Marine Modelling – Revisited Re-Issue 7

Marine Modelling – Revisited
The year 2010 saw twenty five years of Marine Modelling International magazine and for the author fifty years of waterline
ship collecting. So here is a chance to re-visit some of those early and not so early articles virtually as they were – minimal
editing/updating apart from the addition of new digital illustrations and the deletion of ‘swapmeet & model news’. Please
remember that reported model availability and any prices quoted were at the time of writing. Each re-issue will attempt to
maintain a theme and this time it is warships from 1914 to 1945.
Re-Issue 7: Warships 1914 to 1945
March/April 2010 – Royal Navy of 1914 ................................................................................................................................. 1
13.5” Gunned (Orion, KGV & Iron Duke classes) .............................................................................................................. 2
The Grand Fleet’s Battle & Battle Cruiser Squadrons in mid 1914 ..................................................................................... 4
List: Grand Fleet Dreadnoughts as of 5 August 1914 .......................................................................................................... 4
Waterline Models ................................................................................................................................................................. 4
List: Waterline Models ......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Battleships & Battlecruisers ................................................................................................................................................. 5
List: RN Battleships and Battlecruisers - 1924..................................................................................................................... 6
Aircraft Carriers ................................................................................................................................................................... 6
List: RN Aircraft Carriers - 1924 ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Cruisers................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
List: RN & RAN cruisers - 1924.......................................................................................................................................... 9
A Comparison with other Navies ....................................................................................................................................... 10
April 2011 – Dutch Warships of WW2 .................................................................................................................................. 11
List: Some Models of Dutch Warships............................................................................................................................... 13
List: Technical Details of Cruisers ..................................................................................................................................... 14
Waterline Models ............................................................................................................................................................... 14
February 2012 – County Class Cruisers ................................................................................................................................. 14
List: County Class Cruisers ................................................................................................................................................ 15
List: Waterline Models ....................................................................................................................................................... 16
September 2012 – French battleships ..................................................................................................................................... 18
List: French Battleships and models................................................................................................................................... 20
A Brief History of the ‘Guide to Waterline Model ships’ ...................................................................................................... 23
MARCH/APRIL 2010 – ROYAL NAVY OF 1914
This month we recall the visit by the Royal Navy (RN) to Germany in June 1914 for Kiel week. The ships that participated
(all shown in the rather aged photo below) were the battleships HMSs King George V, Audacious, Ajax & Centurion and
cruisers HMS Southampton (Chatham class), HMS Birmingham and HMS Nottingham (Birmingham class). The four
battleships which formed a divison of the Grand Fleet’s 2nd Battle Squadron were almost the RN’s latest dreadnoughts and
the sixth of a succession of new classes since HMS Dreadnought herself was completed just eight years previously. So for
this issue we will look at the development of the RN dreadnought from 1906 to 1914 concluding with a summary of the
state of the Grand Fleet’s battle squadrons in August 1914, shortly after the visit to Kiel. By co-incidence this dovetails
with last year’s (Issue 266) review of the RN in 1924 when the ‘oldest’ ship mentioned was HMS Thunderer, the sole
active survivor of the Orion class at that time.
12” Gunned (Dreadnought to Hercules)
Notable for an increase in speed and armament over previous battleships, HMS Dreadnought on her completion in October
1906 set the standard for the future. Ten 12” guns in twin turrets was more than double the armament of her predecessors.
Secondary guns were 12 pounders but this was improved with the suceeding Bellerophon class (of 3, completed 1909) with
sixteen 4”. The St Vincent class (of 3, completed 1910) also had ten 12” but of an increased calibre (50) and eighteen 4”.
Operational speed of all three classes was 21 - 22 knots. Although a great advance in design, the layout of the five turrets
-1-
allowed a broadside of just eight guns. This was to some extent sorted with the next ship, HMS Neptune (completed 1911),
which could lay ten guns at some angles which was also true of the final RN design with 12” guns, the two strong Colossus
class (completed 1911). Under construction by Armstrongs for Brazil, then sold to Turkey but taken over by Great Britain
on 2nd August 1914 was HMS Agincourt; she had the largest 12” broadside of all with seven twin turrets and was the first
RN battleship to exceed 30,000 tons displacement and perhaps the only with the nickname ‘Gin Palace’. The next
development was the larger 13.5” gun.
Navis models of HMS Dreadnought
&
Navis models of HMS Neptune
HMS Vanguard
&
HMS Agincourt
13.5” Gunned (Orion, KGV & Iron Duke classes)
Often termed super-dreadnoughts the next three classes introduced the 13.5” gun in a common layout of five twin turrets on
the centre line. Four Orions and King George V were completed in 1912, the latter firing 1400 lb shells (rather than 1350).
Three more KGVs were completed in 1913. These two classes both had a 4” secondary armament and a speed of 21-22
knots on 22,500 – 25,500 tons. The first two of the next class (of 4) HMSs Iron Duke and Marlborough were completed in
March and June 1914 and were the first with a 6” secondary armament and AA guns, albeit just two 3”. This completes
the dreadnought battleship force at the time of the Kiel visit in June. Two other dreadnoughts under construction for
foreign navies were seized in August/September: the Turkish Reshadieh becoming HMS Erin (ten 13.5”) and Chilean
Almirante Latorre was commissioned as HMS Canada. The latter was the only RN WW1 dreadnought with 14” main
guns, a calibre not revived until the second KGV class in the late 1930s. Meanwhile in 1914 15” gunned battleships were
already being built with the first three launched before the year was out.
