I'm about to start work on a model of the USS Cleveland (CL-55). It's the 1/700 Midship Models version, which I think is the Cleveland in 1942.

A few questions have been bothering me: What color was the deck? All the paint guides tell me that are deck blue, but I found a few color pictures where atleast one deck is still teak, or natural wood in 1943. http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/057/0405709.jpg

Also, From looking at pictures on navsource.org, etc It seems like the boat cranes on either side of the ship were removed by 1943/44. http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/057/0405705.jpg Did they replace lifeboats/yachts with dinggys and float baskets?

Thanks for any expertise you have to offer!

- Steve

Hi Steve,

I have that one in the stash as well and while I don't know the answers to your questions you might try the USS Clevelands' Reunion pages for some information here:

http://www.cl55.org/history.htm

Or you could try contacting the guy listed there for any information that he may have or any of the still living crew could provide you. Most sailors love talking about their ships given half a chance.

I will be watching your thread here just so I can find out the information as well.

Steve,

The decks would have been deck blue in 1942, which is what the Midship/Skywave model is supposed to represent.

For more info, there is a thread going on here that may answer more of your questions.