by Dave Becker
1/350 USS Southerland DD-743 (Blue Water Navy)
USS Southerland DD-743 as she appeared in June 1945. The fore torpedo tubes were removed and a tripod tower with SP radar antenna added in this DDR conversion. Ship is dressed in a Measure 21 paint scheme. The Destroyers Frank Knox, Southerland, Higbee, and Benner were completed as Radar Picket destroyers. These were the only Gearing class destroyers completed early enough (As far as I've been able to research) to see action in WW-2.
The model is a conversion of Blue Water Navy's USS Gearing 1/350 resin destroyer kit. Tripod mast and SP radar equipment were scratch built.
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