Navis models of HMS Orion
&
Navis model of HMS Iron Duke
HMS Ajax
&
-2-
HMS Iron Duke
Looking at the picture the RN battleships can be identified by their funnel bands (ref Warships of WW1 by HM Le
Fleming) as from the left, HMSs Audacious, Ajax, Centurion & King George V. Passing cheekily astern of HMS Ajax is
the German torpedo boat S143. The three RN cruisers are, from the left, HMSs Nottingham, Birmingham and
Southampton. In the far distance lies a German battleship of the Kaiser class, almost certainly the Friedrich der Grosse, the
German C-in-C’s flagship. In 1914 the Kaiser class (ten 12”) was the latest German dreadnought, the class of five having
been completed in 1912/13. Beyond the dreadnought it looks like a Prinz Adalbert class armoured cruiser. The Zeppelin
may be LZ-22 (see www.pugetairship.org/zeppelins for a list and some pictures) but any information would be welcomed.
The visit is covered in great detail by Commander Georg Von Hase (later first Gunnery Officer of the battle cruiser
Derfflinger) in his book ‘Kiel und Jutland’; the relevant text may be found in English at www.archive.org (under the book’s
title). Cdr Von Hase describes how “King George V was made fast to a buoy in the immediate vicinity of Bellevue Bridge.
South of her lay the Fleet Flagship Friedrich der Grosse and the Hohenzollern (Imperial yacht); north of her the other
English ships, and on the east the Viktoria Luise (training ship ex-protected cruiser) moored between two buoys. When the
Hohenzollern passed through the Holtenau Lock, on June 24th, all the ships fired the Imperial salute. Several aeroplanes
and a Zeppelin circled overhead”.
Last issue we re-visited Kiel with the Grand Fleet’s 2nd Battle Squadron in June 1914 and reviewed the dreadnought
battleships of the Grand Fleet. This month we move on to the (in)famous battlecruisers, overall fleet organisation and of
course 1/1250 waterline models.
By our cut-off date of mid 1914, the RN had nine battle cruisers in three classes. The Invincible class class of three all
completed in 1908 carried eight 12” guns and were about four knots faster but with half the armoured belt when compared
with contemporary RN dreadnoughts. The three Indefatigables completed in 1911-1913 were slightly larger and with an
improved layout for the 12” guns could fire a full broadside. The Lion class (of 3, completed 1912-1913) were much
bigger ships and had eight centre-line 13.5”, being the battle cruiser equivalent of the super-dreadnoughts. The third of the
-3-
class, HMS Queen Mary, could be distinguished by her circular shaped centre funnel. It was originally planned to build a
fourth in the class but the ship, HMS Tiger, was completed some 5 months after the Kiel visit and to a different design more
akin to that of the Barrow built Imperial Japanese Navy Ship Kongo.
Navis models of HMS Indefatigable
&
HMS Lion
Navis model of HMS Queen Mary
The Grand Fleet’s Battle & Battle Cruiser Squadrons in mid 1914
In August 1914 the Grand Fleet’s Battle Squadrons (BS) numbered three (the 1st, 2nd & 4th) of dreadnought battleships (see
table) and two (the 3rd & 9th) of pre-dreadnoughts. The 4th BS was understrength but by year end had been augmented by
HMSs Benbow & Empress of India (both Iron Duke class) and HMS Erin. The 3rd BS comprised all eight ships of the King
Edward VII class and the 9th with just four units was based at Grimsby on the North Sea coast Also part of the Grand Fleet
was the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron (BCS) comprising HMSs Lion, Princess Royal & Queen Mary (all Lion class) and
HMS New Zealand (Indefatigable class). Other battleships in UK waters, all pre-dreadnoughts, were the 5th and 6th BSs of
18 pre-dreadnoughts based at Portland and the 7th and 8th BSs of 10 pre-dreadnoughts at Devonport. The 2nd BCS with
HMSs Indomitable, Inflexible (both Invincible class) and Indefatigable was in the Mediterranean Sea, HMS Invincible was
in Queenstown and HMS Australia (Indefatigable class) in her home waters.
1st Battle Squadron:
2nd Battle Squadron:
4th Battle Squadron:
Bellerophon class:
HMS Superb
Orion class:
Squadron flagship -
HMS Dreadnought
St Vincent class:
HMS St Vincent
HMS Vanguard
HMS Collingwood
Bellerophon class:
HMS Temeraire
HMS Bellerophon
on the Tyne -
HMS Agincourt
HMS Neptune
Colossus class:
Iron Duke class:
HMS Monarch
HMS Conqueror
HMS Thunderer
HMS Orion
King George V class:
HMS Colossus
HMS Hercules
HMS Marlborough
HMS Ajax
HMS King George V
HMS Centurion
HMS Audacious
Grand Fleet Flagship:
List: Grand Fleet Dreadnoughts as of 5 August 1914
Waterline Models
The table lists related RN dreadnought and battle cruiser 1/1250
models all by German make ‘Navis’, with the illustrations giving
examples of three versions that have been produced – ‘original’, then
what was for many years the ‘standard’, and the improved new ‘N’
versions. All these models are currently available in either the
‘standard’ or ‘N’ versions. They are also quite common second-hand
especially the ‘standard’ versions being sold by collectors who have
decided to upgrade to ‘N’s. The British firm ‘Skytrex’ (see right) once
promised a range of WW1 dreadnoughts of which only HMSs Lion,
Iron Duke and Queen Elizabeth were produced; nice models which
-4-
HMS Iron Duke
again have been seen second-hand but much more infrequently. ‘Superior’ in the USA listed several 1/1200 RN and
German dreadnoughts and battle cruisers so these too may emerge. The RN cruiser classes at Kiel are Birmingham class (as
per Navis NM 144N) and Chatham class (NM 145). The fleet visit to Kiel could be re-created by four NM103s, one
NM145 and a pair of NM144s with a mixture of standards and ‘N’s to create some extra interest. German participants for
the recreation would be NM3 (Kaiser), NM33 (Prinz Adalbert) and NM66a (S138 torpedo boat class) plus, as described by
Cdr Von Hase (see last month), NM36 (Vineta as Viktoria Luise) and NM87 the German Imperial yacht Hohenzollern.
