USS Colorado, BB45 & USS Maryland, BB46 aft caged masts - Battleship Vs Battleship - Warships1 and NavWeaps Discussion Boards - Warships1 and NavWeaps Discussion Boards - Message Board - Yuku

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USS Colorado, BB45 & USS Maryland, BB46 aft caged masts

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Ed	USS Colorado, BB45 & USS Maryland, BB46 aft caged masts	Lead	[-]
Posts: 2340 (17-Jun-2008 04:14:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Looking at pictures of the USS Colorado, BB45 and the USS Maryland, BB46, it appears both BBs kept part of their aft cage masts after the refit and update from their PH bombings and torpedos. From these pictures, it looks like these cage mast were cut down to abot half their original height and quad 40mm AA guns were mounted atop the masts. Mounting the heavy 40mm quad mounts at this height would add unneeded top weight, I would think. I don't see anywhere when mounting 40mms this high would improve the firing arcs over a deck mount, aft of 16"/45 turret #4. Am I seeing this correctly? I had originally thought all of the cage masts were removed from all USN BBs during their WWII refits. But apparently BB45 and BB46 kept half of the aft masts. Why?
Captain Cee J		#1	[-]
Posts: 1324 (17-Jun-2008 04:38:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	IIRC there were two phases to the upgrades. During phase 1 the aft cage mast was cut down as you noted. During phase two the aft cage mast was completely removed. The fore cage mast remained on these two ships, although is so covered up by structure it can be hard to see. WeeVee of course was completely rebuilt in the image of the Tennessee class.
Mike G	Cage masts on Colorado & Maryland.	#2	[-]
Posts: 264 (17-Jun-2008 19:37:46) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	As initially rebuilt after the beginning of WW II, Phase 1 was completed. There were two phases as the ships were needed for West Coast Fleet duties and couldn't be removed from service for a more complete rebuild. Alterations included the cutting down of the cage mainmast, the addition of 20mm A.A. galleries along the stacks and atop the stub mainmast, the removal of the #3 turret mounted catapult and the addition of "Pacific Fleet" type gun shields on the 5-inch deck mounted secondary guns. Phase 2 was completed in 1944 at Puget Sound Navy Yard for both ships. The Maryland was rebuilt in April, 1944 and the Colorado was rebuilt in October, 1944. The ships were refitted with a stump tower mainmast, which replaced her cutdown cage mainmast. In Colorado a Mark 34 main battery director was installed to supplement the old director on the foremast, along with Mark 33 5" gun directors.
Ed		#3	[-]
Posts: 2342 (18-Jun-2008 01:22:23) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thank you. Ed

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