Dragon USS Chevalier DD-805

[Shar2]

USS Chevalier DD-805

1/350 sclae from Dragon

History

USS Chevalier (DD/DDR-805) was a Gearing-class destroyer of the United States Navy, the second Navy ship named for Lieutenant Commander Godfrey DeC. Chevalier (1889–1922), a pioneer of naval aviation.

USS Chevalier was launched 29 October 1944 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; sponsored by Mrs. G. DeC. Chevalier; and commissioned 9 January 1945, Commander F. Wolsieffer in command.

Chevalier left Guantanamo Bay on the 18th June 1945, and reached Pearl Harbor on the 9th July. On the 24th, she sailed to join in the bombardment of Wake Island on 1 August, arriving at Eniwetok next day. She joined Task Force 38 (TF 38) off Honshū 18th August, and with her force entered Tokyo Bay 26th August. After patrol and escort assignments supporting occupation activities in the Marianas and Philippines, Chevalier sailed from Saipan 25th March 1946 for San Diego, arriving 11th April.

Before the Korean War, Chevalier completed tours of duty in the western Pacific in 1946–7, and 1948–9, and maintained her readiness through local operations from San Diego. On 18th March 1949, she was reclassified DDR-805, a radar picket destroyer, and during the summer and fall of 1949 operated in the Hawaiian Islands. During the Korean War, she served actively in the Far East between 6th July 1950 and 25th March 1951; 15th October 1951 and 31st May 1952: and 2nd January 1953 and 22nd August 1953. Her duty during the major portion of each tour was to join the protective screen of TF 77, the carrier force which launched almost continuous raids on North Korea. She also sailed on protective patrol in the Taiwan Straits.

Chevaliers’ post-war operating schedule was alternate tours of duty with the guardian 7th Fleet with necessary overhaul and training activities along the west coast. In 1954, 1955, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958-59, and 1960, she sailed for the visits to Far Eastern and Australian ports, patrol duty in the Taiwan Straits, and exercises off Japan, Okinawa, and in the Philippines which are a part of Far Eastern deployment.

Chevalier's classification reverted to DD-805 13th July 1962.

Between 1962 and 1972 she continued serving in the Pacific fleet particularly in the West Pacific and off the coast of Vietnam supporting the Carriers and acting as plane guardian, radar picket and rescue ship for downed airman.

On 5 July 1972 Chevalier was transferred to South Korea. She served in the Republic of Korea Navy as ROKS Chung Buk until December 2000, when she was sold for scrap and dismantled.

The Model

Continuing their selection of US Navy destroyers Dragon have recently released this Smart Kit USS Chevalier. It comes in the usual top opening box with colourful artwork depicting the ship at sea near the end of the war showing squadrons of aircraft flying overhead, with an escorted battleship and light carrier behind.

The instructions come in an slightly smaller than A4 concertinaed sheet . Although clearer to read and understand than Dragons Scharnhorst instructions, the Chevaliers are still quite congested and messy.

The main hull comes in two parts split horizontally, thus allowing a waterline model to be built should you so wish. Both parts have pre-moulded bulkheads, making for a very rigid and strong structure.





The main and upper decks have been moulded pretty cleanly with most of the ancillary parts coming separately making them much easier to paint.





The sidewalls and bridge parts are beautifully moulded with loads of detail on the inner faces.



The kit comes with four main twin 5” turrets although you will only need three, so one will become a useful addition to the spares box. The twin 40mm mounts have 5 parts each inc PE whilst the quad 40mm guns have 9 which makes them tiny models in themselves. The moulded detail is excellent right down to the recoil springs on each weapon.





The twin 20mm mounts are no less complex each having 9 parts. So much like other Dragon kits in this series you will need an optivisor or illuminated magnifier.



In keeping with the detail and its use as a radar picket there are numerous rangefinders and binocular binnacles along with loads of smaller miscellaneous items. There are some nicely detailed depth charge racks for the fantail plus ammo lockers and davits for the lovely little ships boat.











Dragon do like to give some nice photo etch parts in their kits and this one is no different. Although mainly concentrating on superstructure supports and weapon parts, there are some renditions of the radar, aerials, ladders, doors and even some anchor chain, but this last part may be a bit flat for some modellers. It’s a shame that Dragon don’t provide any PE for the railings, which, in my view, really help to finish of a model.





Lastly the kit comes with a set of nicely printed decals, which, apart from the ships number comprise entirely of anti-slip markings for the ships decks and weapons mounts. Not sure how this will look when applied, but it makes it a whole lot easier than trying to paint them.

The kit is completed with Dragons habit of providing just six sailors. Since they have said they are not going to produce additional sets of 1/350 men, then I would think these could easily be left out.

Conclusion

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Well what can I say, another lovely destroyer kit from Dragon. Beautifully moulded throughout, and apart from the annoying instructions and moulding pips on a lot of the parts I can highly recommend this model to all those who have a maritime bent or even those who would like to try a new genre. The RRP for this kit is high, particularly when you see the likes of Trumpeter producing destroyer kits for nearly half the price, but shop around and you can get a bargain.

Model from my own collection.

Edited March 20, 2011 by Shar2

[johndon]

Must say, I really fancy a go at this one.

John