US Heavy Cruiser Miami

There's your answer. If the designs had it, then it's not implausible that .50-cals were around (or at least there were plans to equip the ships with them). I think that's enough proof for this NB drawing.

Write up for the photo:

Photo #: S-584-206

Light Cruiser ... Design # 10 ... Undated (about January 1925)

Preliminary design plan for a cruiser to be built under treaty limitations covering ships of up to 10,000 tons treaty displacement. This design was initiated by the Bureau of Construction and Repair as an illustration for the General Board of the kind of measures needed to limit size and cost. This plan provided a reduced main gun armament compared to the baseline design (see Photo # S-584-190), grouped two turrets forward and one aft, and shifted the aircraft hangar and catapults aft. This drawing differs little from the previous "Design #9" (see Photo # S-584-205) and appears to reflect only refinement in detail.
This plan provided nine 8-inch guns, turbine machinery, and a speed of 32.8 knots in a ship 600 feet long on the waterline, 60.75 feet in beam, and with a normal displacement of 11,410 tons.
Note: The original document was ink on paper (black on white).

The original plan is in the 1911-1925 "Spring Styles Book".

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

There are also similar things on other drawings as well. On one drawing it is directly besides the main turret, which is placed on a small pedistal. It's not big enough for the turret and MGs. According to the top view, it is dangling in mid-air. On another sketch, it is placed in the middle of a 5 inch gun.

I'm at a loss. If it was on top of a turret, it's probably a range finder for local control. No idea what else it could be if not a machine gun or range finder.

The top view places it besides the turret, over the main deck. See for yourself: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/939 ... 584210.jpg
The sketch says it has 9 37mm AA guns, but nothing to hunt where they are placed.

There are 2-3 sketches with the cross like shapes, none of the others have them, or any MG like shapes, anywhere.

Shipbucket

Who is online