Photos show a deck cleat to port of the 5"/54 or 5"/62 mount. All flight I Burkes except Gonzales and Hopper has this white painted cleat oriented athwartship. Gonzales, Hopper, and every flight II, IIA, and III Burke DDG have it oriented fore and aft.

Can anyone explain what this cleat is used for and why its orientation was changed?

Doesn't appear to be associated with the nearby mount - the Tico CGs don't have it. Might it have been used to anchor part of the missile reloading rig aft of the mount. The reload cranes have not been installed on the more recent ships but there's talk of bringing them back.

I ask because I'm building a Dragon USS Preble and am contemplating a missile reload diorama.

Thanks,

Kip

Posted three pictures in my user photo gallery.
1. Fore and Aft cleat orientation with 5"/62 Mark 4
2. Fore and Aft cleat orientation with 5"/54 Mark 2
3. Athwartship cleat orientation with 5"/54 Mark 2