Seawolf-class masts

[bill harris]

I'm looking for a reference to the locations and type of masts on a Seawolf. I'm doing a Trumpeter Seawolf and plan to have the snorkel, a periscope/photonic head and an antenna array extended. I think I remember seeing one at one time somewhere, but can't find it.

Thanks,

--Bill

[kerry addington]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

Bill,
Here is a 16 NOV 07 shot of SSN-22 resized from a navy.mil release
-Kerry

[bill harris]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

Thanks for the photo, but the are beaucoup picture of the masts available. I was looking for a reference that showed which mast was what. The snorkel is easy-- the fat one at the rear. The two "AN/" arrays are probably antennas, so I'll pick one that fits best. The two "Type 18 or 8 " masts are optical periscopes, but since this is a modern boat I'll assume that the video-photonics head is used in preference to the optical scopes, and it must be the remaining (unnamed) mast.

The thin styrene masts will be breakage-prone, so I can make them out of .070" carbon fiber rod and mold the mast fairings from epoxy lightened up with microbeads. I did a quick weigh and the new limited number of masts weigh no more than the six stock plastic ones, so it's good from a balance standpoint.

Onto the next hurdle...

--Bill

[kerry addington]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

Someone out there probably has a newer drawing with the HDR and other changes, but here is an old diagram with some identifications:

I haven't seen any recent shots of a 21 with the Virginia-type photonic masts like these,

but who knows what's on them as we speak so I wish you happy hunting!
Please post any (share-able) updated sail arrangement diagram should you discover.
-Kerry

[bill harris]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

That "Figure A-7" drawing is about the only thing for reference. The "AN-BRD-7" is a direction finder, so I'll need the "AN-BRD-34" antenna array. I'm not going to sweat doing an actual SSN-21 Seawolf, just a generic seawolf-class sub, so 101% accuracy isn't needed. This is my "r/c trainer sub", so getting sub-building expertise is more a goal than scale details.

I will use a SNORT ballast system and the intake for the LPB will be the snorkel tube. This may not be necessary, but this is the way I want to do it.

The next sub planned, and the hull won't be ready to sell for months, is RPM Tech's 1:72 Foxtrot. The old-school diesel boats have a certain aesthetic...

Thanks,

--Bill

[pirate]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

I haven't seen the Seawolf with photonics yet either. Perhaps more recent pictures of the "Peanut" may have it.

[bill harris]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

I looked at 5 pages of Google-images and didn't come up with anything definitive. This is the best photo of the Jimmy Carter sail I found (thus far)]http://lh6.ggpht.com/_llz7eASHbPA/SgsXHPmmUEI/AAAAAAAADBI/QwgZeMS0L04/JIMMY+CARTER-1.JPG[/img]


Looks like the Carter has advanced features over the earlier Seawolf-class boats, such as ROV capability.

--Bill

[pirate]

Re: Seawolf-class masts

It doesn't look like anything has changed since the Seawolf then. It's got the old attack and nav scopes on it. Go with it.