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Nuge210
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Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 - 2:39pm
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Hi Guys,
I wondered if any of you would know what boat this could be ? The photo was taken in 1945
in the Palawan area. My father was there from about March to October that year ( I think ) on the 286. She also appears to be in a gun boat configuration.
Steve Nugent |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 - 4:08pm
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Steve
I do not know which boat this is but this is another one of those interesting what is it type photos. What is in between the aft 20mm cannon and the 40mm Bofors. Also, the 40mm seems to be missing something, Strange look to it. Notice the other guns aft of the turett mounts. Covered, but are they 20mm cannons. Hmmmmmm.
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 - 6:04pm
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The 40mm has what appears to be canvass/tarps/rags/ etc covering the breach area. possibly for PMS or post firing clean up. Blowing up the bow area, it looks as if the guys are sitting on an ammo box, not a bow weapon. the covered tripod mounted weapons behind the cockpit area appear to be addition 20mm's not .50's The item between the aft 20mm and the 40mm looks to be a compressor/generator on a wheeled trailer.
this is my guess.
TED
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Dick
Moderator
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Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 - 7:40pm
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Here are some up close shots:
My thoughts are:
photo 1.) stack of boxes in front of opened rear crew quarters hatch, with a life-ring hanging on one ? ?
Photo 2.) As Ted says a tarp over the receiver and loading area of the aft 40mm ? ?
Photo 3.) Two extra 20mm guns port and starboard with the standard 20mm aft of the engine room main hatch ? ?
Photo 4.) No comment just threw it in to see if markings on superstructure could be read - Nope ? ?
Two unnumbered photos, full lenght shots (stupid me) - my bad), attempted enhancement.
Dick . . .
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Will Day
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Posted on: Feb 2, 2010 - 10:28pm
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I have a couple of shots of Ron 23 boats with 50-gallon fuel drums placed randomly on the deck aft, which could account for some of that mess we see between the aft 20 and the 40mm.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 1:42am
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In that mess between the 40MM and the 20MM must be something to do with the ammo cans for the 40MM, as I see no other lockers for storage of the 4 clipped shells..............
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TGConnelly
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 6:13am
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And, to me, she's not in a gunboat configuration, as she has torpedo racks, it might have been taken just after a patrol or before torpedoes were loaded aboard.
Garth
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29navy
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Posted on: Feb 3, 2010 - 12:03pm
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I agree, I believe the big white thing in the middle is the engine room deck hatch.
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Wayne Traxel |
MASTER
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Posted on: Feb 5, 2010 - 8:11am
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It doesn't appear to be a Ron 23 gunboat. PT's-283, 284 and 285 were converted into gunboats in February and March of 1944. Following the loss of 283, 282 was converted into a gunboat as a replacement for 283. According to Richard Haspel, Skipper of 284, the conversion of these craft consisted of the removal of torpedo racks, and the three 20mm's, one forward on port side, and two aft. An Army type antiaircraft 40mm Bofors were fitted to centerline on the bow and in the usual location on the stern. Four sets of twin 50's on pipe mounts were fitted on the centerline beginning 10' aft of the Radar mast. These boats saw action in the Admiralties. When their work was done, the Ron 23 PT's were sent to the Philippines in December of 1944 and the gunboats were reconverted back into the PT role in January, 1945. The Bow 40mm on a Ron 23 Gunboat was mounted on the centerline just in front of the crews quarters hatch and had to be traversed to Port or Stbd. to be able to gain access to this hatch. On PT-285 the 40mm's had sheilds identicle to those on the Bofors found on PT-59 when this craft was converted to a gunboat. In order for the sheild to clear the sampson post, this structure was cut down and lowered lowered so that the sheilds would clear. By early1945 the boats were reconverted back to PT's. PT in your picture appears to be taken after the war or after an overhaul. Boat in question could be PT-281 guessing from the Number 1 on the SO radar dome but in many of the Higgins squadrons the call numbers on the dome didn't always mean the last numeral of the hull number.
PT 285 Gunboat San Perdo Bay 1944
Russell Lyons photo of PT's 282 ex Gunboat, 287, 284 ex Gunboat, 286 Palawan PI. 1945
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Feb 7, 2010 - 10:59am
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Here are a couple more Ron 23 photos for you guys. They are again from 1945. The first photo is the 280 boat.
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