Scale: 1/144    

Set includes 5 mounts (turrets) with barrels:
two "double knuckle" mounts with blast hood
three "single knuckle mounts, no blast hood

Recommended for:
Revell 1/144 scale "Fletcher Class Destroyer"
Revell 1/144 scale "German Destroyer Class 119 (Z1/Z5)"
Revell 1/144 scale "Fletcher Class Destroyer, Platinum Edition"
 
Among naval historians, the US Navy 5"/38 caliber cannon is considered the best intermediate-caliber, dual purpose naval gun of World War II. These models represent the 5"/38 cal. Mk.30 mounts fit to early Fletcher-class destroyers before 1944. These mounts are often seen on "round bridge" Fletchers such as USS Fletcher DD-445 herself, and earlier Sims, Benson, and Gleaves class destroyers. Please consult your references to know if this type is correct for your model.
 
Two of the mounts in this set represent the "Double Knuckle" configuration, which had a reinforced roof with two "bumps", called "knuckles", that resisted blast from another 5-inch turret firing overhead. Three mounts in this set represent the "Single Knuckle" configuration, which did not have roof reinforcement.
 
Of the five 5-inch/38 Mk.30 single mounts normally fitted to a Fletcher class destroyer, two "Double Knuckle" heavyweight mounts were carried, one in the foremost position and one in the aft most position on the main deck, known there as "Mount 51" and "Mount 55".  The other three mounts were "Single Knuckle" mounts, positioned above deckhouses, and were known as "Mount 52", "Mount 53" and "Mount 54".
 
Compared to the later versions, the early versions, reproduced here, appeared sometime before 1944, had a different arrangement of stiffeners on the front of the gunhouse, fewer fasteners on access hatches, differently shaped shell ejection chute, and a differently positioned equipment box.
 
Features:
overall dimensions and details scaled from official US Navy O.P. 1112 drawings dated March, 1945 and measurements taken from a surviving mounts aboard the museum ship USS Kidd DD-661
details were confirmed by careful study of photographs of early Fletcher class destroyers
mount can be made rotatable and the gun can be positioned to any realistic elevation
an accurately shaped asymmetrical gunhouse (turret)
accurate, offset gun opening
forward face stiffeners
detailed turret bottom supporting structure with accurately placed bolt-head detail
rear vent
detailed gun captain blast hood, fit to the right side of the "double knuckle" mounts' roof as they were during World War Two
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