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 Author  Topic: Twin .50 mount, MK9 or 17 on early 80' ELCOs?
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 20, 2009 - 7:33am
Per this message title, I'm confused as to the Mark. The link to the manual Gene posted confirms it as manufactured by Bell. But the image below shows a "Mark 9", not a "Mark 17" and I used images of the "9" as a reference. Does anybody know the difference, and/or which Mark was used on the earlier boats?

The build manual (PT 565-624) at hnsa shows

Four .50 cal. A. A. machine guns in two mounts, Mk. 17 Mod. 1.

From a manual list:
OP 584 11/16/1944 - 0.50-inch caliber mounts, Mark 9 Mods. 0 and 2 and Mark 20 Mod. 1

OP 951 3/1/1943 - 0.50-inch Machine Gun Mounts Mark 17 Mods. 1 and 2


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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Apr 20, 2009 - 4:14pm
Actually, the plate shown is for a MK9 cradle, not a MK9 mount. This is consistent with the components of a MK17 Mount, which, according to the MK17 manual (OP 951), included the Carriage, MK9, Cradle, MK9, and Sight, MK11.

Al Ross


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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 21, 2009 - 7:03am
Thank you Al, I never would have figured that one out on my own.

I noticed that the pedestal, that the yoke and chute assembly mount to, changed from one with rounded top edges to one like is found on Jerry's PT 658. Do you know which ELCO boat was the first with the new design?

Another change was the upper plywood ring around the outer circumference of the turret was eliminated, Do you know which ELCO was the first with this change?

Thanks for any help, and for shedding the light on the mount Marks.



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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 21, 2009 - 9:35am
Hello Al and Jeff,
I am wanting to find out was Bell Aircraft the manufacturer of the entire Mark 17 mount or did they just make the Mark 9 Cradle only? Is there any truth to a rumour about Tucker (eg the same guy that made the post-war Tucker automobile and about whom a movie was made (starring Jeff Bridges as Tucker) being the manufacturer of these MArk 17 mounts? Who was the real manufacturer of the MArk 17 gun mount? I cant find any manufacturers identification markings on the one we have installed on the PT 658. Thanks Jerry

Jerry Gilmartin

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Apr 21, 2009 - 3:47pm
Quote:

Hello Al and Jeff,
I am wanting to find out was Bell Aircraft the manufacturer of the entire Mark 17 mount or did they just make the Mark 9 Cradle only?



I don't know. OP 951 mentions only Bell Aircraft and ELCO. Malone has my aircraft gun mount and turret manual, so I can't tell you much more than that.

Al



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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Apr 21, 2009 - 3:51pm
Quote:

I noticed that the pedestal, that the yoke and chute assembly mount to, changed from one with rounded top edges to one like is found on Jerry's PT 658. Do you know which ELCO boat was the first with the new design?

Another change was the upper plywood ring around the outer circumference of the turret was eliminated, Do you know which ELCO was the first with this change?




I don't quite understand either question. Can you provide a photo of the pedestal on PT658? Also, I'm not sure to which ring you're referring. Photos of ELCOs through the 600 series boats show the support ring on the turret. I don't recall any wooden structure on the carrier ring.

Al



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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 21, 2009 - 4:30pm
Ok Al,
I had taken some closeups of our Mark 17 turret mount on the PT 658 I will post them here so you can see what Jeff is referring to! Jerry

What a radical dude! And very handsome too! Ha Ha!


Mark 17 mount top view




Closeup of feed roller plate


Spent link chute that attaches to a canvas catch bag (missing)


Underside of Mark 9 cradle facimile showing cradle latching hook


Underside of Mark 9 cradle facimile showing spent link chute and pintle post

I hope these are useful Al! Jerry PT 658

Jerry Gilmartin

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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Apr 21, 2009 - 4:49pm
Great pix, Jerry!!!! Thanks.

Jeff, I think I know which item you mean. OP951 refers to two "support structures", one with a cast yoke socket, one with a welded yoke socket, but doesn't say anything more. I suspect the cast item may be the "rounded" one you mention. Apparently, either yoke socket accepted the cradle pin, so they may have been used interchangeably, particularly if a replacement item. Guess you'll have to do a major photo review to see if there is a change point...

Al


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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 21, 2009 - 5:03pm
Is that you in the turret Jerry?

Here's the earlier pedestal I was talking about Al, The top is slightly rounded and the back tapers:



The ring I'm referring to is the one that goes around the concentric ring and comes up about halfway on the counterweight behind the backrest:





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alross2

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: Apr 21, 2009 - 6:20pm
Quote:

The ring I'm referring to is the one that goes around the concentric ring and comes up about halfway on the counterweight behind the backrest:




Here's a cross-section of the carriage. The "ring" is a metal casting and was bolted to the support ring. This may be been a feature of the MK17 Mod 0; the manual is for the Mod 1 and Mod 2.


Al


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