T2 WW2 US Navy Fleet Oiler

[waynemac]

The photos are of my latest project – a WW2 US Navy T2 fleet oiler (tanker). When I started this, I thought the T2 would be pretty straightforward. I should have known better.

The more I dig into the available info on these ships, the more variations I find. After all, there were some 544 of them built between 1940 and 1945 by 5 shipyards. Approximately 140 were taken into US Navy service directly, crewed entirely by US Navy personnel. The remainder were operated by oil companies and shipping companies, with civilian merchant marine personnel plus naval gun crews. The civilian T2’s were armed more lightly than the US Navy T2’s and were employed primarily in convoys rather than being assigned to combat fleets.

The T2’s were not a single homogenous class, but several -T2, T2-A/T2-SO, T2-A / T2-MC-K, T2-SE-A1, and T2-SE-A2 . There were differences in length and width among these sub-classes, which I won’t detail here. There were also differences in armament between civilian and Naval vessels, and between ships built in the different yards. Some of them had “storage decks, or spar decks” added above the original decks so that the ships could carry cargo such as aircraft and PT boats as well as loading hoses and other tanker gear.

There was also T3 Oilers. They were slightly longer and wider, but arranged similarly to the T2’s, and from a distance, one could easily be mistaken for a T2.

“T2” is a US Maritime Commission classification meaning a tanker between 450 and 500 feet long on the waterline. The “T3” was between 500 and 550 ft long on the waterline. The T1 tankers were up to 450 ft on the waterline and carried gasoline only – no heavy fuel (bunker) oil.

All this is to explain that each model is likely to have slightly different armament and deck arrangement. My hull is that of a T2-SE-A1 or A2. I could “fudge” a T2-A/T2-MC-K or a T3 on the same hull, but the dimensions would be slightly incorrect. I am planning on USS Cahaba (AO-82) in Measure 21 camo, SS Fallen Timbers (civilian T2) in ocean gray, and one more as yet not selected. I might also make one in post-war civilian service.

Wayne

[Gerry1966]

That’s great news! I can’t wait for it.

[PacificWind]

It's great to see something like this.
I don't think I've ever seen any WWII USN Fleet Oiler in paper.

[FRD]

That came out quite well..

[RyanShort1]

That's superb! Nice to see under-represented workhorses appreciated and remembered.

[Wyvern]

Awesome model of one of the real unsung heroes of the war in the Pacific.

Wyvern

[Don Boose]

This is very good news!

Many thanks for making these historic warships available, Wayne!

Don

[wireandpaper]

Very nice, an army may work without oil for some time. But a navy?
Rarely depicted important vessels!!!

[southwestforests]

It has those classic steam freighter lines, which actually make a pretty good looking ship.

[wireandpaper]

I forgot, which scale?
1/600 I presume.