Hasegawa Destroyer Yukikaze 1/350

[javlin]

I won this the other night the Yahagi IJN Light Cruiser $150 with the trimmings

XBe02Drvr I have issued your question to a navy Captain of 24 yrs on another forum who is watching the build and see if he has any insight?I am curious myself they do have some strange designs on armament that was not always consistent I sometimes wonder if it had something to do with convoy design?Ships with rear guns traling forward up front

 

[javlin]

The ship has been about 3/4 coats of Future in perpetration for the Tamy wash but rest of the decals go down first then another coat of Future this will all take place Monday.The wash should get laid on Thursday after all is good and dry.The future hides all the little gloss glue marks and when I go to flat it will all be good.Thks for looking!

Kevin

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Cool.

 

[javlin]

That sounds so bushido, doesn't it?

The Captain responded:
As far as I remember, it's about sea-keeping and stability.



The raised forecastle is good for buoyancy. It adds quartering space without making a deeper hull body. You get the tiniest extra bit of range on the forward gun by having it a deck higher, too.



Also, the Japanese fully expected their "small boys"--the DDs and CLs--to engage broadside, rather than head on. So, the A, X, Y layout makes more than some sense. Add in that the 12.7cm guns only had a 18km range and the Long Lance torpedo had either a 22km or a 40km range. Which over-matches the USN 5"38 at 16km rather handily. (Not that shabby versus the 6"47 [18km] of the Brooklyn class CLs--although none of the Kaze class was going to fare well taking 6" hits.) The 12.7 mounts on the Kazes were notoriously slow to load, and even slower in train. The all-weather torpedo launchers gave good protection for all the support equipment the Long Lances required, but were slow to reload.

USN practice was to enlarged the body section and have crew berthing on the 200 Deck, and use flush decked designs set up to shed green water over the bow.. During the Washington Treaty times, and forecastle-decked DDS, the 52 mounts on the 03 level would often not have full gun houses, but just a frontal shield and canvas sea covers to save topside weight and reserve metacentric height. USN doctrine also was to employ "screen" vessels in head-on attacks, so more guns forward made sense, tactically. The short range of USN torpedoes--9km/10,000yds for Mk 12--meant that the van loosed torpedoes only at the end of an attack run, then did a 180º laying smoke back out of the way, by which time the heavies were have meant to have maneuvered to cross the T or such similar tactical advantage would be well in order.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

the Long Lance torpedo had either a 22km or a 40km range.

How in Hades do you hit anything at 40km with a non-homing torpedo?? Must have some phenomenal gyros! And some incredibly precise aiming gear. Heck, that's practically over the horizon!
Cheers,
Wes

 

[Gnomey]

Looks good so far!

 

[javlin]

How in Hades do you hit anything at 40km with a non-homing torpedo?? Must have some phenomenal gyros! And some incredibly precise aiming gear. Heck, that's practically over the horizon!
Cheers,
Wes

It's 13miles @22km if you look at Maya and the design in the mid-ship section it's a spray and pray but a ship could launch 12 torpedoes in an arc quickly.The Cap has on more than one occasion made mention of the IJN long lance torpedoes.The lances still could outdistance some of our guns now I remember a doc weras a US destroyer charged got in close and started inflicting some good damage on some of the IJN bigger ships. I think even Yamato was in the group it kinda startled them I think before they started pounding back been awhile since I have seen the doc.

Think about this as a strategy you have 3,4 maybe five boats launch in that arc 30,40 maybe 50 in the water at the same time just wondering was it ever done?

 

[javlin]

So being still interested in my theory I looked for the answer.

Founded it here: History and Technology - Japanese Surface Torpedo Attack: Expectations and Reality - NavWeaps

The acumen of World War Two Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser and destroyermen in torpedo attack is an accepted fact. The range and power of their Type 93 torpedo (dubbed the "Long Lance" by historian Morison) have become the stuff of legend. To call the Japanese surface forces the best at torpedo attack is easily defensible.

But were they good enough to meet the standard required for their own strategic and tactical preconceptions? Prior to Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku's radical break with pre-war IJN strategy, the accepted method of engaging the US Fleet was a three fold process:

2. Attrition operations by submarines and surface force raids.
4. A night attack by fast battleships, Class A cruisers, and Special Type destroyers.
6. A daylight battle line engagement at dawn following the night attack. If the officer in tactical command judged it appropriate, the battle line could be committed to the night attack if that effort was going better than expected.

Torpedo attack was the cornerstone of the night attack, and a critical element of the day attack intended to rectify Japan's initial 3:5 and worsening deficit in numbers. The night attack force was to launch an intricately coordinated long-range salvo of 130 torpedoes from 11 different groups using half their ready torpedoes. This salvo was designed to converge upon and hit 10 American capital ships with 20 weapons (a rate of ~15%).

After the initial salvo at long range (20,000 meters), the four Kongo Class battleships and 17 Class A cruisers detailed to the night attack force were to break through the American screen - suicidally if necessary - and clear the way for the force's two torpedo cruisers and the light cruiser and 14 destroyers of a destroyer squadron to expend the remainder of their ready torpedoes in a close range attack from as little as 2,000 meters.

Once all ready torpedoes were expended, the night attack force was to fight its way clear, reload torpedoes, and execute further attacks if possible. Survivors would eventually join the battle line for the "Decisive Battle" at dawn.

The daylight Decisive Battle was also to feature torpedo attack, including an initial salvo of 280 weapons at long range. As this salvo began to hit, the battle line would open fire. This massive salvo was expected to cripple or sink 10 American capital ships. When the Japanese Admiral judged the situation ripe, the three light cruisers and 48 destroyers of three destroyer squadrons would charge (again, suicidally if necessary) to close range and expend the remainder of their torpedoes. This charge was expected to be able to ensure the destruction of 16 American capital ships.

The IJN's battle plan reads impressively and dramatically, but it has numerous flaws. Most of these will not be discussed in this article. Here the principle

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking great Kevin. Looking forward to what you do with the washes.

 

[javlin]

.I have the forward part of the ship rigged with .010" ez-line it loves to stick to itself and thin glue (SG) I will paint the backside of the yards later weras I wrapped the line and started on the rear deck of the SS,This was not to bad about 8hrs maybe and that was after I pulled all fives of the stanchion like part coming off the side of the SS.

 

[fubar57]

That's some pretty fancy rigging

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[javlin]

Thks guys my wash is to heavy for my liking will try making up a dark grey for the next build.I like to show you some pics of the flotilla that is in the works.

Yahagi!!

Chikuma

Mogami

 

[fubar57]

I like that Mogami

 

[javlin]

I like that Mogami

The Mogami is interesting ship for sure Geo.The Yahagi has some interesting lines itself and a small flight deck.

 

[javlin]

All I left to do is the two flags and this one is done in my book.I appreciate you guys looking in and giving support

I am chomp'in at the bit for Yahagi don't know yet Kevin

These are the main tools for rigging Geo those soft handle cutters(black) are what I use for the lines get close,sharp and light.The silver tweezers are excellent for grabbing and holding the black tweezers are good for bending small PE.

 

[fubar57]

Ship looks very nice Kevin. I use Uschi van der Rosten 0.01mm thread for 1:48 aircraft and may look at getting those tiny scissors on the left. Its also recommended for ships rigging.

 

[javlin]

Geo forgot to mention all this tools minus the blue scissors are in the eye makeup section for women!The wife and I were out shopping and I mentioned I need some new tools she went straight there. Kevin