USS ENGLAND (DE-635) by ccoyle - FINISHED - HMV - 1/250

**ccoyle** · #1 10-17-2023, 09:13 AM

Catching up on sharing some of my recently completed builds. This one is the 1/250 USS England kit from HMV. I highly recommend this kit. In addition to the basic kit, I used the available laser-cut detail set along with the 3D-printed hull and detail parts available from Darius Lipinski's store at Shapeways. The only caution I would share about the kit is some lack of clarity on the rigging diagrams -- secondary sources will prove useful in that regard for anyone considering this as a future project. Other than that minor issue, the kit, instructions, and diagrams are exceptional. Enjoy the photos!

**Don Boose** · #2 10-17-2023, 12:10 PM

So, Chris, your shipbuilding skill equals your airplane-building skill!

This is a superb model of a famous ship (as I am sure you know, England had the U.S. submarine destruction record in World War II, sinking six Japanese submarines in 12 days in May 1944 in the vicinity of the Admiralty Islands).

I have spent a lot of time pouring over the detail of your model. The Buckleys are a favorite ship of mine (I built the wooden Strombecker kit of Buckley in the 1950s), and your England looks perfect to my eye.

Don

**ccoyle** · #3 10-17-2023, 12:28 PM

Thanks, Don. I had a third cousin who survived the sinking of Samuel B Roberts (Butler-class) at Samar, so I felt a little bit of connection to this build.

**georgerutherford1861** · #4 10-18-2023, 08:28 AM

More excellent work, thank you for sharing. Interesting that she had a set of quad 1.1 inch guns on her.

I wonder if maintaining those instead of a set of 40mm was a result of just not enough 40mm to go around, weight issues (Don, I've been reading about the weight and stability issues with the Cleveland light cruisers the last few nights), or some other factor.

Again, thanks for sharing this with us.

Doug

**Don Boose** · #5 10-18-2023, 08:45 AM

Good eye, Doug. The 1.1-inch quadruple mount shows up especially in Images 7 and 10. Your line of reasoning is sound, as well. I give you an "exceeds standards" on this submission.

Friedman says, regarding the Buckley class, "In February 1942, the U.S. Navy replaced the two 20 mm superfiring over No. 3 mount with a quadruple 1.1-inch machine cannon. This latter was already in some disrepute, but on the other hand the DE was primarily an ASW ship, and the limited number of Bofors guns available was more urgently required for first-line combatants. Provision was made for its replacement by a twom Bofors when production permitted." [Norman Friedman, U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History, Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1982, page 180.]

Chris - I was glad to hear the story of your cousin who participated in the Battle fo San Bernardinio Strait. That connection certainly makes the model even more meaningful.

I was previously unaware of the 1.1-inch mounts on the Buckleys, so once again I learned something from a Forum discussion. And I enjoyed going back over each of the images of your model once again.

The whaleboat swung out is a nice touch.

Don

**ccoyle** · #6 10-18-2023, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boose

The whaleboat swung out is a nice touch.

I did that on the recommendation of a knowledgeable member at Model Ship World. In browsing available photos online, I saw examples of boats stowed inboard while at sea as well as swung out. Ultimately it boiled down to liking the latter look better. With regard to the infamous "Chicago piano", I'm sure that England's crew would much have preferred having a dual 40mm mount aboard when the ship was attacked and ultimately struck by a kamikaze in May of '45. Amazingly, the crew managed to save the ship despite losing nearly a third of their number killed, MIA, or wounded.

**Wilfried** · #7 10-18-2023, 02:56 PM

Howdy Chris,
excellent build of a flush decker; this type cannot deny its kinship or precursor to the Fletcher? But surely the experts here know better. It's nice that Darius has once again created a model and published it at HMV.
I can only express my appreciation; because I have seen a construction report of this model at www.kartonbau.de; I would wish, however, that the color tone was a little brighter ... but anyway, thanks for the photos.
Wil
Edit: I enjoyed the photos as well ... keep the good work goin on

**georgerutherford1861** · #8 10-20-2023, 11:59 AM

Thanks Don! I got a good laugh and a bit of a flashback out of my grade. Friedman does a great job breaking out all those armament changes. I admit to getting lost a time or two trying to follow it.

I am a bit of a geek now, but these sorts of technical histories are very interesting to me, whether ships, planes, or armored vehicles.

Doug