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 Author  Topic: Higgins Depth Charge Array
Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Apr 10, 2009 - 12:38pm
A quick note of interest, well at least to myself -

In an earlier post "PT 302 Ron 22", Jerry Gilmartin had posted three photos of PT 302 in a reply to Arthur Frongello. In one of the photos a boat identified as PT-294 was in the foreground. While taking a close look at the boat I discovered the array of depth charge racks that until then, I had only seen on a Higgins engineering drawing not in any photos I recall viewing. The Higgins drawing was identified as PT Series: PT-265 - 276 & PT-289 - 294. You will note the racks I identified in the photo as 6 small rack and 3 larger racks on each side. The small racks hold two charges approximately 10" dia x 16.5" long, while the larger racks hold two charges approximately 16.75" dia x 28.5" long. The later probably being the more common "can" size we normally see.

I've also included two drawings, the racks and boat configuration.

Dick . . .










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  Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Apr 12, 2009 - 9:40am
Hey Dick,
You have a good eye for details. I never noticed those racks before in the photo for what they are. I did want to correct your previous post, the PT 294 is the boat way in the background, over the tops of the sailors heads standing on the pier. I can actually make out the number on the boat in a blow up of that picture. I am not sure what the number of the boat is that is in the foreground of the photo. Thanks for pointing it out at any rate.

Jerry Gilmartin

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Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Apr 12, 2009 - 12:59pm

Hi Jerry . . .

Thanks for the correction on boat numbers - I myself didn't see the PT-294 in your original photo until I took a hard look - a wham-to-the-head, there it is plain as day. I had though originally you'd mistyped background meaning instead foreground. Okay, okay . . .

Aa a note on the following Higgins series showing this double depth charge rack configuration: The bottom drawing title block notes "R.P.T. 265-276 & 289-294 Double Depth Charge Racks. These boats were clearly scheduled for Russia by the R.P.T. designation and were transfered by lend-lease Nov & Dec 1943. The Soviet Navy (according to Polmar/Morison's PT Boats At War) would later classify them as "unfit" and destroy them in 1954 (unverified), except for four of them which were sunken during war.

Dick . . .


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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 1:28am
Off topic, but some interesting depth charge to mine laying modifications for the type C rack can be found here:
http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/PTs/1943PTMinelayer.html

Does anybody know if these were ever implemented?



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Dick

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Dick   Send Email To Dick Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 1:46am

Jeff . . .

Great link, thanks a million.

Dick . . .


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Jeff D

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 4:20am
Glad you liked it Dick, the website owner does a great job sharing the hard research work he does. I like the plans because of the actual dimensions given for the base rack although it means I have to update the current plans I have posted that were based on the Higgins smoke gen conversion plan at the LA site.



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Jerry Gilmartin

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jerry Gilmartin   Send Email To Jerry Gilmartin Posted on: Apr 15, 2009 - 8:24pm
Hey Jeff and Dick,
I know the German S-boats (E-boats) were very successful in being used to lay mines during WW2, but I have always wondered if the US Navy or the British ever used PT Boats to lay mines? I am very unfamiliar with that aspect of their use, although I know that plans were drawn up. So maybe I could get the rest of the board to answer up, did we ever use our own PT Boats to lay mines? I always wondered......Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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