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Topic: Rendova Harbor PT Boat info 2009 |
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Dec 26, 2009 - 11:10am
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Dive #2 under my direction, Brian from Dive Munda discovered this air scoop (?) from one of the PT's sunk in Rendova Harbor, also found was a probable interior light cover about 8'-10' ft away- both items barely poking out of the sand.
Regards-
Shane
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Dec 26, 2009 - 12:48pm
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Shane;
Do you have any photos like these of Bau Island cove from beach looking out, and any of Lumbari beach looking out or water looking in? These would make a great back drop for PT boat models.
Take care,
TED
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Dec 30, 2009 - 2:25am
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That's cool Shane, and it's in remarkably good shape for being in salt water for so long.
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Dec 31, 2009 - 10:16am
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Jeff I was impressed with the condition also, remember only maybe 1/8" of a inch of the upper intakes circle was poking out of the sand - the light cover I found was barely exposed - it had no growth on it at all.
If I had a U/W metal detector I probably would have found hundreds of items under the sand where we were looking...
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Dec 31, 2009 - 11:15am
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Shane
I would love to have you contact me one day to say you found something a bit more substantial. The engines would be a dream as well as the Helms wheel, engine room panels, or dials and switches. Over the years, I am sure many items were recovered and sold for scrap or now sit in someones home. Still, as I told you, finding this air intake was a great find...........
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Dec 31, 2009 - 1:30pm
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Frank,
Maybe someday someone will do a proper survey and expedition of sorts out there. One local claims to have seen a engine block in the area we were diving- I never did. I heard of another story in 2008 of a wheel and something else from a "boat" that someone had- from which boat from where....??
There is mention of a Japanese submarine over on Kolombangara Is. that was blown up after the war for scrape- pieces are said to be still there...
The search for metals (post war) is why the 164 is in little bitty bits all over the bottom - mainly under the sand...Now I would bet the 117 would be more interesting- if someone could find it.
I heard tell of local divers who saw a wrecked ship in the harbor- to my knowledge the only wrecks that may be mistaken for a "ship" by locals (sea going vessel), would be one of the PT's...I do not know of all USN losses, but I have only seen the PT 164 & PT 117 in Rendova Harbor listed.
Dive Munda mentioned what they thought to be a PT engine block on the reef (sunken down some meters)...how they came to that conclusion I did not pursue- as my primary interest was other WW-II history there in the area.
Regards-
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Dec 31, 2009 - 3:08pm
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Talk about finding a needle in a haystack... good job! I bet it took some effort to release it from the sand.
I know funnels were widely used on all sorts of ships. I did an estimate of sorts using the gentleman on the rights's face width as a guide and it seems to match the dimensions of an ELCO funnel of about 7" tube and 14" funnel. This is with encrustation compensation of course. :D A very distinctive part of the boat, well done. Did it come up with the base ring attached?
Frank, to me a dream find, besides the wheel, would be a teardrop binnacle or perhaps a bow fairlead complete with light. You can bet that the fairlead/light would be mounted on a wall and rewired as a main fixture.
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Shaneo2
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Jan 1, 2010 - 10:38am
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The Funnel with measuring tape as a guide:
Another view from my photo collection.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Jan 1, 2010 - 1:08pm
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Jeff:
I think a Danforth Anchor would be pretty neat, but those Packard Engines, now that's the Holy Grail. At 2,950 pounds each, one might think they would be fairly easy to find, given exact locations of a boat sunk, but I have not heard anyone who has found them yet. This is one reason I really believe PT-109 was never found by Robert Ballard. The evidence to me anyway was not conclusive enough. Besides, was the so called torpedo tube ever brought to the surface to be cheked. Ok, so I do not want to go down that road again. Enough said.............
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Jeff D
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Posted on: Jan 6, 2010 - 3:43am
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I'm with you on the 109 Frank, it's only speculation unless a traceable part shows up.
Speaking of speculation, I guessed the funnel was from an ELCO boat. The lack of the upper clamp ring has me wondering though. It could be rotted away/encrusted with growth, hard to tell.
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