Rapido HO-Scale 5-Inch/ 54 Caliber Mark 42 Naval Gun Turret - Pre-Order

Developed in the 1950s by the US Navy to replace outdated WWII-era gun mounts, the 5-inch/54-caliber Mark 42 gun mount would be used on several classes of USN ships into the 1970s, until being replaced with more modern mounts beginning in 1971. First installed on the USS Northampton, these would see use on a range of ships in the fleet including Forrestal-class aircraft carriers, as well as a number of cruisers, destroyers and frigates. While most of these ships were phased out in the 1990s by the USN, many would be sold off to other countries for continued service into the 21st century. Other countries including Germany and Japan would also use the Mark 42 on their new ships constructed in the 1960s and 70s. Often these mounts could be seen in transit on the Magor Heavy Duty DODX Flatcars heading to shipyards, arsenals and ports for shipment overseas.