HMS Zulu, late 1941 modifcations

[Nick C]

Morning

 

Need a bit of help if possible. I'm shortly starting a build of HMS Ark Royal, escorted by HMS Zulu, in the med in late 1941, i.e. Ark's as sunk fit and Zulu with some of her early war mods.

 

I've found two references to changes at Zulu's June 1941 refit but there are some inconsistencies;

 Ref 1

Refit work was also undertaken and including replacement of mainmast by a new

structure to suit fit of aerial for wireless direction finding outfit. 20mm single Oerlikon

mountings were fitted on bridge

wings, Radar Type 285 for main armament gunnery fire control installed and depth

 charge throwers re-sited on quarter deck.)

Ref 2

In June 1941, Zulu sailed for Falmouth, England to begin her refit. Her after funnel was cut down and her mainmast was fitted with a high frequency direction finding (Huff-Duff) outfit. Two, single 2 pounder guns were mounted on the bridge wings. Radar was installed and the depth charge throwers were re-located. The refit was completed by July.

 

• They both mention guns on the bridge wings but one states 2 pounders and one states 20mm Oerlikon - does anyone know which is correct or if photo's exist of this area at this time? There's a pic in Peter Hodges Tribal class destroyers that says 1941 that states 'bridge wings sponsons stiffened to support single hand worked 2 pounders' - if correct would the be a MK II mounting like this;

 

• One states mainmast replaced, the other mainmast fitted with a high Frequency DF; there are pictures of Tribals with the main mast completely removed and some with a single mast instead of the earlier tripod - does anyone know (or know how I can find out) Zulu's fit at the time?
• Both references to the refit mention the depth charge throwers moving, one of them states to the quarter deck. Any idea of the configuration in relation to other equipment there?

 

And lastly - what colour scheme would she have wearing?

 

Thanks in advance if anyone can help.

 

Cheers

 

Nick        

[Our Ned]

See, for example, https://modelshipworld.com/topic/27925-hms-zulu-1942-hms-eskimo-1944-by-rgl-finished-trumpeter-1350/ The first photo is a higher-resolution version of the one in Hodges' book, apparently taken on 17 November 1941, and shows single 2pdrs in the bridge wings, a pole mainmast supporting HF/DF antenna, shortened after funnel, DC Throwers at main deck level abreast the searchlight platform (not on the quarterdeck - very little room there on a Tribal class ship), MF/DF antenna on the front of the bridge, a stump mast for WT aerials on the searchlight platform, splinter shields at the deck-edge abreast the 4.7" mountings, RDF (radar) Type 285 antenna on the rangefinder director above the bridge and RDF Type 286 antennae fitted at the foretopmasthead.  She is wearing what appears to be a dark grey (AP507A?) hull/light grey (AP507C?) colour scheme, divisional leader band (white on the forefunnel and flottila bands on the afterfunnel.

Edited October 8, 2022 by Our Ned
Correct URL

[Nick C]

That's brilliant, thanks Ned. That's the pic I've seen but much better resolution. Really appreciate the help.

 

Cheers

 

Nick

[Nick C]

On 10/8/2022 at 1:59 PM, Our Ned said:

See, for example, https://modelshipworld.com/topic/27925-hms-zulu-1942-hms-eskimo-1944-by-rgl-finished-trumpeter-1350/ The first photo is a higher-resolution version of the one in Hodges' book, apparently taken on 17 November 1941, and shows single 2pdrs in the bridge wings, a pole mainmast supporting HF/DF antenna, shortened after funnel, DC Throwers at main deck level abreast the searchlight platform (not on the quarterdeck - very little room there on a Tribal class ship), MF/DF antenna on the front of the bridge, a stump mast for WT aerials on the searchlight platform, splinter shields at the deck-edge abreast the 4.7" mountings, RDF (radar) Type 285 antenna on the rangefinder director above the bridge and RDF Type 286 antennae fitted at the foretopmasthead.  She is wearing what appears to be a dark grey (AP507A?) hull/light grey (AP507C?) colour scheme, divisional leader band (white on the forefunnel and flottila bands on the afterfunnel.

Hi Ned, does anyone know for sure, as far as you're aware, if the lower flotilla bands were black or red?

Cheers

Nick

[Our Ned]

No definite evidence that I know of, but she was based in Gibraltar at that time, and (I think) was in the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, whose funnel bands were white over two red.

Edited February 14 by Our Ned
Typo

[Nick C]

3 hours ago, Our Ned said:

No definite evidence that I know of, but she was based in Gibraltar at that time, and (I think) was in the 13th Destroyer Flotilla, whose funnel bands were white over two red.

Thank you

[Modelholic]

Ned,

In the pic of the bridge in the link you posted, what's the equipment to port of the pelorus below the bridge screen?  Asdic repeater?

Tom

[Our Ned]

To be honest, I'm not sure!  Away from references at the moment, but, if you're referring to the large dial to the right of the chap with the white collar, it may well be a bearing indicator for the Asdic transducer.  The narrow pyramid with the short cylinder on top, behind that chap, may be a viewing port to the a/s plot in the compartment below, which I think was the chartroom.

[Our Ned]

Study of John Roberts Destroyer Cossack: Detailed in Original Builders' Plans (Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing, 2020) shows the area to port of the pelorus was the secondary Asdic control position, located in a recess projecting into the upper part of the wheelhouse.  The view-plot trunk to port of the binnacle did indeed allow those on the bridge to observe the ARL Mk VA plotting table  in the plotting office below.

Edited February 17 by Our Ned