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Topic: TO EARL RICHMOND |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 12:38pm
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Hello Earl
It was decided that we would do the new project using PT-108 as the model along with the Gato Class Submarine. The suggestion came from Ted Walther and I thought it was a great idea. As we are now depicting the boat sometime in late 1943-1944, I am in hopes you will help me with the following information.
1. Type Torpedoes
2. Did she carry the SO RADAR DOME
3. Did she carry a 40mm in the stern
4. what did she carry for weapons on her bow
5. Was a regonition star painted on the day room cabin
6. any other weapons carried on deck, like extra machine guns
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Thanks in advance Earl. I hope you will see this post and help me with these questions. Hope all is well........................
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EARL RICHMOND
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Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 4:02pm
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HELO FRANK THAT IS VERY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOUY CHOSE PT 108 FOR YOUR PROOJECT.WE ARE HONORED,. THANK YOU.I DO NOT KNOW THE TYPE OF TORPEDOS EXCEPT THAT WE HAD THWE ROLL OFF RACKS.WE HAD NO 40MM ON STERN,ONLY THE 20 MM. WE HGAD a 37mm on the bow. we had no star atop tjhe day room cabin,that i can remember. we had a 37 mm on the bow,a 20 mm on the stern,one twin 50 atop the day room cabin, one twin 50 nexdt to the coskpit. 4 torpedos and one depth charge.i know this isn,t much but iof i can, helop in any way please feel free to ask.i think geary sims will llike your choive of the 8 boat also. he has been very ill./ he reads the board when he is able.thank you again. by the way,how did you decide on the 108? earl
earl richmond |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Mar 18, 2010 - 4:46pm
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Earl, thanks so much for the information. When I was thinking about which boat to use in the project, it was suggested by TED WALTHER to use your boat. Geary and I have been E-Mailing each other and he too is thrilled to learn about using your PT-108. I am honored as well to be using your boat. Will keep you posted when we reach that stage of photographs..............
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TED WALTHER
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Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 4:51pm
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Frank;
How about mixing Earl's description with the Gene Foncannon photo, meaning .50 cals on pipe tripods, looking at the photo and its angle, the other, the port .50 is not in the photo, if they had one, but it would make sense. This would give you a 37mm, 2 single .50's, the twin turret mounts, the 20mm on the stern, roll off racks and torpedoes and the SO-A radar. Since the photo is dated 25 Nov 1943, when did Earl come aboard, maybe Jan 1944???
Take care,
TED
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 4:53pm
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Earl
If you read this, I received a few photos of PT 108, showing the regognition star on the day room cabin roof. Is it possible you just do not remember the Star or do you feel it was painted over. Also, do you remember how the boat was painted. Was it a solid color or cammo. If you can remember anything else, please let me know as not many photos exsist of the boat.........
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 6:13pm
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Ted,
Can you post Gene's photo ?
Steve Nugent |
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EARL RICHMOND
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Posted on: Mar 19, 2010 - 7:21pm
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hi guys i came aboard the 108 may/junw,1944. i was ibn error as to the star.we did have a star atop the day room.i had to go back to my "friendly fore"action report to make sure.when i was aboard we went into overhaul and,if i remember correctly,we painted ther biottom with three different kinds iof paint,.first was red laed,i think,second ocre yellow and third dark green.the side were painted light and dark green with the wavy patterns as camo.the deck was painted battleship gray along with the cockpit and day room.i don,t know who made the decision as to the painting or where we got the paint.i do not remember what the colors were prior to the overhaul./it wasn,t too long prior to my cominf aboard that she was caught in a crossfire of the japanese abd a lot of damage was done to her.she had to be towed back to base at that time.if i remember correcly there was also a 30 cal machine gun mounted in the cockpit on the wheel side but that was removed shortly after i went aboard.at one time we also tried a deck motar but that also was removed as it was too innacurate.the ready box aft dor the 20 mm was also gray.as well as tyhe radar mast and radar dome,.when we were attacked and strafed by friendly fire we,.the 105 and 319 boats were involved.most of the time at emirau we were tied up at a buoy when not on patrol.between watch ngoing to patrol station ,i remember napping atop the day room,.nest to the twin 50 base with my head on a kapok life jacket.when they were not in use we tied the straps to the holes in the small ridge on both sides of the day room toop.that is what we used to hold onto when we went from the cockpit to the stern or just standing while out to sea.we also had a life boat on the bow with rations,line and paddles inside it.this was also painted gray.seems like the paint pattern was the greens to camo the sea and the gray to camo the sky.there was also a "ridge"about two inches high around the deckfrom bow to stern with the small oblong holes in it.i think it was set in about one to two inches from the outer edge oif the deck.if i remember anything else i will post it or you can ask away earl
earl richmond |
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Will Day
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Posted on: Mar 20, 2010 - 8:18am
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GREAT STUFF EARL! Thank you so much for sharing. It is what this board is really all about.
