Scale: 1/125
 
Recommended for:
	
Fleetscale 1/128 scale USS Missouri  BB-63, built as USS Missouri BB-63 or USS Wisconsin BB-64
	
Fleetscale 1/128 scale USS Tennessee BB-43
	
Fleetscale 1/128 scale Fletcher class Destroyer
 
This set of models represents the US Navy's Mark 37 "square-back" Fire Control Director as configured to carry Mk.12/Mk.22 radar antennas and featuring a shield for the director captain known as a "cockpit".  This director featured two small boxy extensions on the rear of the director to accommodate radar equipment.

The US Navy Mark 37 Director was used to control the fire of the 5”/38 caliber dual purpose batteries against both aircraft and surface targets, to direct the fire of starshells for the illumination of surface targets and to position the searchlights.

Mk.37 directors were commonly installed on many classes of US Navy and US Coast Guard ships during World War II through the Cold War.  Succeeding the earlier "angle-back" Mk.37 directors, and early "square-back" directors, the late "square-back" Mk.37 directors featured a shielded, open director captain position known as a "Control Officer's Cockpit", three observation hatches instead of five, and just two telescope port covers, one for the "Pointer" and one for the "Trainer".   Many earlier Mk.37 directors were modified to this configuration.  During the Cold War, the directors were enlarged, receiving a very boxy-shaped housing.

© Model Monkey Book and Hobby.  This 3D-printed item may not be copied or recast.

Mk.37 directors were commonly installed on many classes of US Navy and US Coast Guard ships during World War II through the Cold War. Here is a brief summary of Mk.37 directors from noted naval historian and researcher Rick E. Davis:

Mk.37 "Angle-Back" director (available separately): the early Mod versions, called "taper-back" or "angle-back", were installed on the NORTH CAROLINA class battleships, SOUTH DAKOTA class battleships, USS Iowa BB-61, USS New Jersey BB-62, USS Saratoga CV-3 (from 1943 onwards), USS Hornet CV-8, SIMS-BENSON-GLEAVES class destroyers, and early completed cruisers and battleships like the first four ATLANTA class cruisers. It appears in about 1941 the US Navy switched to the “square-back” Mk 37 directors for all ships being built (and modified), and continued to be made throughout WWII.

Mk.37 "Square-Back" director for Mk 4 radar: the first version seen had a plain backside with only hand grip rails (this is the director top that comes with the Tamiya and Trumpeter FLETCHER class kits). Some FLETCHER’s ended the war still equipped with the Mk 4 radar. Units with Mk 4 radar that were recommissioned for the Korean War never had the Mk 12/22 radars installed, having the newer Mk 25 radar installed.

Mk.37 "Square-Back" director for Mk 12/22 radar (available separately): these are the same directors as above with two extension boxes added to the back to house the electronics of the new radars.  As an aside, the Mk 12 radar was available and installed without the Mk 22 radar on a few destroyers in mid-1944. Most of those destroyers had the Mk 22 installed before going to the war zone however during post-shakedown availabilities.

Mk.37 "Square-Back" director for Mk 12/22 radar, with commander's cockpit (this model): the commander's cockpit was added as a mod to existing and new directors starting in early 1945. Several of the Anti-Kamikaze Mod FLETCHER’s got the cockpit. But, oddly, not all destroyers got the cockpits. Reports indicate that many gun director captains didn’t like it (too hot in the South Pacific). It is believed that the cockpit-equipped directors are more common on the GEARING class.

Mk.37 director, Cold War-configuration (available separately): during the Cold War, the directors were enlarged to the front, receiving a very boxy-shaped housing. These were commonly fit to the Iowa class battleships and Essex and Midway class aircraft carriers from the 1950s onward.

Mk.37 Directors are known to have been carried by the following ships and classes but check your sources to know for sure which director type you need for your project:
	
	
USS Enterprise CV-6, late-war
	
	
	
USS Hornet CV-8
	
	
	
USS Pennsylvania (rebuilt)
	
	
	
USS Maryland (rebuilt)
	
	
	
USS Nevada (rebuilt)
	
	
	
USS California (rebuilt)
	
	
	
USS Tennessee (rebuilt)
	
	
	
USS West Virginia (rebuilt)
	
	
	
HMS Vanguard
	
	
	
Alaska class
	
	
	
Atlanta class
	
	
	
Baltimore class
	
	
	
Benson class
	
	
	
Buckley class
	
	
	
Butler class
	
	
	
Cleveland class
	
	
	
Essex class
	
	
	
Fletcher class
	
	
	
Garcia class
	
	
	
Gearing class
	
	
	
Gleaves class
	
	
	
Iowa class
	
	
	
Midway class
	
	
	
Montana class
	
	
	
North Carolina class had "angle-backs" (available separately
	
	
	
Sims class
	
	
	
South Dakota class
	
	
	
Sumner class
	
	
	
many others as well as various auxiliaries