I am planning on building a model of the USS Jack, 605, for a friend who served on her in 1970. I am trying to determine, if at that time, the hull was still black over red, or all black. Thank you.
Jack commissioned 31 Mar 67. She probably would have been painted black overall black, red below the waterline.
Bill (Submariner for 24 years, USN)
Thresher Class Attack Submarine: Laid down, 16 September 1960, at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, ME.; Launched, 24 April 1963; Commissioned, USS Jack (SSN-605), 31 March 1967.
The original colors were red from the keel to halfway up the hull, and black from there on up. The black is dull, sort of a charcoal dark, dark gray, not glossy. In the 1970’s the hulls were usually this color as well; red on the lower half, black on the upper half.
Jack was unique, as it was the only nuclear submarine built with contra-rotating propellers. If you are in 1/350 scale, I would recommend the 3-D printed propellers specific for Jack from Mulsanne’s Model Corner. I have a number of his propellers for various SSNs and SSBNs and they are far superior to the kit photoetch versions. I have close up photos of Jack’s original propellers as well, now at the Albacore Museum in New Hampshire.
The other issue, uniques to Jack, was she was some 20+ feet longer than the original Permit class hull. Even the later “stretched” Permits (after Dace) were not as long as Jack. The extra space was necessary for the machinery for the complex shaft within a shaft system in Jack, as well as the gearing for the contra-rotating propellers. Longer than the subsequence “short hull” Sturgeon class, but shorter than the later “long hull Sturgeons”. A one of a kind hull length. You could use a long hull Sturgeon class hull (just a bit longer), but you would have to add the aft mushroom anchor on the Permits but not on the Sturgeons.
Good luck!
Tom
I received the following response from a friend who researches submarine history.
“The standard answer in that era is that they were all painted red half way up and black above the half way point. I have close up photos of Jack’s unique twin screws, as they are up at the Albacore. Also, a Jack model would have to be longer than the standard Permit, as the contra propeller machinery took up more space in the propulsion area. I will have to look up
the amount added to the length when I have more time.” Tom Dougherty
Bill
Thank you everyone for the information. I was aware of the additional length, and the propellers, for the Jack. I found a set of the 3d printed propellers that should work real nice. Thanks again and happy modeling!