Will |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
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Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 4:07am
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Earl
I had recieved an E-Mail saying that their was a twin 50 caliber mount on the bow of the 108. Can you confirm this please. In one photo I can make out the rear handle of a fifty, which looks as though it could be attached to a bracket for another fifty, indicating a twin 50 mount. As far as the rear 20mm mount, was there a splinter shield attached to the mount, and what did you have for ammo lockers on the deck to supply the weapons for ammo. Do you remember where they were placed......................
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EARL RICHMOND
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Posted on: Mar 21, 2010 - 5:36am
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WHEN I WAS ABOARD THE 108 THERE WAS no TWIN FIFTY MOUNT ON THE BOW. I ALSO DO NOT REMEMBER A SPLINTER SHIELD ON THE AFT 20 MM., THERE wAS A GUARD RAIL TOWARDS THE COCKPIT PLACED THERE SO THAT IN THE EVENT OF GQ AND FIRING THE BARREL WOULD BE DIVERTED UPWARDS SO THART THERE WOULD BE NO ACCIDENTAL FIRING TOWARDS THE COCKPIT.I UNDERSTAND THAT,PRIOR TO BEING INSTALLED,THERE WERE SEVERAL ACCIDENTAL FIRING INTO THE COCKPIT.THIS WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC.IT WAS BY WORD OF MOUTJH.WE HAD ONE READY BOX THART WAS PLACED ON THE AFT PORT SIDE BETWEEN THE 20 MM AND THE EDGE OF THE BOAT. I THINK THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR MAGAZINES INSIDE THAT HELD APP 45 SHELLS.I THINK THEY WERE,IN ORDER,TRACER,ARMOR PIERCING AND EXPLOSIVE.HOPE SPMEONE WILL CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG.NEXT TO THE 20 MM WAS A BARREL/PIPE CONTAINING WATER THAT ,IF THE BARREL OF THE GUN GOT TOO HOT WE DETACHED IT AND PLACED IT IN THIS PIPE.WE REPLACED IT WITH ANOTJHER BARREL ON THE GUN.IF IT GOT TOO HOT IT WOULD GLOW AND BE ABLE TO BE SEEN BY THE ENEMY AND ALSO COULD CAUSE A SHELL TO EXPLODE INSIDE IT.ALSO,IF A SHELL JAMMED INSIDE THE GUN BARREL WE ONLY HAD SO MANY SECONDS TO REMOVE IT BEFORE THE LIVE SHELL MAY HAVE EXPLODED.WHEN WE WERE AT GQ AND FIRING THE 20 MM WE DEVELOPED A PATTERN OF LOADING AND UNLOADING THE MAGAZINES ON THE 20 MM.I THINK THERE WAS A HANDLE ON THE MAGAZXINE THAT WE WOULD GRAB TO LIFT IT UP OUT OF THE RREADY BOX AND SWING IT UP AND BRING THE OPEN END DOWN ONTO THE GUN.WHEN THE MAGAZINE WAS EXPENDED WE GAVE IT A YANK TYO UNLOCK IT AND SWING IT UP AND DROP IT BACK INTO THE READY BOX AND GRAB ANOTHER TO LOAD.MY MEMORY IS GETTING "TAXED" HERE. BUT I THINK YOU CAN GET THE PPICTURE.
earl richmond |
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