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 Author  Topic: PT 555
  Nuge210

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Nuge210   Send Email To Nuge210 Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 11:42am
Here is another photo of the 555 after being damaged by a mine. ( See the PT 202 & 218 post for a closer pic). It's a shame you can't make a one hundred percent positive id from these photos, but I can't think of another explanation right now.

'At Close Quarters' has a first person account of the mining. Lost five men including the 40 mm gun crew. I wonder if these pics are when she was towed in to port in France, or when she was towed out to be sunk by gunfire. Never know I guess......



Steve

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David Buck

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Buck   Send Email To David Buck Posted on: Aug 28, 2011 - 3:39pm
Hi Nuge,

No 50's no radar tower drop off racks empty no personal equip to be seen looks as if she has been stripped of al usable equip this could indicate that this photo was taken as she is being taken out to be sunk.
Great photo .

D.buck

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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Aug 29, 2011 - 7:22am
Steve;
This is a better shot than the previous one you posted, from the looks of this photo, I agree with David. She looks like she is ready to be sunk.
Notice weapons on Higgins in the foreground are still covered, I wonder if that is a towline coming off the stbd cleat or a makeshift anchor line, so she will remain stationary while they are shooting at her?
Take care,
TED


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David Buck

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Buck   Send Email To David Buck Posted on: Aug 30, 2011 - 7:22pm
Hi TED & Steve,
I have just read the account by Lt. Walker of the mineing of the Pt 555 in AT CLOSE QUATERS two things stand out re. the effort to tow the boat to Carro.
There were four boats used which were according to Lt Walker two fishing boats a pilot boat and one other boat not identified but reported to have arrived at the saen with the second fishing boat, no other PT. boats were stated to be involved .
The other thing was that while all topside weight was jettisoned one set of twin 50" were retaied for at least some form of defence.

D.Buck

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Nuge210

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Nuge210   Send Email To Nuge210 Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 6:22pm
More info,

The War Diary of Ron 15 states that Ron 29s PT 555 was destroyed Sept. 8, 1944 after repeated attempts to tow her back to base. The 212 was the boat sent to try to save and tow the 555, and was the boat to fire upon her and sink her.

Now what I'm hoping is that Earl Richmond's friend at the Legion Post, will have photos of this in their family album. His ( Paul ) Uncle was on the 212 at this time.

Keep you posted.

Steve

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TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Sep 7, 2012 - 9:25pm
Steve;
I hope you can make contact with Earl's VFW buddy.
Good Luck!
Take care
TED


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Chris66

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jun 17, 2015 - 3:09pm
Hi guys,
I am interested in the sinking of PT-555.
What it has become?
I live near of CARRO and I dive on the coast.
Here, no one know of wreck war ship US in the waters of CARRO !
it really has been sunk ?
Regards.

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  TED WALTHER

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of TED WALTHER   Send Email To TED WALTHER Posted on: Jun 17, 2015 - 6:02pm
Chris;
Welcome! The PT 555 is located in the Golfe De Fos: http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?14123
PT 555 hit the mine on 24 August 1944 43º19'N, 05º30'E (this was the LAT LONG Given, unfortunately on Google Earth this shows up at72B Chemin de Pluvence 13011 Marseille, France )off Cap Couronne, southern France(the east end of the Golfe. As seen in the photos attempts were made to tow her back to base, so this might not be her exact location.
Good Luck!
Take care,
TED


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Nuge210

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Nuge210   Send Email To Nuge210 Posted on: Jun 19, 2015 - 11:03am
Welcome Chris.

A much better photo of the 555 did come to light, but I just haven't posted
much lately. Promise to do it soon.

Steve

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Chris66

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jun 20, 2015 - 10:20am
Hi Ted and Steve,
The GPS coordinates that you give is just to situate the place very Approximate ...
From my research, the PT-555 was from the harbor of PORT-DE-BOUC when he was hit by a mine at 17h15.
Where was it precisely that moment?
Because deep water, there are the four torpedoes, the 40 mm gun and arming of the crew.
I think the PT-555 was still close to PORT-DE-BOUC, since these are the fishing boats PORT-DE-BOUC who came to rescue, not the fishing boats of the harbor CARRO ...
By 6:05 p.m., there was a second explosion ...
Two machine-guns 50 were thrown overboard, and other structures, to lighten the boat.
Around 8:00 in the morning, it was decided to tow the PT-555 in harbor of PORT-DE-BOUC, but there was so much too dangerous mines ...
Therefore, it was towed to the harbor of CARRO.
I deduce, therefore, that the sinking of the PT-555 happened in the area of ​​PORT-DE-BOUC and not of CARRO ...
Five American sailors died.
Regarding the end of the PT-555, I read also that it was towed to be sunk off CARRO September 8, 1944 (photo by Steve) ...
Question ... Why bother to tow the PT-555 off to sink, while docked at the wharf to CARRO, and the Germans were gone?
It's funny, because as I said before, no one here knows of military ship wreck and GPS position that "wrecksite.eu" gives is regularly exploited by the nets of fishing boats!
A boat of 24 m, does not go unnoticed even at 45 m water background ...

Steve if you have more photos of the PT-555, it would be nice to show us and I thank you in advance.

Regards.


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