MODEL
NOTES
Dreadnought Battleships:
Dreadnought
Superb
Bellerophon class (of 3)
Vanguard
St Vincent class (of 3)
Colossus
Colossus class (of 2)
Neptune
Orion
Orion class (of 4)
Ajax
King George V class (of 4)
Iron Duke
Iron Duke class (of 4)
Agincourt
Battlecruisers:
Invincible
Invincible class (of 3)
New Zealand
Indefatigable class (of 3)
Lion
Lion class (of 2)
Queen Mary
Lion class (modified)
DATE
CAT #
1906
1909
1910
1911
1911
1912
1913
1914
1914
NM 109N
NM 108
NM 107
NM 105
NM 106
NM 104
NM 103N
NM 102N
NM 119
1908
1911
1912
1912
NM 126N
NM 125N
NM 124N
NM 124aN
List: Waterline Models
MAY/JUNE 2009 – ROYAL NAVY OF 1924
By the mid 1920s, and in the aftermath of World War 1, the Royal Navy had reduced significantly both in manpower and
tonnage. The latter was a combination of WW1 era ships and a small number of new hulls. As reported in Jane’s Fighting
Ships of 1924, upon which this article is based, the intention was to reduce personnel to 98,500, about a third of the WW1
peak. The First Sea Lord was Admiral of the Fleet Earl Beatty. The main battle-fleet comprised 18 battleships and 4 battlecruisers, one of the latter having been with Beatty at Jutland. A new era in naval warfare was being ushered in with the first
true aircraft carriers and of 46 cruisers on strength, just 9 had been completed since the war. For illustrations this month
use has been made of pictures of models in the authors collection (as usual) plus some contemporary postcards; quality of
the latter is patchy but is hoped readers will find them interesting.
Battleships & Battlecruisers
The battleships can be broadly grouped into two types: those with 13.5” guns and those with arguably the ultimate British
large naval gun, the 15”. Twelve of the former were built in three classes of four (Orion, KGV & Iron Duke) all with five
twin turrets on the centre line and at the time were called ‘super-dreadnoughts’. HMS Thunderer, the sole active survivor
of the Orion class in 1924, became a cadets training ship later in the year and was scrapped in 1926. HMS Monarch (Orion
class) was in existence in 1924 but not in commission; she was sunk as a gunnery target the following year. HMS
Audacious of the King George V class foundered due to heavy flooding after striking a mine in October 1914. HMS
Centurion (also King George V class) had a full and varied career, being at Jutland in 1916, a radio-controlled target ship in
1926, a dummy of HMS Anson in 1941, an AA battery in 1942 before being finally sunk as a block-ship off Normandy in
1944. HMS Iron Duke, Admiral Jellicoe’s flagship at Jutland, became a gunnery training ship in the 1930s, a depot ship at
Scapa Flow in 1939 and was scrapped in 1946. Two classes of 15” gun ships were built and all ten ships completed active
service in the Second World War; these ships adopted the classic configuration of four twin centre line turrets and unlike
earlier dreadnoughts were primarily oil fired.
Navis models of RN battleships with 13.5” guns
&
-5-
15” guns
Completed in 1914 HMS Tiger was the last survivor of the battlecruisers to have been at Jutland. HMS Repulse and
Renown were completed after that battle and survived respectively until 1941 and 1948. HMS Hood became arguably most
famous of the British battlecruisers; she has been modelled many times in 1/1200-1250 but invariably in her WW2
appearance.
Navis models of HMS Tiger
Navis model of HMS Hood
&
HMS Renown
&
HMS Hood
As can be seen from the table the 1924 battle-fleet is a relatively easy collecting task all ships being available from the
German 1/1250 make Navis (catalogue numbers prefixed NM; the N suffix indicates a new improved model). LE2 and
LE3 by Skytrex-Mercator do exist but along with the battlecruiser HMS Lion (LE1) were the only actual releases from a
planned catalogue of twenty one RN dreadnoughts; a great shame as the masters produced for these were rather good.
Other related and interesting models are HMS Centurion as a target ship (Argonaut (AR) 161) and HMS Iron Duke in 1933
as a training ship (AR 160). Keep a look out also for AR122 which depicts HMS Warspite (QE class) circa 1931 with
trunked funnels and prior to her full modernisation in 1934-37.
Argonaut models of HMS Iron Duke
Class/Ship (1924 strength)
HMS Thunderer (Orion class)
King George V class (3)
Iron Duke class (4)
HMS Tiger
Queen Elizabeth class (5)
Royal Sovereign class (5)
Renown class (2)
HMS Hood
Completed
1911
1912-13
1914
1914
1915-16
1916-17
1916
1920
&
HMS Warspite
1:1250 Model (actual ship/class representative)
NM104 Orion
NM103 Ajax
NM102 Iron Duke, LE3 HMS Iron Duke
NM123N Tiger
NM101 Warspite, LE2 HMS Queen Elizabeth
NM100N Revenge
NM122N Renown
NM127 Hood
List: RN Battleships and Battlecruisers - 1924
Aircraft Carriers
Converted from a merchant ship, the sea/aeroplane carrier HMS Ark Royal was completed in December 1914. She served
throughout the war and during the 1920s, being re-named HMS Pegasus in 1934. Sold in 1946, her planned conversion
back to a merchant role was abandoned and she was scrapped a few years later. The passenger ship SS Stockholm was
requisitioned in February 1917 and after substantial modification became the aeroplane carrier HMS Pegasus by August
1917. Operational until 1923, she was re-rated an aircraft tender in 1923 and broken up in 1934 when her name passed to
the old Ark Royal as already mentioned.
