USS Weehawken, BM-11, as built circa 1970, 1/700

[Joe CalPo]

This is based on a design proposed by the US Naval Sea Systems Command as an amphibious fire support ship using an Iowa turret and the planned 7.5" MCLWG.
I carved the hull from basswood, then had to pad it out with filler because I overcarved.
The parts are from the spares box. I cut out the middle turret main gun as an ostensible weight-saving measure, and the ranging telescope "ears" as they were only useful at visual ranges while these ships were meant to stand far off shore, not close in.

USS Weehawken, BM-11
New Monitor class Bombardment, Fire Support, and Heavy Escort ship

Dimensions:
482'
75'
15'
9200 tonnes
Two shafts, 23 knots, 11,000 mile range at 15 knots

Two 16"/50 (406mm) rifles in one two-gun turret
Three 6" in one mount (8" MCLWG to replace)
Two 5"/54 (127mm) rifles in single mounts (lightweight 5"/54 to replace)
Four 3"/70 (76mm) in two twin mounts (Sea Sparrow and Phalanx to replace)
Two 20mm cannon

Crew: 36 officers, 178 enlisted
 
Aviation: landing space, fuel and supplies for one medium helicopter

Electronics; Mk 86 combined gunfire control system, Mk 53 surface search radar

First of a planned class of monitor-like ships built for gunfire support and convoy escort.  The USMC and Army continue to demand battleship guns for support given the experiences of Korea and Vietnam, but the costs and manning requirements bringing back the commando battleship New Jersey demonstrated the Navy could not afford the three remaining Iowa class battleships for such missions, even with reduced crews and capabilities.

Weehawken is built around a 16" triple turret and upper barbette removed from USS NJ during her conversion to a commando battleship. The turret's original heavy armor has been removed to reduce weight, replaced with 2" high-grade steel over a layer of Kevlar for shock and weather protection.. The center gun has been left off and the optical rangefinder removed to save weight and improve the working space for the crew. The weight saved went into armor protection for the magazines.

New shells are being developed to extend the range, including saboted 11" (280mm) using surplus non-nuclear Army shells, and terminally-guided shells for accuracy striking hardened targets like bunkers and tunnels.

A triple 6" mount, removed from a converted light cruiser, is emplaced aft as a temporary expedient. Eventually it will be replaced by the planned 8" gun, the Medium Caliber Lightweight Gun system, which should outrange even the 16" guns while requiring only 6-12 crew depending on whether a single or twin mount is used.

While the 5" can add to the bombardment capability, their primary roles are small boat defense and anti-aircraft. They will be replaced by newer lightweight fully-automated mounts.

The twin 3" AA are also temporary and will be replaced by Sea Sparrow and the new Phalanx anti-missile system.

As there are no other spare 16" turrets, rather than the expense of removing more from the other Iowas, the Navy is considering other options for future LBMs, including multiple MCLWGs, adapting spare US Army 11" guns for their heavier shells, and Lance and Talos missiles.

[sandiego89]

That looks great!  My WHIFing began as a young teen in the late 1970's/early 80's with balsa hulls and the 1/700 spares box. 

Great job and story!   

[kerick]

Interesting ideas! 

[NARSES2]