Hmm... "fleet oilers" Does anybody know anything about these beasties? I don't think the Japanese did underway replenishment like USN did, did they? Not alongside, anyway? I'd expect that replenishment was done at anchorage for the Japanese in WWII. Underway, the least-dangerous method nowadays is the NATO astern refuling method, where the tanker streams the hose attached to a float, and the customer picks it up and takes a drink. I guess we'll be able to see if they did that by the location of hose reels on these kits. Does anybody know how these ships were used? First Skywave makes a few Japanese tankers, and now Fujimi. Sure wish they'd make some US WWII tankers in 1/700. Rick

Rick, the Japanese did do underway replenishment. In a book I just finished on Midway, it mentions unrep for the Japanese. IIRC they also used it in route to Pearl Harbor and the book I'm reading on Marianas Turkey Shoot talks of Japanese refueling at sea. edit: If you go to CombinedFleet.com (?), you can read the tabular movements of these ships. Gator

I think the Japaneese did do UNREPs similar to the USN. It is not something that ship captains like to do. Can you imagine being on an oiler when the Yamato pulls up along side for a top off? It was bad enough for us when we did it. USS America always took teh port side while we were on the starboard of the oiler.

I'm in for one of each!