Scale: 1/96 (1/8 inch = 1 foot)
Includes 1 mount (turret) with barrel.
Recommended for:
- CNC 1/96 scale Fletcher Class Round Bridge Superstructure
- CNC 1/96 scale Fletcher Class FRAM Superstructure
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Benham DD-397 hull
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Sims DD-409 hull
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Benson DD-421 hull
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Fletcher DD-445 hull
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Kidd DD-661 hull
- Scale Shipyard 1/96 scale USS Pritchett DD-561 hull
- 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 US Coast Guard cutters.
This "Heavyweight" version had a reinforced roof with two "bumps", called "knuckles", that resisted blast from another 5-inch turret firing overhead. This type was known as a "Double Knuckle" mount during World War II. Compared to the "late version", the early version, 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. Two of 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.
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" lightweight mounts, available separately.
Features:
- overall dimensions and details scaled from official US Navy O.P. 1112 drawings dated March, 1945 and measurements taken from a surviving Mod.41 mount 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 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 as they were during World War Two
© Model Monkey LLC. This 3D-printed product may not be copied or recast.
Classes that carried this mount include:
- Bagley
- Benham
- Benson
- Buckley
- Dunlap
- Fletcher (early ships of the class)
- Garcia
- German destroyer class 119
- Gridley
- Secretary
- Sims