The two older flush deck aircraft carriers were both conversions. HMS Argus, originally a liner, was converted circa 1917
and HMS Eagle had been laid down as a battleship for Chile. She was purchased incomplete in 1917 and completed as the
-6-
carrier HMS Eagle in 1920. Her sister ship the Almirante Latorre joined the Grand Fleet as HMS Canada and was returned
to Chile under her original name in 1920. Surviving until 1959 – together with the Yavuz (ex Goeben) & USS Texas, she
was one the last of the WW1 era dreadnoughts. HMS Hermes was the first RN carrier designed and built from the outset
as an aircraft carrier. She was completed in 1923. For more information on the above ships and their foreign
contemporaries plus the seaplane carriers please see MMI 244 (Early Aircraft Carriers) and 250 (Seaplane Carriers of the
RN).
Ship
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Pegasus
HMS Argus
HMS Eagle
HMS Hermes
Complete
d
1914
1917
1917
1920
1923
1/1250 Model
NM184
Hai 361
NM180N
Neptun 1116 (1942), AR51 (1937)
Neptun 1115 (1938), AR127 (1939), Delphin 115
List: RN Aircraft Carriers - 1924
HMS Ark Royal
HMS Argus
HMS Hermes
&
HMS Pegasus
&
HMS Eagle
&
Neptun 1115
Cruisers
The four strong Weymouth Class were the second of the so-called ‘Towns’ and the first scout cruisers with eight 6”
(previous class had only two). HMS Falmouth of this class was sunk 1916. The next development was the Chatham class
also with eight 6” which evolved into the succeeding Birmingham class with nine, two guns being mounted side by side in
the ‘A’ position; HMS Nottingham from the Birmingham class was sunk 1916. Three of the ‘Chatham’ type and one of the
‘Birminghams’ were also built for the Royal Australian Navy, the last of which HMAS Adelaide was not completed until
1922. The next ships were termed light cruisers of which the six strong Caroline class was the second such class; they
mounted four 6” and at 3750 tons & 30 knots they were about 1500 tons lighter and 5 knots faster than the Towns. By
1924 one had been paid off and HMS Caroline had become an RNVR training ship as she is today. HMS Caroline is the
second-oldest ship in RN service, the last British WW1 light cruiser, and the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland still
afloat. Reportedly she will be decommissioned by 2011 and may be moved from Belfast to Portsmouth to join the historic
dockyard.
-7-
The Cambrian and Centaur classes were largely repeats of the Caroline class, but with two funnels and in some ships geared
turbines and multiple screws. The two Centaur class were virtually indentical but added a fifth 6” gun. The similar
Caledon & Ceres classes saw increases in tonnage to 4,120 and 4,190 respectively. These were virtually the last to be
completed before war’s end. The five Carlisles were repeats of the Ceres class but with trawler bows, a feature that was
added to the last five of the eight strong D class. On 4,560 tons, the latter added a sixth 6” gun; HMS Dunedin was
transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1924 taking over from HMS Chatham which had been transferred in 1920.
Introducing the 7.5” gun, albeit in single mounts, and therefore arguably the first ‘heavy’ cruisers were the ‘Improved
Birmingham class’ to quote JFS. The first to be commissioned, laid down as HMS Cavendish, was completed as the
aircraft carrier HMS Vindictive but by 1923 had been converted back as a cruiser alongside her sister ships HMSs
Hawkins, Effingham & Frobisher. A fifth, HMS Raleigh, was wrecked in August 1922. The two E class were large light
cruisers of 7,600 tons with seven 6” guns in single mounts, the last RN cruisers to carry their main guns in this
configuration.
HMS Centaur
&
HMS Carlisle
HMS Weymouth
&
HMS Chatham
HMS Nottingham
&
HMS Caradoc
HMS Cleopatra
&
-8-
HMS Dragon
HMS Caroline in 2010
HMS Hawkins
&
HMS Durban
As can be seen from the table all but one of the earlier cruisers are available from Navis, but with the last four classes, in
effect the post-war ships, collecting becomes more difficult as manufacturers have tended to concentrate on the ships’ later
appearances. For example the Carlisle class models all depict the ships in 1939-40, post modernisation. Of the Improved
Birmingham (aka Hawkins) class the three models listed all depict the ships circa 1935/36. Neptun (N) have released
models of Effingham and Frobisher circa 1940 & 1942 respectively. To make things worse none of these Argonaut models
are in current production.
Class (1924 strength)
Weymouth class (3)
Chatham class (3 + 3 RAN)
Birmingham class (2 + 1 RAN
completed 1922)
Caroline class (4)
Cambrian class (6)
Centaur class (2)
Caledon class (3)
Ceres class (5)
Carlisle class (5)
D class (7)
Improved Birmingham class (4)
E class (2)
Completed
1911-12
1912-13
1914
1915
1915-16
1916
1917
1917-18
1918-22
1918-22
1918-24
1924
Model (or class representative)
NM146 Falmouth
NM145 HMAS Sydney
NM144 Nottingham
AR150 HMAS Adelaide
NM142 Comus
NM141 Castor
none
NM140 & AR50 Calypso
NM140a Cardiff, AR57 Ceres
AR58 Coventry, AR79 Cairo & AR131 Curacao
AR135 Dauntless (1919), AR134 Diomede (1930)
AR90 Hawkins, AR18 Effingham, AR80 Frobisher
AR69 & N1147a Enterprise (1939), AR36 Emerald (1932) &
N1147 (1939)
List: RN & RAN cruisers - 1924
-9-
LJ model HMS Effingham
Argonaut models of HMS Frobisher
&
&
Navis model HMS Calypso
HMS Enterprise
A Comparison with other Navies
Although much reduced from its peak of eight years previously, the Royal Navy was still the strongest in the world. For
example the USN also possessed 18 battleships (of which a third dated from 1910 to 1912), the carrier USS Langley (plus 2
building) and just 10 modern cruisers. The Imperial Japanese Navy, an ally in WW1, had 8 battleships (plus 2 building),
the carrier Hosho (plus 2 building) and no modern cruisers at all, although four were under construction. The French Navy
had 6 dreadnought battleships mostly of pre-war construction, 3 modern light cruisers under construction plus 5 elderly exGerman cruisers that been acquired after the war. Back in Great Britain the shipyards were also active with battleships
Nelson & Rodney laid down in December 1922, 3 former light battle-cruisers under conversion to aircraft carriers and the
first five County class heavy cruisers on the stocks.
