Hellenic Models 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Set

Reviewed October 2025 by Felix Bustelo
HISTORY
The 5"/54 Mark 42 is an automatic, dual-purpose gun mount used by the United States Navy and other countries. It replaced the WWII era 5"/38 gun. Most Mark 42 mounts originally had two local fire control domes, called "frog-eyes", one on each side. The frog-eye on the right was for anti-aircraft firing and the one on the left was for surface firing. Most of the anti-aircraft domes were eventually removed in the 1960-70s as local control against high-speed aircraft became impractical. The gun was first used on USS Northampton (CLC-1) in the 1950s. They were also the original armament on the Forrestal class aircraft carriers, but were later removed during an upgrade refit. The mount was the main gun for the USS Truxtun (CGN-35) as well as the Belknap class cruisers. It was also the main gun for the Forrest Sherman, Mitscher, Charles F. Adams and Farragut class destroyers and Knox class frigates. It was also used by navies in Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey which had either modified versions of US Navy ships or received ex-US Navy ships fitted with the mount. Japan fitted the 5"/54 Mark 42 mount on several JMSDF destroyers. As designed, the 5"/54 Mark 42 had a rate of fire of 40 rounds per minute. During the Vietnam War, the Mark 42 developed a reputation for jamming during protracted firing due to the complex nature of the loading mechanism. Slowing the rate of fire to greatly reduced the problem. Later upgrades increased the rate of fire, but not as high as the original figure.
Hellenic 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Set
Hellenic Ship Model has produced a 1:350 scale 3D printed 5"/54 Mark 42 gun turret set which contains a total of four units with separate ring bases. Each turret has a single frog-eye as is fully assembled with the gun barrel. They are nicely detailed with access doors and individual ladder grab handles. The bases have a flat bottom and the peg on the top fits into the opening on the bottom of the turret. All you have to do is to remove the turret and its base from the print raft, attach the base to the bottom, paint and attach to your model.


CONCLUSIONS
This accessory set from Hellenic Ship Model is very well done and easy to use. The set provides four turrets, which is a relative bargain for the price of €12.00 or about $14.11 US. This breaks down to €3.00 or $3.52 each. It will greatly enhance any 1:350 scale ship model that is fitted with a 5"/54 Mark 42 gun turret. This set is available directly from Hellenic Ship Models (https://www.hellenicshipmodel.gr), and is also available in 1:35, 1:48, 1:72, 1:144 and 1:200 scales. My thanks to Kostas Kokkinos for providing the review sample.

Reviewed October 2025
by Felix Bustelo

HISTORY

The 5"/54 Mark 42 is an automatic, dual-purpose gun mount used by the United States Navy and other countries. It replaced the WWII era 5"/38 gun. Most Mark 42 mounts originally had two local fire control domes, called "frog-eyes", one on each side. The frog-eye on the right was for anti-aircraft firing and the one on the left was for surface firing. Most of the anti-aircraft domes were eventually removed in the 1960-70s as local control against high-speed aircraft became impractical.

The gun was first used on USS Northampton (CLC-1) in the 1950s. They were also the original armament on the Forrestal class aircraft carriers, but were later removed during an upgrade refit. The mount was the main gun for the USS Truxtun (CGN-35) as well as the Belknap class cruisers. It was also the main gun for the Forrest Sherman, Mitscher, Charles F. Adams and Farragut class destroyers and Knox class frigates. It was also used by navies in Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey which had either modified versions of US Navy ships or received ex-US Navy ships fitted with the mount. Japan fitted the 5"/54 Mark 42 mount on several JMSDF destroyers.

As designed, the 5"/54 Mark 42 had a rate of fire of 40 rounds per minute. During the Vietnam War, the Mark 42 developed a reputation for jamming during protracted firing due to the complex nature of the loading mechanism. Slowing the rate of fire to greatly reduced the problem. Later upgrades increased the rate of fire, but not as high as the original figure.

Hellenic 5-inch/54-Caliber Mark 42 Gun Set

Hellenic Ship Model has produced a 1:350 scale 3D printed 5"/54 Mark 42 gun turret set which contains a total of four units with separate ring bases. Each turret has a single frog-eye as is fully assembled with the gun barrel. They are nicely detailed with access doors and individual ladder grab handles. The bases have a flat bottom and the peg on the top fits into the opening on the bottom of the turret. All you have to do is to remove the turret and its base from the print raft, attach the base to the bottom, paint and attach to your model.

CONCLUSIONS

This accessory set from Hellenic Ship Model is very well done and easy to use. The set provides four turrets, which is a relative bargain for the price of €12.00 or about $14.11 US. This breaks down to €3.00 or $3.52 each. It will greatly enhance any 1:350 scale ship model that is fitted with a 5"/54 Mark 42 gun turret. This set is available directly from Hellenic Ship Models (https://www.hellenicshipmodel.gr), and is also available in 1:35, 1:48, 1:72, 1:144 and 1:200 scales. My thanks to Kostas Kokkinos for providing the review sample.