Since the forum has been dead for a while, and just for grins... I just commissioned two ships to my 1:4800 fleet.
You won't find them on the navy lists, because i "invented" them.
However, while being more costly than a DE, they are also more capable, and will serve well in the Aleutian's, as the USS CHARLESTON did in real life.
PG 53 USS Bremerton
PG 54 USS Mare Island
PG 55 USS Pearl Harbor
PG 56 USS Hunters Point
The obvious approaching war in 1938-39 sent the Navy looking for lots of new ships, and escorts were obviously going to be critical based on what was happening with Britain’s merchant ships as the war progressed. While the Navy drew up various plans for approval, a younger naval officer suggested that several Erie class hulls be modified slightly to fill the immediate need. The Coast guard already had several of this hull being built in Navy yards so four more was economical. Four hulls were approved and work commenced while BuShips adjusted the designs slightly to adapt them to serve as a convoy commanders flag ship for large Atlantic convoys or as an escort in a combat zone.
The 6” guns were replaced with 5”/38 pedestal mounts (very close to the same weight) with 1” shields, The latest radar suite was provided for a Mk-33 director w/ Mk-4 radar provision for it’s expected acquisition] and weight saved by reducing the armor. A secondary fire control set up aft was provided, but was substantially less capable without a radar.
The 1.1” quads are to be replaced with twin 40 mm AA guns as they become available. Some 20 mm are added as usual. The Admiral’s quarters become the convoy commanders.
The conning tower armor is reduced from 4” to 2”, 8,800 pounds of top weight is removed; then an SC (or SA more correctly, but it now has the top weight for SC) Air Search Radar and and future radars should be able to be mounted and still reduce top weight by a few thousand pounds. Side armor can also be thinned from 3.5 inches to two inches and possibly extended some. The Erie class PG was expected to participate in gun fights against ships armed with 5 inch or even 6 inch guns. This class is not expected to get in such fights, so the armor is protection from bomb splinters, small arms fire, strafing and gun fire of 4-5 inch guns at ranges exceeding 10,000 yards. The ships capability to deal with aircraft and surfaced submarines is significantly improved.
Some debate occurred over removing the floatplane, as radar was seen as being able to provide early warning in a convoy scenario, until it was pointed out that a floatplane with two 325 Lb depth charges was a significant deterrent to any submarine and slowing to five knots to launch and recover the floatplane was hardly an issue in a convoy hardly going much faster.
By mid to late 1942 these ships had twin 40 mm replacing their Quad 1.1” AA guns. SG radar was added as it became available.
6”/47 single - 15.4 tons, used bag charges; Half shield gun mount.
5”/38 pedestal mount single - 15.76 tons, Cased charges; Half shield gun mount. 360 rounds per gun. Ammo weight will go up because of smaller diameter rounds being more compact, however magazine protection can be reduced from 4 inch to two inch, given that these are cased charges and not bag charges.
1.1” quad AA Gun - 10,500 Lbs.
40 mm twin mounting (water cooled): 9,800-13,000 Lbs.
