IHP 7001 HMS Colossus AA weapon and aircraft question

[hj1985]

Hi Guys

 

I'm doing some reference check on HMS Colossus AA weapon and aircraft

 

A. AA Weapon

 

Various online sources indicate HMS Colossus' original small AA weapons consist of

 

24 pom-pom (quadruple x 6)

32 Oerlikon 20 mm guns

4 QF 3-pounder Vickers

 

In July, 32 Oerlikon 20 mm guns were replaced by 21 Bofors 40 mm guns in single and twin configurations.

 

https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3237.html

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Arromanches#Weaponry

 

My questions are:

 

1. Did HMS Colossus keep all pom-pom? from IHP's instruction, I think the answer is yes. Two in bridge, two on each side of the ship (Part# D69 and D70).

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/hms/cv/Colossus-700-ihp/ImperialHobbyHMSColossusReview.htm

 

2. However, how many Bofors are in single and twin configuration?

From IHP's instruction, I counted 8 single on the right and 11 single on the left (Part# D68)

 

3. Does Part# D82 represent twin Bofors? The length of the barrel does not match the single one though. It has two on each side of the ship + one in bridge

 

If Part# D82 is twin Bofors, then the  Bofors count (19 single + 5 twin)  in this kit will exceed the total number of Bofors HMS Colossus had.

 

If Part# D82 is not Bofors, then what it is?

 

4. where the QF 3-pounder Vickers sits?

 

B. Aircraft

 

Also one source indicates "After VJ Day American CORSAIR aircraft provided by US on Lease Lend were disposed of by ditching in the sea. 

 

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-Colossus.htm

 

Does this mean the ship had no fighters when it arrived at Far East?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2021 by hj1985

[EwenS]

13 hours ago, hj1985 said:

Hi Guys

 

I'm doing some reference check on HMS Colossus AA weapon and aircraft

 

A. AA Weapon

 

Various online sources indicate HMS Colossus' original small AA weapons consist of

 

24 pom-pom (quadruple x 6)

32 Oerlikon 20 mm guns

4 QF 3-pounder Vickers

 

In July, 32 Oerlikon 20 mm guns were replaced by 21 Bofors 40 mm guns in single and twin configurations.

 

https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3237.html

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Arromanches#Weaponry

 

My questions are:

 

1. Did HMS Colossus keep all pom-pom? from IHP's instruction, I think the answer is yes. Two in bridge, two on each side of the ship (Part# D69 and D70).

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/hms/cv/Colossus-700-ihp/ImperialHobbyHMSColossusReview.htm

 

2. However, how many Bofors are in single and twin configuration?

From IHP's instruction, I counted 8 single on the right and 11 single on the left (Part# D68)

 

3. Does Part# D82 represent twin Bofors? The length of the barrel does not match the single one though. It has two on each side of the ship + one in bridge

 

If Part# D82 is twin Bofors, then the  Bofors count (19 single + 5 twin)  in this kit will exceed the total number of Bofors HMS Colossus had.

 

If Part# D82 is not Bofors, then what it is?

 

4. where the QF 3-pounder Vickers sits?

 

B. Aircraft

 

Also one source indicates "After VJ Day American CORSAIR aircraft provided by US on Lease Lend were disposed of by ditching in the sea. 

 

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-04CV-Colossus.htm

 

Does this mean the ship had no fighters when it arrived at Far East?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

 

 

 

 

Colossus left the U.K. on 12 March 1945 with the 24 Corsair IV of 1846 and 18 (later reduced to 12) Barracudas II of 827 squadrons aboard. Both squadrons remained aboard, other than short spells at various shore bases, until the ship returned to Britain where 827 disbanded on 24 July and 1846 disbanded on 27 July that year.

 

On 8 April 1946 on completion of a short refit at Simonstown Dockyard in South Africa, she re-embarked her squadrons losing one in the process. She then went to Cape Town’s Duncan Dock where she embarked further Lend Lease aircraft on her flight deck for ditching. These were 4 Vought Kingfishers and an unknown number of Grumman Wildcats. On 16 April these were catapulted off the ship while she was en from Cape Town to Trincomalee.

 

On returning to the U.K. the aircraft of both her squadrons were flown off. On 22 July 12 Corsairs and 6 Barracuda were flown off, with the rest of her aircraft following the next day.

 

Information from Neil McCart’s “The Colossus Class Aircraft Carriers 1944-1972”.

 

The question of her light AA is more difficult.

 

Pom poms. On completion she had 6 quads. And she still had 6 when handed over to the French Navy on 6 August 1946.

Twin Bofors. She never carried any during her RN service.

 

I’ve never been able to fully pin down her other light AA weapons on completion. When she left the U.K. it seems to have been a mix of single 20mm and twin Mk.V 20mm but possibly also some twin hand worked 20mm. When she arrived in Sydney these were swapped out for a mix of single 40mm Boffins and Mk.III Bofors. Friedman puts the approved total in Sept 1945 as 10 Boffins (replacing twin 20mm) plus 11 Mk.III. You seem to have these pinned down but there were also a further pair on each quarter of the stern at quarterdeck level.

 

I can’t make the kit parts into either mount. You will find details of the mounts here.

http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12.php

 

A 40mm Boffin was a twin Mk.V 20mm Mount with the 20mm guns replaced by a single 40mm barrel. But the elevation was limited compared to the Mk.III.