HMS Kent
- 10 -
APRIL 2011 – DUTCH WARSHIPS OF WW2
For many years the only dedicated reference work on the Dutch, or more correctly Netherlands Navy, was the 1967 book
‘Royal Netherlands Navy’ by H.T. Lenton in the Macdonald ‘Navies of the Second World War’ series. Although this
volume and others in the same series are not too hard too find, nor especially expensive, a wonderful new publication may
awake collectors’ interest in this area. Published last year by Lanasta (Slenerbrink 206, 7812 HJ Emmen, The Netherlands
/www.lanasta.com) is ‘Dutch Warships of World War II’ by Henk van Willigenburg. The book is available in Dutch or
English, ISBN for the latter version being 978-90-8616-081-5.
The Dutch Navy suffered severely during WW2, particularly during the campaign resisting the Japanese between January
and March 1942 when two cruisers, seven destroyers (all but one of the Admirals class), four submarines, seven minelayers,
eight minesweepers and a gunboat were lost. These included twelve ships scuttled at Surabaya Naval base plus losses at
Battle of the Java Sea in February 1942 where the cruisers Java and De Ruyter were sunk. This battle pitched a combined
force of five allied cruisers (HMNs Java and De Ruyter, USS Houston, HMS Exeter, HMAS Perth and nine destroyers
(three RN, four USN and two Dutch) against the Japanese heavy cruisers Nachi & Haguro, light cruisers Naka & Jintsu and
fourteen destroyers.
HMNS Java
&
HMNS Tromp
A couple of years earlier and back in European waters the cruisers Sumatra & Jacob van Heemskerck and destroyer Isaac
Sweers sailed or were towed to England, the latter two being completed in British yards, the Jacob van Heemskerck as an
AA cruiser. Van Galen (Admirals class) was sunk by German bombers in May 1940. Gerard Callenburgh was scuttled in
1940 later becoming the German ZH1 (sunk in 1944). The cruiser Tromp was already in the Far East and survived the
Japanese onslaught to reach Australia later serving with the USN and from January 1944 the British Pacific fleet.
- 11 -
Under construction in 1940, the cruisers Kijkduin and Eendracht were considered for completion by the Germans but this
never happened. The were eventually completed in 1953 with a change of names finally to De Ruyter and De Zeven
Provincien respectively. The latter was converted to a ‘Terrier’ surface-to-air missile cruiser in the 1960s. Both served in
the Dutch Navy until the 1970s when they were sold to Peru becoming the Almirante Grau and Aguirre. Prior to her
transfer the American supplied Terrier missile system was removed from the Aguirre (ex De Zeven Provincien) and a
hangar and helicopter deck installed akin to HMSs Tiger and Blake; the ship was taken out of service in 1999, whilst
Almirante Grau (ex De Ruyter) pictured below still survives as the world’s last operational heavy gun armed cruiser.
- 12 -
Type
Ship
Waterline Models
Battlecruiser
3 projected
Anker 20, Hai 658 (listed as Gelderland)
Cruisers
Java / Sumatra
Clydeside 44 / Star R70 / Argonaut 640
De Ruyter (1936)
Clydeside 45 / Rhenania 77
Tromp
Delphin 86 / Argonaut 600
Jacob van Heemskerck
Argonaut 601, Trident T1005 (1940) and T1095 (1941)
De Ruyter (post-war)
1250 Models TF002 (as in 1953), Ta107 (1961)
De Zeven Provincien (post-war)
1250 Models TF002a (as in 1953), Ta117 (1969 as CLG)
Admirals class Evertsen group (of 4)
Clydeside 60 / Argonaut 606 / Star R71
Admirals class Banckert group (of 4)
Clydeside 61 / Argonaut 605
Gerard Callenburgh class (of 4)
Anker 30 / Argonaut 642 Isaac Sweers
Van Galen / Tjerk Hiddes (ex-RN N class)
Neptun N1163 is RN version
Flores / Soemba
Trident T 1055 / Argonaut 620
Johan Maurits van Nassau
Argonaut 621
Sloop
Van Kinsbergen
Delphin 91 / Argonaut 622
Minelayer
Willem van der Zaan
Delphin 82 / Argonaut 661
Destroyers
Gun boats
List: Some Models of Dutch Warships
Anker model of projected Battlecruiser
Clydeside models of HMNS De Ruyter
&
Trident models of HMNS Jacob van Heemskerck (1940) &
- 13 -
HMNS Java
in 1941
Delphin model of HMNS Tromp
Ship
Comp
Un-named battlecruiser
--
Full Load
&
Speed
Nordzee Dempo (troopship)
Main Guns
Fate
31,396 tons
35 kts
Nine 11”
Not built
Java
1925
8,208 tons
31 kts
Ten 5.9”
Lost 1942
Sumatra
1926
8,208 tons
31 kts
Ten 5.9”
Mulberry harbour 1944
De Ruyter
1936
7,548 tons
32 kts
Seven 5.9”
Lost 1942
Tromp
1938
4025 tons
33 kts
Six 5.9” (design)
Scrapped 1969
Jacob van Heemskerck
1940
4860 tons
33 kts
Ten 4” AA
Scrapped 1970
De Ruyter (ex-Kijkduin)
1953
10,795 tons
32 kts
Ten 5.9” (design)
Almirante Grau, extant 2011
De Zeven Provincien (exEendracht)
1953
10,795 tons
32 kts
Ten 5.9” (design)
Aguirre, scrapped 2000
List: Technical Details of Cruisers
Waterline Models
It is surprising that WW2 era specialist Neptun have not included the Dutch Navy in their catalogue particularly as the
alternative is a variety of ranges mostly out of production. Most prolific was Argonaut who listed 49 Dutch ships, 39 of
which were issued. German mail-order outlet www.wiedling.de still list 59 Argonaut models (none Dutch) noting that
“production discontinued, deliveries as long as stock lasts at reduced prices”. An omission was the 1936 cruiser De Ruyter
which has been produced by Rhenania in 1/1250 and as a 1/1200 war-gaming standard kit by Clydeside. None of the
latter’s Dutch ships are currently available but you can check the latest at www.clydeside-flotilla.com. Other continental
makes were Star, Delphin and Trident. From the post-war period ‘1250 Models’ versions of De Ruyter and De Zeven
Provincien are recent releases. You may also come across rare Nordzee models, these being mainly Dutch liners in either
commercial or military service.
