USS Iowa BB-61: Anybody knows the structure midship?

[JackSix]

Hello,

 

As I am new to the forum, I hope my question is correctly posted in this section. I am currently scratch building the USS Iowa (BB-61) in 1:1200 in the state of around 1944/45. One area just gives me a headache, the area midship between the second funnel and the "radar dome" (pls. see attached). There also seems to be no pictures (at least I haven't found any) about this area. The one I have found (pls. see attached) must be at the commissioning of the USS Iowa, but the structure, winch or whatever it is, is covered. Thus, does anybody know

 

1. What that structure is, what it was used for and can eventually post a picture of the structure?
2. Was there a signal flag box (in addition to the two upfront close to the bridge) close to the second funnel?

 

Thanks in advance already.

 

Best,

Jack

 

 

Edited January 31 by JackSix

[popeye2sea]

I think what you have circled ARE the flag bags, as we used to call them.  They are boxes with two staggered rows of fingers to hold the individual flags in a way that makes it easy to snap hook them on to the halyard.

I am basing my guess on the shape of the top of the canvas covers showing them draped over what look like the two tiers of fingers. Flag bags were always fitted with canvas covers.

 

Regards,

Henry

Former USN signalman

[Bob Cleek]

Yes. As explained in the old post below, the signals lockers are on the signals bridge and the lockers, port and starboard, will always be found on any ship by following the signal halyards down from the signals mast to the deck.

 

 

Edited February 1 by Bob Cleek

[bwross11]

Gents,

I don't think those are the flag bags (see attached zoom in).  I believe what you're looking at is the 5" Practice Loader.  During my visits to the USS Missouri, and Iowa the flag bags were forward further and abreast the stack.

 

Bruce

[popeye2sea]

Could very well be!  I withdraw my guess.

 

Regards,

 

[yankee clipper]

On page 148 Anatomy of The Ship  The Battleship USS IOWA they are listed as "Twin 5in. practice loading machine"

[ccoyle]

2 hours ago, bwross11 said:

I believe what you're looking at is the 5" Practice Loader.

 

That makes perfect sense. I found them online in the instructions for a kit, but they weren't labeled -- they looked gun-like, but without the rest of the gun it was hard to say what they were.

[Hank]

Those ARE the twin 5" Practice Loading Machines. These are shown on both the BB-63 1950 BoGP and the BB-62 1955 BoGP (Booklet of General Plans). As for the question regarding the existence of a flag bag abaft the after stack, the answer is "yes" as there were signal halyards employed from the after stack mast and were tied off on this single, centrally located flag bag. Here is a snip of the plan view from the BB-62 (1955) BoGP of that area - it shows the loading machines & flag bag being discussed -

These items were unchanged from the 1940's and we still had the flag bag intact aboard USS NEW JERSEY when I was serving in her in 1968-69. I scanned this copy of the 1955 BoGP when I was at NARA in 2016 and the hand written note indicates changes made for her 1967 refit for Vietnam using this set of general plans. I have a set of the 1967 BoGP for NEW JERSEY, but haven't had it scanned as yet. This copy was in "fair" condition as evidenced by the quality of the scan.

 

Additionally, this overhead shot of IOWA in 1944 should be conclusive although the flag bag can't be seen -

Hope this answers your questions. 

[michaelpsutton2]

Near as I can see they are similar to the practice loader for the 5" gun on the USS Kidd here in Baton Rouge

Edited February 1 by michaelpsutton2

[bwross11]

Basically the same thing, just two since the 5"mounts are duals instead of the Fletcher's singles.

[JackSix]

Dear all,

 

Thx to all of you for your answers/support.

 

1. To the "structure" - yes, the structure is a "Twin 5in. practice loading machine". Once, I had the trigger (thx to @bwross11), I even found a picture of it.

 

 

(Source: https://www.shapeways.com/product/T53CURXSD/1-48-usn-5-inch-loading-machine-starboard)

 

2. To the "Signal Flag Box" - I couldn't find an original picture, but I checked some models (e.g. Trumpeter USS Iowa 1/200). All of them show a signal flag box at the aft mast at the second funnel in addition to the 2 boxes at the bridge structure. I think they are right, as it makes sense.

 

Source: Youtube (below)

 

 

Gents, thx again!

 

Jack