RAN Bathurst Class Corvette (1/350)

** Update: I have uploaded a new version to fix a small problem near the bow (two pieces were hovering, but were so close to the surface they were supposed to be on that my printer printed them properly anyway. **

The Bathurst class of corvettes were designed and built in Australia as minesweepers and sub hunters, but were used as general purpose vessels from 1941 on, by both the RAN and the Indian Navy.

The Bathurst corvettes are surprisingly appropriate to include in a British force in in Cruel Seas, as they were often used alongside British ships and boats in the Mediterranean. 8 of them acted as convoy escorts for the invasion of Sicily, for example, also fulfilling minesweeping and anti-submarine screening roles during the campaign.

They also operated as escorts in the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and, in a couple of cases, the Atlantic Ocean.

The Bathursts were quite a successful design, with 60 of them being made.

The Bathurst was not a fast ship, with a maximum speed of around 15 knots. It displaced around 1000 tons at full war load, and typically carried a 4" gun forward (sometimes replaced by a 12 pounder on earlier models), 2-3 20mm Oerlikons and a 40mm Bofors gun (sometimes omitted in favour of a 20mm Oerlikon on earlier models). It also mounted ASDIC (Sonar) and up to 40 depth charges.

I have modeled the forward mast, as it is somewhat complex (and chunky). I have left a hole to accept brass rod or similar for the rear mast.

For more information, I recommend: http://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-bathurst-i

(I have provided this in 1/350 scale. If you wish to print at 1/300 scale then scale it up by 1.166. I recommend not scaling up the guns, as they are effectively already in 1/300 scale in order to let them print properly.)

Files included:
Bathurst Class Corvette - the ship, fully armed with a 4" gun forward, 2 20mm Oerlikons and a 40mm Bofors gun.

Bathurst Class Corvette Unarmed - as above, but with the guns removed for separate printing.

4 inch_40 Mk XIX gun on MK XXIII Mount - the big gun at the front.

20mm Oerlikon Mk VIIA Mount - Tilted - 20mm Oerlikons to mount near the bridge, and at the rear in early models.

40mm Bofors on single mount - 40mm Bofors gun to mount at the rear on late models.

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