Clydeside model of Admirals class DD
&
Delphin model of Van Kinsbergen
FEBRUARY 2012 – COUNTY CLASS CRUISERS
Although frequently referred to as the County class, these thirteen heavy cruisers built in the late 1920s were strictly of
three classes - the Kent class of seven (five for the RN and two for the RAN), the London class of four and two Norfolk
class. All can be classified as 10,000 tonners and carried eight 8” guns in twin turrets with an evolving secondary
armament of four, six or eight 4” (eventually in twin mounts); when fully loaded speed was typically 30 knots. All were
built with two quad torpedo tubes (TT) these being removed at various stages. HMSs Berwick & Cumberland and HMAS
Australia conducted trials with short funnels and prior to entering service these were lengthened by 15 feet in the RN
vessels and 18 feet in the two Australian ships. On completion all were found to be 130 - 250 tons under the Treaty limit of
10,000 tons standard displacement. Provision had been made to utilise spare tonnage by adding catapults and aircraft
(which would consume about 60 tons) so in the period 1929 - 1932 the RN ships were so fitted. HMS Kent was fitted with
her catapult whilst on the China station in 1929/30 no doubt wearing her superb white and buff scheme; the catapult was
replaced with a more powerful version in 1932/33 as fitted to the others of the class.
Four (see first list) were extensively modernised from the mid 1930s adding a large hangar with two seaplanes being carried
(rather than one) and a new cross deck catapult; TT were removed. In the case of HMSs Cumberland and Suffolk the
- 14 -
single 4” AA guns were re-positioned forward with twin mounts replacing the aft pair and the quarterdeck was cut down to
minimise the increase in displacement caused, thereby remaining within Treaty limits (apart from HMS Cornwall, hangars
and aircraft were removed by April 1943). HMSs Berwick and Cornwall had all four single 4” replaced by twins. HMS
Kent was refitted in 1937/38 receiving extra light AA guns, as were the two Australian ships which had already been fitted
with catapults in 1935/36. In 1938/39 HMAS Australia was modernised receiving twin (vice single) 4” guns on the upper
(weather) deck, not the superstructure deck, which was cut back (my thanks to John Reid in Australia for this information).
HMS Cumberland eventually received the full fit of eight 4” twins as did HMS Suffolk by 1941.
In the London class, catapults and aircraft were added in 1930/32 and AA armament was increased during refit in 1936/37
including four more single 4” guns for a total of eight, these being later replaced by four twins during the war. HMS
London was virtually rebuilt at Chatham Dockyard between 1938 - 1941 emerging with new superstructure, two funnels
and hangars either side of the fore funnel; in general layout she looked more like one of the new Fiji class, albeit flush
decked and with 8”, rather than 6” guns. All aircraft handling equipment was removed from the ships of this class during
the war, including from HMS London. The two Dorsetshire class ships received their aircraft and catapults shortly after
completion and the surviving ship, HMS Norfolk, retained hers until 1944 when X turret also was removed. In 1937 both
had their original single 4” guns replaced by twins mounts.
Most of the RN County class received modifications during their service lives, particularly AA armament, radar equipment
and tripod vice pole masts. All saw extensive action in the war and all three losses were to the Japanese Navy – HMSs
Cornwall and Dorsetshire were sunk by carrier aircraft off Ceylon in March 1942, HMAS Canberra was torpedoed by
Japanese ships (and eventually sunk by USS Ellet) in August 1942, being replaced in RAN service by HMS Shropshire.
The longest surviving County was HMS Cumberland - she was converted to a trials ship in 1949 - 1951, serving in this role
until 1959. Built in Spain to a modified Kent design were the cruisers Canarias (launched 1931) and Baleares (1932) with
the former surviving until 1978.
For many years the most useful all-in-one guide to the ships was 1978’s ‘Man o’ War 1 County Class Cruisers’ although
literally just published is ‘Shipcraft 19 County Class Cruisers’ by Les Brown. For more details please consult either
‘British Cruisers – Two World Wars and After’ by Norman Friedman ( 2010) or if you can find a copy Raven and Robert’s
‘British Cruisers’ (1980).
