"Southampton class cruisers" Topic

Sorry if I'm asking a dumb question, but can anyone tell me the visible differences between a Southampton class cruiser and the Gloucester sub class? I know some of the Southamptons had their 'x' turret removed during the war and I know that they had a very slightly differently shaped turrets (though that would barely visible in 1:2400).

My reason is that I'd like to start collecting miniatures for the Arctic convoys in 1:2400 (I'm also collecting 1:3000 Mediterranean theatre too as it'll get me going quicker and cheaper – 1:2400 is my long term project). As part of this I really need HMS Sheffield, but GHQ – my mini of choice – only do the 'improved' Southamptons.

Advice gratefully received.

Best wishes, Boz

To be honest, visually, all at that scale. It was mostly improved armour on the deck and turrets. I would think that GHQ's HMS Manchester would pass for any of the first two groups.

Fatman

As far as I know, Conway's all the worlds fighting ships 1922-1946 is correct in saying there is no visible different between the classes beyond the individual ship's weapon differences (extra AA and missing 'x' turrets etc)
The Gloucester class were slightly better armoured and very slightly larger, apparently.

I am confident, especially at 1:2400, an improved Southampton will be a splendid Sheffield!

It looks like C-in-C has a 1/2400 scale Southampton. Without a photo it's impossible to tell how it differs from the GHQ "improved" Southamptons, but I find that C-in-C and GHQ miniatures are very close in size and proportions, the main difference being level of exaggerated detail – GHQ has way more eye candy, making C-in-Cs alongside look somewhat plain by comparison. The C-in-Cs also have more fragile parts (esp. gun barrels). However, overall I find them an excellent value for the money and they can look really good if painted nicely, and if you want more detail you can dress them up yourself (e.g., with masts, davits, cranes, flags, rigging, ships' boats from either C-in-C or WTJ, etc.). Treated like this, C-in-Cs have the advantage of being a blank canvas, so you can model each member of the class slightly differently to help ID them on the table. Even something as minor as a different configuration of boats can help with this.

As an aside:
It sounds like it's too late, but I highly recommend you don't collect in two nearly-similar scales (1/2400 and 1/3000). You'll kick yourself later. Don't ask me how I know that…

You can usually mix different manufacturers of 1/2400 scale miniatures on the table (esp. if all members of a class are by the same manufacturer), but you can't really mix 1/2400 and 1/3000 on the table together. Eventually you're going to have duplicates in two similar but unmixable scales.

There are cheaper 1/2400 and more expensive 1/2400 ship minis, and lots of us buy the cheap ones to ramp up a new period and then collect the expensive ones slowly to fill it out or replace it a bit at a time. Even better is to collect as much as possible from manufacturers who are "good enough" (C-in-C, Viking Forge, sometimes Superior), supplement with a few GHQs, and fill out the missing stuff with Panzershciffe. Also note that Shapeways has an ever growing selection of 1/2400 models, though the quality varies with the maker and there is often zero price saving over GHQ.

- Ix

GHQ is going to release a proper model for Southampton in the near future. Below is their release schedule for 2014-15. Note the release of "UKN-53 CL Southhampton" scheduled for April 30, 2015.

link

Of course, GHQ has been known to screw up sometimes (e.g., Norfolk), but usually their stuff is quite good.

Great stuff guys – thanks!

I've tried comparing photos of the two and I'll be bggrd if I can see any difference, so in 1:2400 I reckon I'll just get away with it! 'X' turret wasn't removed until 1945 so I'll just stick with the GHQ model.

lx – ah, sound advice indeed, though alas the dye is cast! I've ordered the Matapan battle set with a couple of add-ons as this will give me enough variation at a reasonable price to recreate something of the flavour of most of the actions in the Med. I will take your advice and resist the temptation to expand this collection though – as a breed wargamers aren't impulsive purchasers of shiny new bits of metal, are we?

Now: if I can only get through Newark Hammerhead this weekend without buying anything I'll be okay…

Thanks Mserafin – perfect timing!

In 1/2400 scale, there should be visible differences between the 1st and 2nd groups of the Southampton class. The existing GHQ model is of the 2nd group, which had a rounded bridge front and separate LA and HA directors aft. Differences in the first group would be a flat-ish bridge front, and a single director aft. This is additional to any differences due to early-war / late-war considerations.

Of course, who knows what GHQ will come up with for UKN-53 …

Mark H.

Ta da!

link

Huzzah!

That's a cracking looking model