Converting Flyhawk Ajax 1939 to Ajax/Orion in 1941

[Archelaos]

Hi!

I am planining to build model of one of those cruisers in 1941 outfit starting from Flyhawk Ajax. I think Ajax would be preferable as I have more and better photos of her camo scheme, She seems to be the more difficult of the pair as she was rebuilt following the damage sustained from Graf Spee, receiving tripod masts. I also seen suggestions there were some changes to the deck housing 4in turrets.

Orion was rebuilt only after the damage she suffered on 29 May 41 so it seems she should be easier of the pair to convert to 1941 outfit though I have only one photo of her in 1941 camo.

[Our Ned]

Ajax's repairs after the Battle of the River Plate included the addition of tripod masts; apart from deck-edge splinter shields around the twin 4" mountings, I don't think the 4" gundeck was altered until her Chatham refit in early 1942.  She was also fitted with Type 79 RDF (aerials at both mastheads) during the post-Plate repairs.  In mid-1941, her catapult was landed and a quadruple 2pdr mounting was fitted in its place - not sure if this was before or after the Crete evacuation.

Orion was fitted with a prominent extrnal degauusing coil in March 1940; by mid 1941 she had also been fitted with deck-edge splinter shields around the twin 4" mountings, and her catapult had been landed at some time before the Crete evacuation.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

On 6/19/2025 at 4:23 PM, Archelaos said:

she was rebuilt following the damage sustained from Graf Spee, receiving tripod masts. I also seen suggestions there were some changes to the deck housing 4in turrets.

G'day, I found this today.

 

https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/media/hms-ajax-leander-class-light-cruiser-1944.32139/

 

It appears that her 4-inch gun deck has had a crew shelter added between the twin 4-inch guns, plus she's sporting two quad 40mm Bofors. Admittedly this a later time frame than that you were discussing.       HTH.

Regards, Jeff.

[Our Ned]

Thanks Jeff,

That photo was taken after her 1943 repais and refit in New York.  Before that she was refitted in Chatham in 1942, when quadruple 2 pdrs were fitted for'd of the mainmast on each side (and the centreline one removed, her centreline HA.DCT was replaced by SW RDF, sided HA.DCTs fitted abreast the bridge, other RDF fitted and some changes made to light AA; the gun crew shelters were added at this time, and the whalers moved forward.  The New York work included replacement of 2pdr mountings by 40mm Bofors and other light AA changes.

Edited June 24 by Our Ned