Ship
Complete
d
Catapult added
Kent
1928
1929/30
1932/33 two single 4” added
1937-Jul 38, 4” changed to four
twin mounts, new large catapult
Scrapped 1948
Berwick
1928
1932
Aug 37-Nov38: large hangar,
twins replace all single 4” guns
Scrapped 1948
Cornwall
1928
1930/31
Jul 36-Dec 37 - as Berwick
Lost 1942
Cumberlan
d
1928
1931/32
Feb 35 – Jul 36: large hangar,
quarterdeck cut down, two twins
replace aft single 4” guns, other
two replaced 1939
Trial ship 1949, scrapped 1959
Suffolk
1928
1931
Aug 35 – Oct 36: large hangar,
quarterdeck cut down, new single
4” guns, twins fitted 1940/41
Scrapped 1948
Australia
1928
1935
Apr 38 – Aug 39: twins replace all
single 4” guns, bridge re-built
Scrapped 1955
Canberra
1928
1936
1941: light AA increased
Lost 1942
London
1929
1930/31
1936/37: four single 4” added
1938/41 – see text
Scrapped 1950
Devonshire
1929
1931/32
1936/37: four single 4” added,
1940/42: 4” replaced by four twins
Training ship 1947, scrapped
1954
Shropshire
1929
1931/32
As Devonshire
RAN in 1943, scrapped 1955
Sussex
1929
1931/32
1936/37: four single 4” added
1942: twin 4” fitted during repair
Scrapped 1955
Norfolk
1930
1931/32
1936/37: twins replace all single
4” guns, new catapult
Scrapped 1950
Dorsetshire
1930
1931/32
1936/37 – as Norfolk
Lost 1942
Modernised
List: County Class Cruisers
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Fate
Waterline 1/1200-1250 models have been produced as plastic kits by Eagle (many years ago) & more recently Airfix. The
latter is the better model and can form the basis of various conversions – see Waterlines September 2011. Metal models
abound in current ranges Mountford, Neptun & Superior plus the discontinued lines Wiking (WM) & Argonaut (AR).
Disappointingly the two RAN ships with their slightly taller funnels are not even listed for future release by Neptun making
Argonaut’s rare AR199 the only model. It is confirmed by Wiedling’s Ship Model Register as having been released (also
mentioned is a pre-war ‘Pilot’ version).
Ship
1/1200-1/1250 waterline models
depicted
Kent
Argonaut (AR) 120, Mountford 100*
Neptun (N) 1134 (not yet released)
1940
1941
Berwick
AR25, re-issued as AR1025
N1134b* as in 1941 & N1134bT in camouflage
1934
1941
Cornwall
AR61
1939
Cumberland
AR64, Mountford 166, WM, Superior
1937
Suffolk
N1134a*, Airfix
1942, 1941
Australia
AR199
1939
London
AR114* , re-issued as AR1114, Superior
N1133a ( a recent release)
1942
1943
Devonshire
AR29, Superior
1938
Sussex
N1133 *
1942
Norfolk
N1132 & N1132T in camouflage, Eagle
1941
Dorsetshire
AR44* re-issued as AR1044, Eagle
1938
Canarias
AR500, MB-M015
1936
Baleares
AR506, Trident 1034
1936
List: Waterline Models
Mountford’s model of HMS Kent (1940)
HMS Berwick (1941) by Neptun – hangar added/stern not cut down
- 16 -
Neptun’s HMS Suffolk (1942) with camouflage added by a collector
Neptun’s new HMS London (right) may be preferred to the Argonaut version (1942)
HMS Sussex (1942) by Neptun
Argonaut’s HMS Dorsetshire as in 1938
HMS Sussex passes the Hood in Malta circa 1938; the four starboard single 4”can be clearly seen
- 17 -
HMAS Canberra dressed overall circa 1937
Crucero Nacional Canarias prior to 1952 when the trunked funnel was split into two
SEPTEMBER 2012 – FRENCH BATTLESHIPS
Like most navies French dreadnoughts were developed in two stages, the WW1 era Courbet and Bretagne classes and the
second generation Dunkerque and Richelieu classes. The four ships of the Courbet class were completed in 1913/14 and
carried twelve 12” guns (six twins, including two wing turrets) on 25,579 tons with a top speed of 20 knots. One, the
France, was lost in 1922 when she hit an uncharted rock, but the remainder were modernised during the 1920s at which
time the two forward funnels were trunked. The Jean Bart was re-named Ocean in 1936 becoming a training ship two years
later; her two sisters assumed this role in 1939, before falling into British hands in 1940. In 1943 Courbet was used for
trials in Loch Striven of the ‘Highball’ bouncing bomb, becoming part of the Mulberry breakwater in 1944; the other two
were scrapped post war (Paris surviving at
Brest until 1950). The Bretagne class (of 3)
introduced the larger 13.4” gun with a more
efficient arrangement of five centreline
turrets; displacement increased to 26,180
tons and speed remained at 20 knots. All
entered service in 1916 and were
progressively modernised to increase gun
range (1921-23), provide part oil burning
(1927-30) and finally in 1932 - 1935 to
improve propulsion, protection and
armament (new guns, albeit of the same
Courbet, a 1960's release from the long established Wiking Modelle
calibre but with increased elevation and
range). The Provence was further modified with the midships turret replaced by a catapult and hangar with four Loire
Nieuport 130 seaplanes carried. Uncertain, with the best will in the world, of France’s ability to deny their ships to the
Germans, Bretagne was sunk by the RN at Mers-el-Kebir in 1940; she was later raised and scrapped. Provence was also
- 18 -
damaged at Mers-el-Kebir but eventually towed to Toulon where the Germans, in 1943, removed her main guns for use as
coastal defence batteries. The hull was scuttled as a blockship but again raised and scrapped post-war. The Lorraine was at
Alexandria in 1940 and remaining under national command she joined the Free French Navy in 1943; after the war she
became a training ship and was finally broken up 1954.
Laid down in 1913 but launched in
1914-15 merely to clear the building
berths
were
four
25,230
ton
dreadnoughts of the Normandie class.
None of the four were ultimately
completed although a fifth, the Bearn,
was launched in 1920 and between 1923
– 27 completed as France’s first aircraft
carrier. A further class of four 29,000
tonners – the Lyon class – was
authorised in 1912 but no orders were
placed.
