by Dave Becker
1/350 USS Chandler DDG-996 (Dragon)
Model kit is of the Dragon 1/350 Kit #1014 DDG-993 USS Kidd. I built the kit as DDG-996 USS Chandler as she was in the late 1990's. Kit was a very easy build straight from the box. I added a AN/SPS-49 and AN/SPS-48E radar's left over from a Gold Metal Models P.E. set and rails are made by Tauro of Italy.
The four destroyers of the Kidd Class were originally built for the Shah of Iran. After his overthrow in 1979 the USN acquired them in 1981/82 where they were referred to as the "Ayatollah class."
These ships are a cross breed somewhere between the USN Spruance and USS Ticonderoga class ships. They are equipped with two Mk 26 launchers for Standard surface to air missiles and ASROC ASW missiles, an AN/SQS-53 hull mounted active sonar, eight Harpoon Surface to Surface missiles, two five inch guns and hanger facilities for one Lamps I helicopter.
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