HMS MATAPAN - looking for photos.

[davepb]

Hi,

does anyone have any pictures of HMS MATAPAN after her conversion to Sonar Trials ship? I'm particularly interested in overhead shots and, of course, detail shots, particularly of amidships and the bridge area.

[Shar2]

There are quite a few photos found through Google. This in is quite nice.

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=604217

[davepb]

Thanks Dave, got that one already, and all of those down to Joe Jordan. Some interesting ones of her "hidden bits" in the breakers dry-dock.

Cheers,

Dave

[Shar2]

Unfortunately, the only picture of her I have is from an old instamatic camera, from when she was on death row up Fareham Creek. If I can find it I'll scan it in if you like?

[davepb]

Thanks Dave, anything will help. Making it for my son who was christened onboard HMS MATAPAN, but missed out on the ships' bell because they had forgotten to engrave his name, and he would have been the first.

Dave

[davepb]

I'm trying to find better pictures of the davits fitted to HMS Matapan during her conversion to sonar trials ship. This picture clearly shows that there was no knee to move the boat outboard as it was lowered. Has anyone any clearer pictures, or could they give me information how they worked?

Cheers,

[TallPaul]

Hi Dave

Sorry no pictures, however. The davits look like 'gravity davits'. The arms pointing skyward held the boat via cables at the end. This part slides up and down the part of the davit that is pointing up and inboard toward the funnel, on rollers. As the davit arms move dowm the boat will naturally be positioned over the water, it would then continue on its way to the water on its falls. From memory it was all worked by the winches for the cables holding the boat. Veering the winch initiallly allows the davit arms to move down, once they reach the end of the track in the lower arm the cable then lets the boat down to the water.

[Fatboydim]

Hello Dave, is this of any help?

http://www.shipspictures.co.uk/Warships/Post-WWII/m-r/index.html#DMMATAPAN001001.jpg

[davepb]

Thanks for taking the time to consider my problem. Please look at the enclosed picture:

This clearly shows the curved knee on the gravity davits of a County Class GMD. As the sliding section reaches the knee, it is thrown forward, moving the boat clear of the support and outboard of the ships' side. The problem I'm trying to solve is that in the re-fitted HMS Matapan this knee is missing. There is a straight run to the deck edge ( a similar type appears to have been fitted to HMS Abdiel) so how is the final swing-out achieved? Hope someone can help.

Dave

[Shar2]

From that photo of Matapan there is a hinge at the base of the upper arms of the davits. This makes me think that the lower arms slip between the uprights and the upper arms swing the boat out. If you see what I mean.