USS Thomas Southway (CVM-11)

TomZ · September 15, 2018, 10:18:06 AM

USS Thomas Southway (CVM-11)

The Lockheed FV-1 was designed in the late 40s together with the Convair XFY-1 as a VTOL fighter that could take off from conventional cargo ships. The threats of the cold war gave an extra boost to the development of these aircraft and the first XFV-1 flew in January 1949.

After initial tests the Lockheed design was selected for production on 246 aircraft were ordered as the FV-1 Salmon.
A number of cargo ships were converted to host the Salmon and received a new hull class CVM (Carrier Vessel merchant) in the US Navy. The CVM-11 Thomas Southway was a converted liberty ship and was commissioned in July 1951.

The vessel was sent to Korea and used to shield allied shipping of the Korean coast. On the 23rd of December 1951 two XF-1s from the Thomas Southway took off and intercepted two North Korean Yak-9s, shooting down one.
The Salmon proved no match however for the MiG-15 jets and in 1954 the CVMs were withdrawn from service.

TomZ

sandiego89 · September 15, 2018, 11:03:35 AM

Another great one! I did a 1/700 LST as a training ship for Pogo's.

Imagine those pilots would prefer a bit more deck space than the cargo hatches, $:-\$ but I love the build! Well done.

zenrat · September 15, 2018, 10:32:58 PM

Brilliant piece of work.

I can only imagine trying to land on it when it had a bit of roll on...

Steel Penguin · September 16, 2018, 01:26:14 AM

that is a wonderful bit of work.
it looks very right, and the back story gives much more food for thought

TomZ · September 17, 2018, 03:00:30 PM

The really frightening thing is that if you look into the history of the US Navy VTOL aircraft XFV and XFY, they were initially really meant to be operated just like this. Starting from ships. Seeing how hard to handle the prototypes were on land can you imagine landing this on a rolling ship. With you back to the ground, and no way to look behind you.

TomZ

NARSES2 · September 22, 2018, 02:51:58 AM

Excellent work

Given the technology of the time I've often thought these aircraft would have been used in the same way as CAM Hurricanes. Take off, do the job and head for land if possible. If not then hope the crew chief had loaded the dinghy. I really can't see that anyone expected to land these aboard again in operational circumstances unless the conditions were absolutely perfect ?

Joe C-P · September 25, 2018, 01:59:43 PM

That is amazing!

Fine work, TomZ.

My take on these was that the pilot's seat should have the ability to tilt forward, and have a window placed on the underside, or a periscope depending on what was below the pilot, that allowed the pilot to be at least partially vertical when landing, and allow him to see some sort of vertical landing lights, rather than trying to look back over the shoulder.

Captain Canada · January 10, 2019, 08:22:06 AM

Perfect. What a neat looking ship. Love the aair wing as well. Makes me want to fill the tub and take it with me

As for landing, the CDN beartrap system could have been devised back then for this type of aircraft. Power up and pull he down ! Probably still crash once alighted but at least it's be on board lol.