Portland class cruisers

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Post subject: Portland class cruisers

Posted: July 1st, 2017, 7:30 am

Posts: 5218
Joined: July 26th, 2010, 9:38 pm
Location: Austin, TX
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Finally got around to it after many years.

This is INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) in May of 1944 after a refit period at Hunter's Point near San Francisco. The ship is camouflaged in the Measure 32/7D scheme.

CA-35's 1943 refit completely reworked the ship's pilot house and superstructure. The aft boat accommodations were completely removed, with the cruiser retaining only a pair of 26' motor whaleboats. Open-topped Mark 33 directors were installed fore and aft, both with the Mark 4 "FD" fire control radar. The ship's original Mark 27 directors are still present but have been fitted with Mark 3 Mod.1 "FC" ranging radar sets. The light anti-aircraft battery has predictably been enhanced, with 20mm Oerlikons and 40mm Bofors added in the usual positions. A tall tripod mast has been installed above the number 2 stack to support the SK air search radar, with the small SG surface search antenna on the main top above it. The small pole foremast mounts another SG antenna. These radar sets were considered crucial enough to mount two, with one as a backup. A TBS tactical radio antenna sits on a small outrigger behind the forward SG set.

CA-35's next refit in December of 1944 would replace the Mark 27 directors with Mark 34 directors and Mark 8 "FH" radar sets (a potent combination fitted to all new-built USN cruisers of the time). A Curtiss SOC Seagull of Cruiser Scouting Squadron FOUR (VCS-4) is spotted on the catapult - these would be replaced with SC Seahawks by mid-1945.

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This is INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35) as lost in July, 1945. The ship is camouflaged in the standard late-war Measure 22, with Navy Blue (5-N) and Haze Grey (5-H) on all vertical surfaces.

INDIANAPOLIS shows all the late-war alterations made to the PORTLAND class. Mark 33 directors with Mark 28 ranging radar sets have been fitted to control the 5"/25 battery. The highly-successful Mark 34 director with Mark 8 Mod.2 "FH" radar controls the main battery. The foremast mounts a TDY trainable radar jammer antenna, with various IFF and tactical radio antennas on the fore yards. The foretop mounts the usual SG surface search set. INDIANAPOLIS' mainmast is still fitted with the "bedspring" of the SK air search radar, but most interestingly, the main top shows the advanced (for the time) SG-6 radar set; this was a surface and zenith search set that could be toggled back and forth. CA-35 is one of very few units to actually receive this radar during its last wartime refit - typically this set is only seen on post-war combatants. CA-35 also mounts all of the late-war RCM equipment. "Sword", "Derby", and DBM-1 monitoring antennas are on the mainmast, with the TDYa S-band jamming system in place (with deck edge transmitters just abaft the number one stack and a receiver ahead of the forward Mark 34 director). A DAQ HF/DF antenna sits on the very top of the mainmast.

One of the 40mm quad batteries has been fitted with the small radar dish associated with the Mark 63 GFCS. The dark area near the aft directors along the 02 level are stacked 8" fueling-at-sea hoses. INDIANAPOLIS' last refit removed the starboard side catapult (another weight savings consideration). The old catapult tower has been cut down into a combination vent trunk and crane support. As lost, INDIANAPOLIS carried Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk floatplanes, flown by pilots of Cruiser Scouting Squadron FOUR (VCS-4).

INDIANAPOLIS was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-58 while transiting to the Philippines after delivering the atomic bomb components to Tinian. 900 of her crew went into the water, but only 317 survived four days afloat on the open ocean facing exposure and shark attacks.

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Next is PORTLAND (CA-33) after the ship's first major wartime refit at Mare Island. Like most combatants of this time the ship is camouflaged in Measure 21's all-over Navy Blue (5-N).

PORTLAND was slightly differently than her sister INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35); most notably, the well deck amidships extended forward past the number one stack. This allowed the ship's whaleboats to be spotted right aft of the step in the main deck, a more advantageous position than aft. 8" fueling-at-sea hoses, life rafts, and firefighting equipment are racked on the tall bulkhead on either side of the stack base. The foremast also carries the SK air search radar with an SG just ahead of it, while the large platform on the mainmast remains empty (I am not sure why this was done). A second SG surface search set sits on the main top. A Curtiss SOC Seagull of Cruiser Scouting Squadron FOUR (VCS-4) is spotted on the catapult.

PORTLAND survived the war to be decommissioned shortly after the end of hostilities. The ship was broken up for scrap in 1959 after 14 years in the reserve fleet.

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All PORTLAND class cruiser drawings available here: http://shipbucket.com/drawings/search?c ... ate=&view=

All USN cruiser drawings available here: http://shipbucket.com/drawings?category ... hipType=16

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