BB-44 Construction Photos

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[View 1] California's frame from port quarter, showing rib structure and deck sections. The stern keel is visible.

[View 2] The bow head-on, showing the stem and ribs. The keels and baseboard are made from ¼" ply.

[View 3] The bow from port. The keel is apparent, along with the ribs showing the post Pearl Harbor refit. California, and her class lead ship Tennessee were both extensively modified. At the far right of the photo, you'll notice the radical flaring of the upper deck. The deck line back to that point is as she was built. The flare shows just how wide the hull was built during the refit /rebuild.

[View 4] Port stern with deck removed. This is a better shot of the stern structure and keel.

[View 5] This overhead view of the stern frame show the interlocking feature of the keel and ribs, and one of the transverse hull stringers that help maintain beam dimensions under future full load conditions. One of the screws used to firmly anchor the baseboard to the worktable is visible along the centerline. 8 screws were used to keep the baseboard flat and centered on the build lines. These were drawn directly onto the work surface to aid in locating ribs, and squaring up the structure.

[View 6] A closer shot of the bow framing.

[View 8] The bow from above the port railing. The upper layer of the two-piece rib cap assembly (2 layers of 1/8" 5 ply, a cap rail and cap deck) come together forward into a wide plate at the bow. This is the upper anchor for the framework forward. Working with the first rib, and the keel, these pieces create a solid form for this end of the frame. Notice, also, the hard point created by sheeting the tops of the 7th and 8th ribs. They were capped with 1/8" plywood to provide a suitable structure to mount planned accessories in the bow area. This position is just forward of the A turret mounting point.

[View 9] The bulge flare area of the hull. Here, you can see the great beam of this hull. It is surprising that the Tennessee OBBs ended up with such a wide beam in such a short hull (about 600'). This model is inherently stable as a result. There is a pair of transverse beams visible. The forward of the two is capped with a strip of ply. The aft beam may be removed, depending on gas system arrangements and needs.

[View 10] View of the stern with an old MK-III canister cannon mock-up. The MK-III is in the last turret position, where Big Gun models of the US OBBs typically can not mount a cannon with rotation capability. The MK-III is dimensionally similar to the MK-V, and is used to illustrate the future layout of this hull. The MK-V is a tad shorter than this mock-up.

[View 11] A waterline view of the stern, with a mock-up turret in position. There is room not only for rotation machinery, but also for depression, if needed.

[View 12] Overhead shot of the fore hull with a 20oz. CO2 bottle and turret in position.