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 Author  Topic: PT 728 PHOTOS - Battleship Cove
Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 - 9:59am

I had a great time visiting Battleship Cove and the group from PT 728. Captain and director of PT 728, Tom Whyte was very gracious to our group, as was PT Boat Coordinator, Don Shannon. The ride on PT 728 was awesome, as we left the dock and made our way along the USS Massachusetts. Gliding under the Braga Bridge, we headed out picking up speed, while speaker Dan Walker had grabbed the mike and began telling those onboard all about PT Boats. Captain Whyte began pushing the throttle forward and the boat leaped through the water looking for a target to go after. Racing along, the salt water spray began splashing up from the bow, giving some of us up forward a bit of a bath. This did not matter, as being such a hot and humid day, cool water was a welcome site. Young kids, including my Grandson had taken position in the forward and aft 50 caliber gun tubs, Navy Helmets on their heads, enjoying every minute.

I closed my eyes and found myself closing the enemy, guns and torpedoes at the ready. At one point, I grabbed the 20MM Cannon on the stern to get a feel for what it might have been like hanging on while underway. It was such a tremendous feeling, I was having the time of my life, as was everyone else who was here. We made our way to the Mount Hope Bridge, where some 64 years ago, young sailors who attended the MTBSTC passed everyday. Captain Whyte spun the wheel hard, turning just before going under the bridge, and we headed back, music from the 40's starting to blare out on the loud speakers. The whole trip lasted roughly one hour and was one of the best times I had in a long time. My son, who is 30 even took up a post in the aft 5o turret on the way back. He said he had a ball and enjoyed every minute. I have enclosed a few photos of that day for you to enjoy. My thanks again to Captain Whyte and Don Shannon...................

























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Ray Wilbur

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 - 10:16am
Glad you enjoyed the ride! I'm going next Satureday with my two boys.

Ray

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 - 2:17pm
Ray, you will have a wonderful time. I wish I had extra time next week, because I would go myself. A word to the wise. If you go, the boat is not docked on the USS MASSACHUSETTS site, but roughly a 5 minute walk along the boardwalk to the State Pier. They have parking there, but forget finding any spots if you arrive too late. We wnet out on the noon run, and my son parked over there around 11:15. At that time there was plenty of parking, but by 11:45, nothing was found. Trust me, it is a long walk from Battleship Cove to the State Pier. No problem for young guys, but with my athritis forget it. We waited in line for roughly 7 minutes before shoving off. Another thing is there is no place to sit down at the pier where PT 728 is docked, so we sat in my son's truck with AC running until time to go. HAVE A GREAT TIME..........


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CJ Willis

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of CJ Willis  Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 - 3:39pm
Frank; Great pictures!! What engines are in that boat? What is it's length and width?

C. J. Willis

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Aug 23, 2009 - 3:54pm
C.J.

Too bad but no Packard Engines, just Diesel ones, I think she is 72 feet in lenth and roughly 19.5 feet at her widest point (the bow). As you can see, she is pretty narrow at the stern (almost box like). Although no true Elco boat, she still gives you a thrill when running at flank speed.


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Allan

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Allan   Send Email To Allan Posted on: Aug 24, 2009 - 7:21pm
Frank and All:

I don't know how much of that old State Pier has been replaced over the last 60 plus years but it was that same pier where the PTs from Melville practiced their docking skills, etc. And it was that same pier that received much of the supplies originally destined for the Divisiojn 17 boats in New Guinea when they were sent to "Fall River"- the code name for Gili Gili, a small village and Australian air strip at the head of Milne Bay where the six Div 17 boats were "based" before Tufi was established.. Truly, an unfortunate choice of code name. The boats had to make do without mucvh of the "necessities" that later boats would consider "basics". No doubt, the code name harkened back to a time of fun and entertainment while the boys were in training and were able to get away, just up the line from MTBSTC, to Fall River, Mass. Probably only five miles, or so. But- that was the pier, such as it was. Not much to it, then or now.

My grandmother and mother, who lived on the Tiverton shore, remembered seeing from their front porch the PTs tearing through the Bay, Narragansett Bay, every day- it was quite a common occurrance. My mother never expected that she would meet and marry a PT sailor- one who never spoke of those war years for some 45 years- until I started prying into those memories. He would sit on that very same front porch in Tiverton and talk for hours to me about his "friends" and, later, about what they were actually called upon to do. With little, and then no, logistical support. No medicines, poor food and little of it, no fresh water, no sleep, no charts, sick with diarrhea, malaria, pounding headaches, exhaustion (then called battle fatigue) and with no expectation of help. The help did come- slowly, a couple of boats at a time. It's quite interesting- and the Div 17 officers were quite irritated with the leadership (or lack thereof) while the Ron SEVEN and Ron EIGHT boats were held in reserve at Milne Bay- a full days ride from the fighting. It'll all be in the book.

Boy- I've got to stop the rambling.

Allan



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twhyte

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Aug 27, 2009 - 5:34am
Just a quick note to anyone who has purchased tickets for this weekends rides at Battleship Cove (8/29 & 8/30). Tropical Storm Danny may have an impact on the weekend. I have not made any cancellations as of this time. If it becomes necessary to do so, we will have a message on our website and also on our telephone hotline 845-331-4790.........Tom


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