Scale: 1/100

Includes 1 mount (turret) with barrel.

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 Mod.41 single gun mount fit to several classes of warships and 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 Mod.60 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 item 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