Secondhand Mini-ships 1/1250 AC619SUP201A USS Alaska & USS Guam both in 1944 camouflage, twin pack
USS Alaska and Uss Guam is a pack containing two second-hand 1/1200 scale, waterline models of the large cruisers with 9x12in guns. The models are white metal castings of Alaska by Authenticast and Superior and painted in the different camouflage patterns that were on the ships in 1944 and into 1945, see photographs. These models are in very good condition and since they came to Antics from the same collector, we have kept them together as a pair.
These ships are often referred to as Battlecruisers. The 12in guns were designed for these ships. They were more powerful and longer ranged than earlier US guns of this size and had a good rate of fire. Six ships were ordered but only two entered service before WW2 ended. A third, Hawaii, was 80% finished when building stopped; the others were cancelled.
The sisterships had a deck pattern applied which was designed to give attacking aircraft the impression that the ship was turning. USS Missouri also had deck camouflage of this type (You cannot hide the wake of a ship from overhead observation but you might be able to distract aircraft fromaiming weapons correctly. One reason for selling these models as a pair is that the impression is that they are turning in opposite directions!