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Topic: MK. XIII TORPEDO IGNITION |
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Steve Tuhy
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 2:14pm
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GARTH;
THE FLASH PROBLEM WAS ATRIBUTED TO THE BLACKPOWDER CHARGE USED TO EXPELL THE MARK 8 TORPEDOS FROM THEIR TUBE. THE CHARGE LOOKED LIKE THE BASE OF A 5 INCH SHELL CUT OFF JUST LONG ENOUGH TO FIT INTO THE BREECH ABOVE THE TUBE. IF THE CHARGE WASN'T SET OFF ELECTRICALLY BY THE SKIPPER, A TORPEDOMAN WOULD WHACK THE INITIATOR HEAD WITH A WOODEN MALLET. SOMETIMES THE CHARGE WOULD SET THE GREASE INSIDE THE TUBE ON FIRE. SOME CREWS WOULD PUT A CANVAS CURTAIN OVER THE END OF THE TUBE TO CUT DOWN ON THE FLASH.
Steve Tuhy |
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 2:20pm
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Here's a classroom drawing of an igniter done by Master Chief Jack Duncan, retired, who served as torpedoman on PT 103 from 1943 to 1944. Jack also served on PT 62 and PT 318:
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Steve Tuhy
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 27, 2011 - 2:50pm
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GOOD WORK JEFF;
ACCORDING TO MASTER CHIEF DUNCAN'S DRAWING THE BLACKPOWDER/CELLULOSE, MAGNESIUM POWDER AND PARAFIN MIXTURE WOULD HAVE GIVEN VERY HOT AND RELATIVELY LONG LASTING SPARKS.
I'M AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF ENGINEERING AND GENIUS THAT WENT INTO THESE TORPEDOS.
Steve Tuhy |
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TGConnelly
New Member
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2011 - 6:15am
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Steve,
Do me a favor please?
Email me off-site, the email that is on your "profile" here is not valid ...
I would like to ask you something about something unrelated to this topic and which I'd like to not talk about here.
Thank you,
Garth
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Jeff D
Moderator
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2011 - 8:12am
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Thanks Steve, I think they are amazing pieces of work too. I really enjoy the photos in the manuals of the inner workings, especially the early torpedos.
If interested, Jack sent me 7 other torpedo class drawings that can be downloaded here:
http://www.pt103.com/images/asst/TorpedoDrawingsJackDuncan.zip
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Steve Tuhy
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Mar 28, 2011 - 10:17am
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GARTH;
PROFILE HAS BEEN CORRECTED AND I CORRECTED YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS ON MY END.
JEFF;
THANKS FOR THE INFO. THESE DRAWINGS CLEAR AWAY THE TECHNICAL MUD FOUND IN MANUALS.
Steve Tuhy |
Total Posts: 114 | Joined:
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