USN CVE Key West, January 1943

[nönöbär]

USN CVE Key West, January 1943

The ship:
In early 1941, the USA started to build its first escort carriers (CVE). While the first ships were individual reconstructions of existing merchant ships, from 1942 complete series of special build CVE were constructed.

The USS Key West was one of the first converted merchant ships, but as its construction took up too many resources, no further ships of this type were made. Base of this ship was a EFC 1020 Laker type transport that was completed by September of 1941. Then based in San Diego, the ship was initially used for training purposes and aircraft transports form the West coast to Hawaii.

Compared to other CVEs of that time, the Key West had a large number of anti-aircraft guns, therefore, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the ship was permanently transferred to the Hawaiian Islands.

Because of this speed of only 19kn, the ship was not able to be used in fleet operations, however, it soon found its role in joining groups of supply and transport ships in the pacific. When the Guadalcanal campaign started in August of 1942, the Key West was a regular member of escort groups for supply convoys form and to the Salomon islands. During that time, fighter planes stationed on the Key West provided air cover for the supply ships and were able to shoot down at least 13 Japanese bombers and fighters.

The best-known operation of the Key West took part in January 1943. After detected by US recon planes, a small Japanese convoy consisting of three transports, two destroyers and what looked to be a Japanese escort carrier, was attacked by six dive bombers launched from the Key West. Caught by surprise, the bombers scored three hits on the carrier – the Yamakawa Maru – which then had to be abandoned.

With the arrival of more and more modern CVEs, the Key West finally returned to its previous role as an aircraft transport and was finally scrapped in 1946.

The model shows the ship during its time at the Salomon Islands in January 1943.

 




Flight deck details:





Together with a USN destroyer



All three printed CVEs


The model:
This is the last of my set of three different CVEs. When creating the model, I could not decide which country variant I should choose, so I printed all of them. The model is complete 3D printed in 1/700 scale except a few smaller parts like AA guns.

The hull is base on the 3D model "1/350 WW1 US Cargo ship (EFC 1020) "Laker" by decapod on Thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3422471). I rescaled the model to 1/700 and removed the superstructure.

The ship hull, hangar deck and flight deck are all printed with a FDM printer, all other parts are made with a Resin printer. The aircraft are 3D printed as well, only the Corsairs were taken from the spare part box.

Guns and mast are taken from the spare part box, all other parts are designed and printed by me. Additional PE crew was used.

The model is painted with Revel Aqua Color.

[zenrat]

 

[Old Wombat]

 

[Dizzyfugu]

Cool. 

[NARSES2]

That's really come out well   

[Joe C-P]

Very nice work, all three of them, inventive and well built.

[Lord_Voyager]

Perhaps this will inspire... There was an alternative reality book I read in high school about a super carrier called the U.S.S. Liberty and it was a twin hulled catamaran like carrier (1960's vintage nuclear) that could hold hundreds of different types of aircraft. It was permanently at sea and guarded the north/south separation line between North America and Europe/Africa.

No, I can't recall the name of the book (this was over 40 years ago) but there were at least three books in the series...

That would be nice to have realized in miniature...