Battlefleet Models
1/700 AOG Mettawee
A smaller but necessary addition to your support fleet would be this US Navy aviation fueler (AOG). The USS Mettawee was the class leader, a Type T1-M-A2 tanker. These tankers were used to supply the gasoline needed by the fleet. I previewed this kit quite some time ago, at that time the photo etch was not yet ready. Now everything is ready for release. 
Mettawee was launched 28 November 1942 after her shakedown off Norfolk, she sailed for the Canal Zone. She  then sailed for the southwest Pacific, stopping at Bora Bora, in the Society Islands. Afterwards Mettawee continued on to New Caledonia to debark her cargo after arrival at Noumea 11 January 1944. She departed 5 February for the New Hebrides, arriving Espiritu Santo 3 days later. From 14 February through April Mettawee served as station tanker off Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands. 

On 1 May the gasoline tanker departed Funafuti for the Solomons, arriving Tulagi the 6th. She got underway 2 days later on the first of many round trips, transporting aviation gas to Guadalcanal and Bougainville, Solomons; and Funafuti until the end of January 1945. Mettawee departed Tulagi 30 January for the Philippines, via Manus, Admiralties, arriving San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 17 February for supply operations in the Philippines and Borneo area through the fall of that year. 

Mettawee then got underway for the west coast, arriving San Francisco to be decommissioned at Mare Island Navy Yard 29 March 1946. She was transferred 10 September 1946 to the Maritime Commission for merchant service as Clearwater. 
Specifications:

Mettawee class Gasoline Tanker: 
Displacement: 2,280 tons (full load) 
Length: 221' 
Beam: 37' 
Draft: 14' 
Speed: 9.5 knots
Armament: 1 3"/50 DP; 2 40 mm; 3 20 mm
Complement: 58 
Capacity: Cargo DWT 1,228 
Maritime Commission T1-M-A1type 
Built at Maritime Maintenance Corp, Bayonne, N.J., and commissioned 26 August 1943 

The hull on my kit is nicely cast, with lots of surface detailing. The only real flash to clean up is at the waterline edge and that will be easy to remove. There was a slight twist to the hull probably due to the thin cross section and the thicker stern. I simply gave it a slight twist in the opposite direction and it has since held it's shape. The other parts are cast on a thin resin wafer and some on sprues. Most of the parts were well cast with a few exceptions such as some of the rafts and 20 mm guns. Fortunately there are extra parts to make up for it.
A photo etch fret is included to provide the railings catwalks and other details. The catwalks will really enhance the appearance of the ship. There are even a few figures on the fret.
The instruction are pretty extensive for such a small kit. They include many detail views and should be all you need to build this kit.
Battlefleet Models will be produced by the Loose Cannon team. The kit will list for $30.00 check the Loose Cannon page for details.


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