Scale: 1/200
 
Set includes 5 mounts (turrets) in two different confugurations, all with barrels:
2 "double knuckle" mounts.
3 "single knuckle" mounts.

Recommended for:
Digital Navy 1/200 scale USS Black DD-666
Digital Navy 1/200 scale USS Caperton DD-650
Halinski 1/200 scale USS Heerman DD-532
Modelik 1/200 scale USS Leutze DD-481
Progresswerk Nürnberg 1/200 scale Z1 Zerstörer (Fletcher klasse / klasse 119)
Trumpeter 1/200 scale USS The Sullivans DD-537
and more!
 
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 single gun mount fit to several classes of warships and Coast Guard cutters.

Mounts were either a heavyweight type, which had a reinforced roof, or a lightweight type.  The heavyweight type had two rooftop bumps, called "knuckles", that resisted blast from another 5-inch turret firing overhead. The heavyweight type was therefore known as a "Double Knuckle" mount during World War II. The lightweight version had only one rooftop knuckle and was known as a "Single Knuckle" mount.

Five 5-inch/38 Mk.30 single mounts were normally fitted to a Fletcher-class destroyer during World War Two, two "Double Knuckle" mounts and three "Single Knuckle" mounts.  One "Double Knuckle" was located on the main deck in the foremost position.  The other "Double Knuckle" mount was located on the main deck in the aft-most position.  The three "Single Knuckle" lightweight mounts were positioned in superfiring positions on top of deck houses.
 
Compared to the early turret version, the late version, reproduced here, were produced sometime after 1943, had a different arrangement of stiffeners on the front of the gunhouse, more fasteners on access hatches, differently shaped shell ejection chute, and a differently positioned equipment box. These late mounts are often seen on "square bridge" Fletchers such as USS The Sullivans DD-537 and USS Kidd DD-661. The early version mounts, available separately, were typically fitted to "round bridge" Fletchers.
 
Please consult your references to know if this late version is correct for your model.

Features:
overall dimensions and details scaled from official US Navy O.P. 1112 drawings dated March, 1945 and measurements taken from surviving Mod. 60 and Mod.41 mounts aboard the museum ship USS Kidd DD-661
details were confirmed by careful study of photographs of late Fletcher-class destroyers
mount can be made rotatable and the gun can be positioned at 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 roof of "Double Knuckle" mounts as they were during World War Two
 
 
© Model Monkey LLC. This 3D-printed product may not be copied or recast.