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Sep 1, 2022, 5 tweets

1/ #ships #USNavy #models #WW2: Fletcher-class; 175 built 1942 to 1944. 2,500-tons full load. 376.5’ l x 39.5' w x 17.5' d, 60,000 shp, 2 × depth charge racks, 10 × 21” torpedo tubes; 6 × K-gun depth charge throwers. One rudder.

2/ The Fletcher-class had (from slowest rate of fire and longest range to fastest rate of fire and shortest range) 5 × 5”/38, 5 × 40 mm, 7 × 20 mm. These provided three ranges of defense vs enemy aircraft. The 5” guns were dual-purpose to fire at shore targets, ships, etc.

3/ First the 5"/38. These had 5" bores and were 38-calibers long (L/38). So total length was 5”x38=190”=15’ 10”! Range: 18,000-yards; 15 rpm (under ideal circumstances). These 4 show an unturreted 5"/38 and a twin 5"/38 on battleship Alabama.

4/ The Bofors 40mm came in L/43 or L/60. I’m not sure which were on the Fletchers. They had roughly an 8,000-yard range; 120 rpm up to 140 rpm low.
Oerlikon 20mm L/70: 1,000 yards or L/85: 1,600 yards: 250-320 rpm. These 40mm ↖️↗️and 20mm↘️↙️guns are from the battleship Alabama.

5/ The 5"/38s were directed by a Mark 37 Gun Director (analogue computer). It was an analog computer with some remote control (but how much?). It still took 1,000 shots to down an enemy. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_gun_… TY @DesertStorm24ID!

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