Scale: 1/350

This model represents the "dog-bone"-shaped 20mm Oerlikon cannon platform added to many Benson-class and Gleaves-class destroyers.  Noted naval historian Rick E. Davis explains, "One of the more interesting configurations found on the original group of BENSON-GLEAVES class units, DD421-DD444, were the about 16 units that replaced the aft torpedo tubes with a platform for four 20-mm guns....The mod was done either at New York Navy Yard or in theater by USS VULCAN (AR-5) at Oran.  This AA armament augmentation was authorized (eight units on 8 March 1944 and another batch of eight in April 1944) for units serving in the Med off Italy to, in part, counter German air attacks/tactics....

"Here is the list of units authorized and those known to have the four 20-mm platforms and whether NYNY or AR-5 did the work: 
DD-421 BENSON ... NYNY
DD-422 MAYO … NYNY
DD-423 GLEAVES … NYNY
DD-424 NIBLACK … NYNY
DD-425 MADISON … AR-5
DD-426 LANSDALE … AR-5
DD-427 HILARY P. JONES … AR-5
DD-428 CHARLES F. HUGHES … AR-5 likely
DD-429 LIVERMORE … AR-5
DD-430 EBERLE … unknown if and where mod was done
DD-431 PLUNKETT … NYNY
DD-432 KEARNY … AR-5
DD-437 WOOLSEY … NYNY
DD-438 LUDLOW … NYNY
DD-439 EDISON … NYNY
DD-440 ERICSSON … AR-5"

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