I'm working on a Spruance-class destroyer that is supposed to be in the late 1980s to early 1990s, but I'm having trouble locating reference on the helicopter pad safety nets. What color are they supposed to be? Should they be flat black, the hull color (like the rest of the railings), or should they be the deck color?

Jim

Jim, I do not know if this will help, but on USCG cutters they are the same color as the hull(white).

Looks to be the same color as the rest of the railings.




Kenny

Thanks, guys. That makes my life a little easier.

Kenny, where did you ge that photo? I could definately use some more reference photos for where the railings are suppose to go on the top deck deckhouses (if that's what they're called).

Jim

NavSource

Great site for all US Navy ships.


Kenny

Great site. I'll definately have to look through there.

Jim

Hi Jim!

If the nets on Sprew-cans were like those on my amphib, the netting is braided metal cabling in a gun-metal type color.

--Karl

That appears to be a Spru-can in that photo. I'm not sure which one, thay all look the same. With the black masts & stacks, I'd put it in the 1980s at least. The nets might be braided metal, but it looks like webbing to me. Hard to tell. Not like I can go take a look either. USS Fletcher, DD992, is on the bottom of the Pacific.

Jim

That was certainly the case on BAINBRIDGE during the years I served in her (1966-70).

Well, I suppose it makes sense. Braided metal cable won't burn, and is stronger than webbing. Probably hurt like hell if you fall into it, though!

Jim

Hi Jim!

Yep, that's why the idea is not to jump into them in the first place!


--Karl

That photo is of the Spruance.

Kenny

I hate to make things more confusing, BUT

All the Spruances I've seen have White fabric netting on the sides of the flight deck and the Wire netting on the stern of the flight deck. The following 2 photos were taken of John Hancock by myself on the same day in 2000.




This picture of Hue City, A Ticonderoga class Cruiser shows wire netting. It is wire all the way around the flight deck. And even though it is usually a steel color, this netting is very rusty.



And this photo of Bainbridge DDG-96, a new Arliegh Burke class, shows the current use of white fabric netting all the way around the flight deck.



All the larger ships I've been on, carriers, amphibs etc have the wire netting only. Canadian ships use a hand woven rope net.

Regards,
Darren

The neeting you ask of is normally light grey (It does fade) on most if not all navy combat vessels. It is two inch netting sewed in checkerboard patch work, nylon . I have made light grey for combatants and then the coast guard gets white. There is also a steel cable 1/4 inch stainless added in for smaller parts or openings normally at the corners and that depends on the class of ship and fittment ,Thease end up slightly rusted at the fittings. and around the buckles. All of the netting framwork was haze grey and the framework supports where normally stainless(shiney) to prevent rusting but they tarnished anyway. I repaired netting on board a Tender in 93-96.

Retired 21 years USS Yarnell CG-17, USS Shenandoa AD-44, USS Iowa, USS Ross DDG-71