Trumpeter 1/350 USS England By Bob Pearson

Introduction

Launched on 26 September 1943, England was named for Ensign John Charles England who was killed at Pearl Harbor on board the USS Oklahoma. Commissioned on 10 December, 1943, she sailed to the South Pacific in early 1944, arriving at Espritu Santo in March, whereapon she began escort duties. It was during a two week period in May 1944 that England, in company with Raby, George and Spangler sank six Japanese submarines. The first was I-16 on 19 May, followed by RO-106 (22 May), RO-104 (23 May), RO-116 (24 May), RO-108 (26 May) and RO-105 (31 May). Of interest is that all were done using the Hedgehog anti-submarine rocket and not with depth charges.

The kit

Well packaged, with the hull pieces taped together and in a protected compartment, the kit consists of four sprues of grey styrene, colour profiles, PE and decals.

The kit may be built as either full hull or waterline, with both supplied. The hull itself is well moulded with the lower hull being moulded in red. Dry-fitting the deck and lower hull to the upper hull shows that there should be little filling required.

The superstructure is supplied as separate side and top pieces and have ladders, hatches and handrails in place. Around the rear gun mount are the arbors for the depth charge throwers. Weapons included are ten 20mm, four 3", quad 1.1", torpedo tubes and depth charges.

To round out the kit parts there is a small fret of PE for the depth charge racks and replacement racks for the DC throwers. The various parts are cleanly moulded and appear crisp in their details. The splinter shields are thin, while the guns and mast are also fiddly and not overly thick. Propellor shafts and props are included as well as a stand.

Conclusion

Trumpeter is rapidly making a name for itself among ship modelers and the England is no exception. There are many options that the ship can be built as if not as England herself, I intend to build this as one of the Lend-Lease Captain class since a friend of a friend commanded HMS Fitzroy in WWII and I have long wanted to build a model of her in honour of Lt-Commander Orme Stuart, RCNVR.

My thanks to Stevens International for the review sample