WWll Sub Chasers

Kind of an old thread. 9 years. You should start a new one with a title such as "I'm planning on converting the Glencoe kit to the USCG WW2 WPC-372, Belleville.  Where did you find the plans and photos?  "

Lots of Coasties here and you will get some interest.

Bill

I'm planning on converting the Glencoe kit to the USCG WW2 WPC-372, Belleville.  Where did you find the plans and photos?  Thanks, Bill V.  CGA-1975

bushman32

Thanks everyone for your help. A friend of mine wants to make a WWll sub chaser for a friend of his that had served on one during WWll. I have passed all info to him. I know there are a number of books written about these boats, but it is a shame there isn't any documentaries on them. At least I haven't seen any.

  Ron W.

Squadron Pubs has an excellent book on the 110 foot subchasers, both WW1 and WW2.  In fact the book shows more photos of the WW2 version than the WW1 version.  Two-views of both types. The book is still available- US 110' Subchasers in Action.

BTW, my post on the railings was mistitled- I was somehow thinking of CG cutters when I made the post about the railings on the Subchaser :-(

Gee,RON never thought of doing that.I usually convert them to classic looking motoryachts ! I do know that GARTH CONNELY,S book is the cats meow on the WW1 boats.    TANKERbuilder

I am in the process of converting the Glencoe SC-1 class Submarine Chaser to the configuration of the USS Belleville, WPC-372, manned by the USCG on convoy escort duty during WWII out of Miami and New Orleans.  I found the hull lines to be fairly acurate and converted this to the three screw configuration of most gasoline powered SC-1 class vessels.  Beyond this, I have reverted to scatch building everything above main deck - except for the 20MM Olicron AA Guns (2) which I purchased from John Hayes Model (JH-642) and Ready Servive Lockers (JH-643).  Other items like Fishermans Anchors, chocks, Polaris, Fire Hose and rack, cleats, ladders, life rings, handrails, etc. will be bought if possible.

The superstructure is modified to extend the pilot house aft, add camber to the two deck houses and add a band stand for the 20MM aft of the pilot house.  The aft deck house is narrower and the hatches relocated.  Almost all the vents are relocated or different.  A new mast is being constucted from brass tubing.  The 3"-23 Poole gun is being replaced by a more detailed one build from brass and aluminum stock and tubing.  The "Belleville" is missing the breakwater forward of this gun and this is replaced with a higher bullwark around the perimeter of the deck and a raised hatch fwd of the gun.  Two scratch-built MK-20, mod ! mousetrap launchers will be mounted forward and the capstan replaced with a gypsy winch.  Two depth charge racks (Mk 7, mod 1 with extension) for four depth charges each, will be added to the stern.  The Y-gun will be replaced by the other 20MM.  Four rectanguler Kapok liferafts will replace the 16 ft. boat and be mounted to each side of the extended pilot house on racks.

Here is a list of the SC-1 Class boats that were used in WWII:  SC-64, 102, 103, 185, 229 / WPC-335 USS Boone, 231 / WPC-336 USS Blaze, 238 / WPC-365 USS Bowstring, 258 / WPC-372 USS Belleville, 330, 412, 431, 432, 437, 438 / WIX-375 USS Bonneville, 440, 449, 450, and 453.  The French also retained eight of this class in service during the early part of WWII.  The Russians, Italians, Germans and British all operated captured French vessels or lend lease vessels during WWII.   The Russian vessels sported KV-1 tank turrets in place of the 3"-23 Poole gun.    

Hello Ron,

I'm guessing you are thinking 1/72 scale as you were considering converting the Glencoe kit? 

The suggestion I have is to get the Paper Lab card model, enlarge it to 1/144 (173.6%) scale then double that to 1/72, then you can take advantage of the excellent GLS or WEM 20mm guns and utilise the Airfix Bofors gun and there are some nice figures available from Accurate Armour I think.

Whatever you do don't enlarge the original kit (1/250) straight to 1/72 as I did initially by photocopying as you will get some distortion. I have partly done models in both 1/144 and 1/72 and I'm positive they will both come out very nicely.

Cheers,

Roger Pearson.

Bendigo, Australia.

One of the things that make HITRA's restoration so amazing is the condition in which the Norwegians acquired her.  This photo is from 1982:

 http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/alross2/hitra.jpg

Al Ross

Just in case it might come in handy,this sub chaser still exists.

http://www.google.com/images?q=knm+hitra&rls=com.microsoft:no:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7RNWN_en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=FSgRTKCkEZ-jOO283dUH&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDkQsAQwAw

I wouldn't recommend the 1/700 one, then, for the simple fact that it is going to be so frickin' tiny that  your WW II vet will barely be able to see it (my Dad is one so I can get away with saying that). To give you an idea of the size of the little guy, I included one in an APA build from awhile back:

Sir,

Hello.

Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is but one dedicated technical history book concerning the 110 foot SCs, and two memoir styled ones (by the CO of SC-648).  There are a few memoir styled books concerning the 173 foot PC (steel hull) hulls.

The one book on the 110 foot SCs (wood hull) is 110' SUB CHASERS IN ACTION from Squadron.  If you would want to, you could always email me at PTConsultingNHR@aol.com and I could TRY and help you.  I'd be happy to too sir.

My late father served on SC-699 in the Philippines in WW2 and my grandfather served on SC-21 and SC-253 in WW1.

You cannot convert the GLENCOE kit of the SC-1 Class to a WW2 SC-497 Class boat.  The SC-1s were narrower than the 497s and the sterns and transoms were different between the two classes.  So, your best bet would be scratch-build it or use a R/C hull.

Garth

Thanks everyone for your help. A friend of mine wants to make a WWll sub chaser for a friend of his that had served on one during WWll. I have passed all info to him. I know there are a number of books written about these boats, but it is a shame there isn't any documentaries on them. At least I haven't seen any.

  Ron W.

The Loose Cannon Productions subchaser is the 110-foot variety in 1/700 - http://home.earthlink.net/~lcpinfo/Kit75.html - with the 173-foot patrol gunboat as Ed remembered, and a 78-foot Higgins PT boat in the kit as well.

Ron

 The WWI(Glencoe) and WWII subchasers were two different ships. The length is close but the beam on the WWII vessel is much wider than the WWI craft. Plus the profile of both craft are very different in appearence. Find a copy of Garth Conneleys book on Subchasers, it has excellent profiles of both boats as well as nice photos.

Good luck

Mike

Dumas makes a model of the USS WHITEHALL PCER-856, a 184' 6" PCE, in 1:96 scale.  The model has a two piece vac formed hull, die cut SIntra decks and superstructure sides.  They provide a weapons and fittings list using HR Products white metal castings.   The model is correct for a standard  184' 6" PCE, but not quite right for the PCER which had an extended foc'sle/boat deck containing a large sick bay. 

Flower Class corvette by Revell/ ex Matchbox.

Iron Shipwright makes a 110' wooden SC-class subchaser

Iron Shipwright also makes a 173' steel PC-class subchaser.  See Phil Kirchmeier's build article elsewhere on FSM

http://www.finescale.com/en/How%20To/Articles/2008/11/Build%20Shipwrights%201-350%20scale%20resin%20sub%20chaser%20on%20a%20plastic%20kit%20budget.aspx

IIRC,   Loose Cannon makes the 173' PC in 1:700 scale and may also have the 110' SC in their product line