Navis Modelle (NM) specialise in WW1 era warships and this is their Paris
The fast battleships Dunkerque and
Strasbourg were laid down in the early
1930s and completed in 1935 and 1936 respectively. The design was unusual in that the main guns - eight 13” in two quad
turrets - were sited forward of the bridge and the quarterdeck area was occupied by a hangar, crane and catapult. A heavy
secondary armament of sixteen 5.1” guns, in five turrets, was fitted and with a full load displacement of 35,500 tons, the
ships could achieve a top speed of 29 knots. Both were present at Mers-el-Kebir before finding their way to Toulon by
February 1942; Dunkerque was in drydock the following November when both were scuttled. Strasbourg was raised by the
Italians in 1943, but sunk again in 1944 during an air raid. From 1945 she was used for underwater experiments eventually
being scrapped in 1955. The wreck of Dunkerque was cleared from the drydock after the war and she too was scrapped in
the 1950s; a sad history for two fine ships.
The Richelieu class was similar in overall appearance and layout to the previous class but introduced the 15” gun (again
two quads) and sacrificed secondary
armament for a greater AA fit. Typical
full load displacement (individual ships
differed) was 49,800 tons and top speed
32 knots. A total of six ships were
approved for construction although only
three - Richelieu, Jean Bart and
Clemenceau - were laid down and only
four named; the fourth - Gascogne - was
to have reverted to a more conventional
design with a quad turret fore and aft.
Paris as modified circa 1939 depicted here by discontinued maker Argonaut
Various
alternative
designs
were
considered for the Gascogne’s two unnamed sister ships, armament options studied were nine 15”, nine 16” and twelve 15”. The Richelieu was completed in
1940 and served firstly against and then with the Allies, notably as part of the British Pacific Fleet in 1944-45. She
remained in service until 1956, becoming an accommodation hulk at Brest in 1959 before scrapping in 1964. Jean Bart was
partially complete in 1940 and sailed for North Africa in June of that year with just ‘A’ turret fitted. Work resumed in 1946
and she was eventually completed in
1955 serving in a gun support role off
Suez the following year. She too was
reduced to an accommodation role in
1961 but survived until 1970 before
going to the scrapyard. Some 10% built
in 1940, the still incomplete hull of
Clemenceau was launched from drydock
in 1943 only to be sunk by air attack the
following year. The Gascogne and later
ships were not laid down. Early in 1940
Another Argonaut model this one being the Provence
the French began studies into a new
battleship class of an estimated 55,125
tons with twelve 15” guns and a top speed more than 30 knots. Names were given, the lead ship being Alsace, and
construction approved but nothing ever came of the project.
The table lists all the individual ships and 1/1250 models from Wiking, Argonaut (AR), Delphin (D) (latter three
discontinued), Navis (NM), Neptun (N), USA models, MB models and in 1/1200 Superior. In the early days there were no
Neptun models of these ships and as can be seen from the illustrations this collector has stuck with his old Delphins and
Argonauts.
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Class
Ship
Built
Models (depicted as in) ● = not yet released
Courbet
Courbet
1913
WM*, Superior (1930) / AR400 (1936)
Jean Bart (Ocean)
1913
none
Paris
1914
NM 402* (1914) / N1408 (1938) ● / AR 401* (1939)
France
1914
none
Bretagne
1915
AR 403, WM, N1407● (1938)
Provence
1915
AR 402*, N1406 (1939)
Lorraine
1916
NM 401 (1916) / AR 404*, N1405 (1938)
Normandie
Normandie
--
NM 400* (1918)
Lyon
Lyon
--
USA-005/005k (kit) and MBM-13*/13k (kit)
Dunkerque
Dunkerque
1937
D81, N1404, Superior, WM (1939)
Strasbourg
1938
D80*, N1403 (1939)
Richelieu
1940
N1401 (1940) / D49, Superior, WM N1402 (1945)
Jean Bart
1949
D155 (1958)
Clemenceau
--
none
Gascogne
--
D156*, N1400 (1941)
Alsace
--
MBM-08k (kit)
Bretagne
Richelieu
Alsace
List: French Battleships and models
Normandie, NM 400 (1918)
Prior to the Neptun release most collectors were probably happy to have Delphin's Strasbourg
- 20 -
Uncompleted battleship Gascogne is the subject of Delphin 156
Navis Lorraine (as built circa 1916)
Argonaut Lorraine (as modernised circa 1938)
Delphin Richelieu
Projected battleship Lyon from MB models
- 21 -
Richelieu pictured postwar at Villefranche Sur Mer
- 22 -
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ‘GUIDE TO WATERLINE MODEL SHIPS’
The first issue of the guide was compiled in 1990 and was based on a series of eight articles published in Marine Modelling
magazine during 1989. In producing a booklet it was possible to include much additional detail and to provide listings for
certain manufacturers whose ranges were out of production and whose
models would therefore not be listed in dealers’ catalogues. Issue 1 then
contained listings for Eagle*, Ensign, Hornby Minic/Rovex*, Airfix*,
Casadio*, Triang*, Delphin, Hansa, Star and Wiking. Issue 2 (which
appeared in 1996) repeated those asterisked and added full lists for Len
Jordan Models, Pedestal, Fleetline and Nelson. With UK collectors in mind,
all British models produced by a further eighteen manufacturers were listed
in tables.
Issue 3 appeared in 1999, followed five years later by Issue 4 which was
available on CD only but added a digital photo library. Issue 5 in 2008/09
heralded the pdf download version with many new images. With all issues
most entries are reviewed and of course new manufacturers added.
Courtesy of Marine Modelling International (see www.traplet.com, then
'Online shop', then 'Marine Modelling', then 'Books') Issue 6 (2010) is the
first for many years to find its way into print. With new models constantly
appearing (and going out of production) it can only be a snapshot at the time
of writing so please refer to the monthly MMI-Waterlines column for all the
latest news and that extra level of detail re ships and models. Issue 6 was last amended in January 2010.
The author continues to maintain the Guide with Issue 7 well underway.
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