Shipbucket

So I take it the 15' measurement is the length of the rangefinder tube? If that's the case then my new version of the director matches up almost perfectly with the scaled-down version of the above.

For reference, I have determined the following from measuring using the Floating Drydock Alaska blueprints:

Height of the director itself (not including the radar): 7'
Width of the director turret: 9' 6"
Height of the Mk.12 radar dish: 5' 6"
Height of the Mk.22 "orange peel" radar dish: 6'
Height of entire director including turret and Mk.12 radar: 16'

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

http://www.eugeneleeslover.com/USNAVY/CHAPTER-25-B.html

"Stereoscopic Rangefinder, 15-foot Base, Mark 42, and its carriage."
I would assume that's 15' from lense to lense on the rangefinder.

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"If you want to have dinner with the Devil, make sure to bring a long spoon!"
The New Wolf's Shipyard
The New Wolf's Shipyard Forum

Hmm, given that information, I definitely think my newest drawing of this director is most likely correct. Thanks CanisD!

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

So, through the course of my research, have worked out the following:

Please note that I have restricted myself (as always) to the wartime modifications.

There appear to be two types of director "turret". The first and most widespread type (it seems) has squared-off rear edges (example). The second type has beveled rear edges (example 1, from Iowa). I believe this distinction must be made on a case-by-case basis. I have found no documentation that describes the various modifications of the Mk.37 director turret itself.

There seem to be several variations of the Mk.3 slewing sight in service on different ships. Some directors have it seemingly 'tacked on' to the director turret (example, the light gray object jutting out from the director face), and some have a special 'tub' added for it (example). On some photos it's not visible at all.

The final area of confusion is the type of radar fitted to each director. From what I can make out, there are (thankfully) only two major types fitted during the war: Mk.4 and Mk.12, and the various "Mods" of these radars mostly concern displays, etc (nothing external that will affect a drawing).

Mk.4: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/imag ... h84805.jpg / http://www.steelnavy.com/images/Bluedevil/MK37A.JPG (as you can see, the two antennae slightly differ in the placement of the cross bars - what a nightmare!)

... and Mk.12: http://www.steelnavy.com/images/alabama/al19.jpg (the radar to the left is the Mk.22, also with Mods indistinguishable from one another).

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

The only variation I found confirmation of was the armor thickness. 1.5" on battleships, 0.5" on destroyers.

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"If you want to have dinner with the Devil, make sure to bring a long spoon!"
The New Wolf's Shipyard
The New Wolf's Shipyard Forum

That might account for the different director turret shape (beveled rear edges) - I have literally only seen the bevels on the Iowa photographs. The cruisers and destroyers seem to all have the square edge director.

Still no luck finding any actual dimensions of the turret itself (I guess I should call it the "shield"), but have found good info on the size of the antennae from HNSA. Specifically: http://www.hnsa.org/doc/ecat/index.htm

Quite a useful reference!

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

Here's my take on it:

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)

was there any deck penetration from this director?

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Drawings are credited with J.Scholtens
I ask of you to prove me wrong. Not say I am wrong, but prove it, because then I will have learned something new.
Shipbucket Wiki admin

Yup. In this cutaway of the Sumner you can see there was. I believe much of the electronics was down further in the ship.
http://www.dd-692.com/images/nonsumner/cutaway.jpg

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"If you want to have dinner with the Devil, make sure to bring a long spoon!"
The New Wolf's Shipyard
The New Wolf's Shipyard Forum

Yes, it has deck penetration... I might get around to drawing it, but at the same time I've always held that it's the job of the drawer to do a LITTLE BIT of research (and not have everything handed to them on a silver platter)...

I was considering making an illustration of the Mk.37 -> Mk.1 computer -> 5"/38 gun system later on. We will see...

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USN components, camouflage colors, & reference links (World War II only)