for four 20-mm guns....The mod was done either at New York Navy Yard or in theater by USS VULCAN (AR-5) at Oran.  This AA armament augmentation was authorized (eight units on 8 March 1944 and another batch of eight in April 1944) for units serving in the Med off Italy to, in part, counter German air attacks/tactics....

"Here is the list of units authorized and those known to have the four 20-mm platforms and whether NYNY or AR-5 did the work: 
DD-421 BENSON ... NYNY
DD-422 MAYO … NYNY
DD-423 GLEAVES … NYNY
DD-424 NIBLACK … NYNY
DD-425 MADISON … AR-5
DD-426 LANSDALE … AR-5
DD-427 HILARY P. JONES … AR-5
DD-428 CHARLES F. HUGHES … AR-5 likely
DD-429 LIVERMORE … AR-5
DD-430 EBERLE … unknown if and where mod was done
DD-431 PLUNKETT … NYNY
DD-432 KEARNY … AR-5
DD-437 WOOLSEY … NYNY
DD-438 LUDLOW … NYNY
DD-439 EDISON … NYNY
DD-440 ERICSSON … AR-5"

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