Introduced in 1942, the Fletcher-Class destroyers quickly became the mainstay of the fleet. The Fletchers saw action at Guadalcanal and played a major role in almost every other Pacific battle. Destroyers performed convoy escort and anti-submaring warfare (ASW) duties. The Fletchers were also formed into destroyer squadrons (including the legendary DesRon 21) that purposely went "into harm's way". Following the War, Fletchers continued to serve for decades, serving in the Korea and Vietnam conflict. Some are still serving with foreign navies. Three Fletchers have been preserved on public display: The Sullivans (DD-537, located at), the Kidd (DD-661, located at Baton Rouge, Lousiana) and the Cassin Young (DD-793, located at Charlestown Navy Yard, Massachusetts next to the frigate USS Constitution).
DEDICATION
This is dedicated to the "Tin Can Sailors".
DESIGN NOTES
No two Fletchers were alike. This Fletcher combines the elements of several Fletchers, picking the most "frame-rate-friendly" alternative. The first 58 Fletchers were "round bridge" (or "high bridge") models. The last 117 Fletchers were "square bridge" (or "low bridge") models. This model is most like an early square bridge Fletcher, the first of which was the Brownson (DD-518), with the early Fletcher armament. It does not have the AA platforms adjacent to the rear stack, or the stern or bow AA guns, some of which were added later.
FILES INCLUDED
+ Model Directory
+ Aircraft Directory
+ XShip Fletcher - this contains all the model files
+ Effects Directory
* fx_spray1.fx - propeller wakes
* PEC_smoke_f17A.fx - black smoke for front stack
* PEC_smoke_f17B.fx - black smoke for back stack
+ Flights Directory - sample flights
+ Gauges Directory
+ rcb-gauges
* ShipSmoke.xml - a gauge by Rob Barendregt to activate the smoke
OPERATION OF MODEL
Both the 2D cockpit view and the 3D (virtual) cockpit view are from bridge.
The working model has several animated features:
1. Smoke and wake effects.
2. Waving flag.
3. Lights (including spotlights and signal lights)
L - turn on/off all lights
Shift L - turn on/off panel lights
O - turn on/off signal lights
Cntrl L - turn on/off ship searchlights
Use joystick to direct searchlights
4. Horn (sounds in cockpit view only) - press G
5. Bell (sounds in cockpit view only) - press zz
6. Ship's wheel and telegraph (i.e. the "throttle")
7. Bridge doors open/shut (for ventilation) - press shift L
CREDITS
In order to create these working models, I had to borrow the work of several other designers. Let me know if I have not given you credit, or if you want me to delete any portion of this zip file.
ShipSmoke.xml was designed by Rob Barendregt.
The sound files are modifications of other sound files, including various Microsoft sounds.
The effects files are modifications of other effects files, including the effects files created by Ian Thatcher.
Repaints by Garry.J.Smith and Paul Strogen.
COPYRIGHT AND DISTRIBUTION
The following are copyright 2009 (c) Phil Crowther:
fletcher.mdl
Although I am distributing these files without restriction, all of the other files were at least partly created by other authors and retain their restrictions against distributions for commercial purposes. For this reason, you should not use this package to create a commercial product.
ShipSmoke.xml is copyright 9 August 2004, Rob Barendregt. Although it is freeware, it may not be renamed, copied, modified, or bundled in an other archive without his prior consent.
Also visit http://fs-shipyards.org for all your shipping and boating needs.
Support will only be done via the Forum at http://fs-shipyards.org as emails asking for support or help will not be answered.
