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erik_t
Post subject: Re: Fletcher class destroyersPosted: March 14th, 2020, 9:15 pm
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The usual excellence I've come to expect.
Colosseum wrote: *
JOHNSTON was one of the "square bridge" FLETCHER class destroyers, which incorporated a revised/simplified open bridge based on British war experience.
While it's certainly true that British experience went into the bridge revisions, this seems to sort of invert the design process. I am away from a scanner today, but these are some selected quotes from Sumrall's "Sumner-Gearing-Class Destroyers", which is probably the bible of the latter classes.

My own selection of quote snippets is borne out of laziness, and I'd be happy to scan a few pages to clarify if you think I'm presenting the wrong interpretation.
Quote:
General Arrangement of the Bridge Area (pp. 49-50)
The arrangement of the bridge was a controversial matter. The design approved by [SECNAV]... was similar to the square-bridge configuration of the modified Fletchers... it was changed to an arrangement referred to as the British-style bridge.
...
In British practice, the conning officer's position was in an open bridge above the pilothouse and helm...
...
Both of the British-style bridge configurations were immediately unpopular with most of the ships' captains...
...
After considerable effort, the draftsmen... created a new bridge. The arrangement was similar to the square bridge of the modified Fletchers...
As I read it, the bridge you've drawn is the quite traditional American approach, without the semi-plated-in upper level for the OOD that the British seemed to prefer.


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Colosseum
Post subject: Re: Fletcher class destroyersPosted: March 14th, 2020, 10:16 pm
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erik_t wrote: *
The usual excellence I've come to expect.
Colosseum wrote: *
JOHNSTON was one of the "square bridge" FLETCHER class destroyers, which incorporated a revised/simplified open bridge based on British war experience.
While it's certainly true that British experience went into the bridge revisions, this seems to sort of invert the design process. I am away from a scanner today, but these are some selected quotes from Sumrall's "Sumner-Gearing-Class Destroyers", which is probably the bible of the latter classes.

My own selection of quote snippets is borne out of laziness, and I'd be happy to scan a few pages to clarify if you think I'm presenting the wrong interpretation.
Quote:
General Arrangement of the Bridge Area (pp. 49-50)
The arrangement of the bridge was a controversial matter. The design approved by [SECNAV]... was similar to the square-bridge configuration of the modified Fletchers... it was changed to an arrangement referred to as the British-style bridge.
...
In British practice, the conning officer's position was in an open bridge above the pilothouse and helm...
...
Both of the British-style bridge configurations were immediately unpopular with most of the ships' captains...
...
After considerable effort, the draftsmen... created a new bridge. The arrangement was similar to the square bridge of the modified Fletchers...
As I read it, the bridge you've drawn is the quite traditional American approach, without the semi-plated-in upper level for the OOD that the British seemed to prefer.
That's right - I copied the original text written years ago when reposting the plan view. The text should instead mention that DD-557 is a later "square bridge" Fletcher class DD incorporating the simplified bridge with better overhead visibility, among other improvements.

edit: OP updated. Nice catch... so many publications mention redesigned bridges being the "British style", but I think this has been misinterpreted by many authors. The real "British style bridge" is that aboard the early Sumner class DDs ;) Check my drawing of Barton in the archive for what this looks like

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Hood
Post subject: Re: Fletcher class destroyersPosted: March 15th, 2020, 10:25 am
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Joined: July 31st, 2010, 10:07 am
Excellent work.
I agree, I find that drawing a top view changes how you do a side view. What you think looks good in a side view often does not work when viewed from above and vice versa.

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seeker36340
Post subject: Re: Fletcher class destroyersPosted: March 26th, 2020, 4:38 pm
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Joined: June 9th, 2012, 10:21 pm
Wow....is this the first top-down drawing of a Fletcher posted? It's beautiful


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