PT Boat Forum


Moderated by: Dick, Jeff D

The PT Boat Forum ª PT Boats of WWII ª  PT Boats - General

Next Page » | Page: 1 of 2

« Back to Topic Index Page 167 | Replies: 13 | Pages: [1] 2

 Author  Topic: Danforth Anchors on PT boats (?)
Shaneo2

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Shaneo2  Posted on: May 19, 2009 - 5:31pm
Question: it seems Danforth Anchors were used aboard some PT's: If so, how many where aboard- and what was the *weight* spread of the ones aboard ? Also, was there any other type used ?

Regards-


Total Posts: 147 | Joined: Apr 17, 2008 - 10:19pm | IP Logged

alross2

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of alross2   Send Email To alross2 Posted on: May 19, 2009 - 6:35pm
ELCO specs books call for two 75 lb Danforths.

Al Ross


Total Posts: 993 | Joined: Oct 30, 2006 - 8:19pm | IP Logged

BobPic

New Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: May 20, 2009 - 5:55am
All ron 10 boats (during my tenure) had one 75 lb Danforth anchor. We didn't use it much. Don't know what anchor our mooring buoy used


Total Posts: | Joined: Unregistered | IP Logged

Jeff D

Moderator
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: May 20, 2009 - 8:37am
An early (August 1942, up to PT 367) ELCO 80' boat bulkhead plan shows stowage positions for two. I've no doubt that Bob is right and if not needed one was dumped to save weight:





Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP Logged

Shaneo2

Advanced Member
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Shaneo2  Posted on: May 20, 2009 - 9:37am
Thank you for the replies. I have to check some photos I saw somewhere again- as it showed what look to be smaller versions of the Danforth on the foredeck.

On the moorings, I located one in Rendova Harbor it was a large cement rectangle.

There was a shackle still on it ,and probably 80'ft or more of chain laying on the bottom. It was laying on its long side, with the shackle on the small side top. I doubt if it was ever used again since the war- as there is no use for it there now.

Regards-




Total Posts: 147 | Joined: Apr 17, 2008 - 10:19pm | IP Logged

Drew Cook

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: May 22, 2009 - 11:22am
Thanks for posting the early 80' Elco bulkhead plans, Jeff. The first plan answers a question I've had about the differences between the foredeck "towing bitt" I've seen in photos of some of the early 80-footers versus the "mooring bitt" I've seen on the 109 and later boats.

The "towing bitt" used on PTs 103 - 108 was a squared post with a port/starboard spike through it, and the "mooring bitt" on PTs 109 - 198 was shaped more like a regular cleat (with the "horns" port/starboard).


Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am | IP Logged

Jeff D

Moderator
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: May 22, 2009 - 6:42pm
You're welcome Drew, there were several small differences that set the 103-108 boats apart. I'm not sure about the antenna mounting on the 104 and on boats but the 103 had a unique design. An interesting story is that the damage was caused by the actor Robert Montgomery crashing into the dock at ELCO:





Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP Logged

Drew Cook

TOP BOSS
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: May 23, 2009 - 5:11am
Fascinating photo, Jeff -- thanks for posting THAT one! I've never seen it before. Very interesting detail of the 103's "open" antenna. Do you have any more mouth-watering photos of the same type (close-up, detail photos of the early 80-footers)? If you do, by all means, share them with us! I for one would be one happy old boy if you did.

I guess Montgomery eventually learned to handle the boats, because he does pretty well in THEY WERE EXPENDABLE.

Dick Keresey also chewed up the 103 against the dock (several times) the first time he was at the wheel -- as a matter of fact, he apparently was the Navy man that Elco ceremoniously turned the 103 over to (June, 1942), as related in his book "PT 105."

Keresey said, of the difficulty of mastering the docking of PTs, " Almost all boat captains were called 'Crash' at one time or another. In the early days while learning how to operate PT boats, we were like novice wranglers trying to tame wild horses -- we all got thrown a couple of times."

Thanks again.


Total Posts: 1306 | Joined: Oct 19, 2006 - 10:44am | IP Logged

Jeff D

Moderator
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: May 23, 2009 - 6:20am
Hmmm, I wonder how accurate the info I have on the accident is. Hard to believe the 103 was picked on so hard. Although related by a former 103 crewman, he had heard it after joining the 103 in 1943. I had sent him the image and asked if he was behind the wheel when the damage occurred:

No, but this must be the story that the "old guys" told me about -- perhaps. I'm guessing. An officer reportedly an actor named Montgomery (Robert??) crashed into the dock at or near the Elco factory in Bayonne not long after the boat was built in June 1942. Sharp photo showing details almost forgotten. This was when the 103 was carrying only two torpedo tubes and eight depth charges. Maybe someone was dreaming of catching a U-Boat near the Atlantic coast?

Robert's service according to http://www.ptboats.org/20-12-05-trivia-001.html:

Capt. Robert Montgomery, (deceased) First President of Screen Actors Guild; played the part of Lt. John D. Bulkeley (changed to Brickley in movie) in "They Were Expendable;" Rons 5 and 4. XO PTs 107, PT 68 and XO PT 114. Division Commander of PTs at Panama. Bronze Star. Also light cruiser USS Columbia CL 56 and USS Barton DD 772 at Normandy.

Send me an e-mail Drew, jeffd at pt103 dot com.



Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP Logged

Jeff D

Moderator
  

    
Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Jeff D   Send Email To Jeff D Posted on: May 23, 2009 - 6:58am
Closeup of the antenna mount. Note the early grabrail, used on PT 103-138. I like the stanchions:





Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am | IP Logged

Next Page »

Pages: [1] 2


Lock Topic

 

Forum Legend

New Member

Reply to topic

More than 25 posts | Full Member

Reply to topic with quoted message

More than 50 posts | Advanced Member

Edit Message

More than 150 posts | MASTER

View profile

More than 300 posts | TOP BOSS

Email member