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Topic: PT Boat Commissioning Ceremonies |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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 Posted on: Oct 15, 2011 - 11:47am
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All;
Here are the photo(s), Allan sent. As you can see he was asking about the flags, which seem to be "stiff" this is what he was asking about previously. I included my response but if anyone has anything better please post. I am just as confused as he is because the flags really don't make sense (I am talking about their Semaphoric meaning).
This is the one Allan sent me.
This is the entire photo showing all the officers in the class, courtesy of Gene Kirkland.
Allan;
I believe you sent me the roster of this class. The flags on the boat are from top to bottom: Elco flag, (the following is what they look like to me), Jig( or changed Juliet in 1957)(meaning: I am on fire and have dangerous cargo; keep clear.), George( or changed to Golf in 1957) (meaning: I require a pilot.), Juliet or One(meaning: Numeral one). As you can see, I have no idea what they were trying to convey with this message, maybe: JG 1, JGJ(INITIALS), KEEP CLEAR-I REQUIRE A PILOT-1, ETC.
The second Melville officers' training class, July 1942. Many of these young men would go to Squadrons Five and Six; a few would face the Tokyo Express in the Solomons. Some would not return. (Courtesy of George Brooks)
Take care,
TED
the floor is now open..............
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 15, 2011 - 2:49pm
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The RON 41 photo: the boat in the background is most likely S-225(otherwise known as US Navy Small Boat C-105181, which was later sold on 9/1/48), this boat was used mostly as a source of parts for operational tests with S-218( US Navy Small Boat C-105180, which was sold on 7/12/48 and went to a guy in Miami) and S-116(C-105179, sold 7/23/48 and entered the black ops world in Bremerhaven, West Germany. Later she was "given" to the West German Navy, she was finally broken up in 1962) , which was used as a back test boat.
Take Care,
TED
p.s. Thanks for all your research on this subject Chip.
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Dick
Moderator
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Posted on: Oct 15, 2011 - 10:05pm
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System test only
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Mark Culp
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Oct 16, 2011 - 6:25am
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Much thanks to Ted and Dick for the effort and information. At first glance I thought this may have been a captured E-Boat (S-Boat) given the forward hull/ tube configuration and the length.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 16, 2011 - 8:28am
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Hi Mark!
That is exactly what that boat is....a captured German Navy (Kreigsmarine) E-Boat, also called called "S -Boote" by the Germans. So Teds identification of them as
"S-nnn" certainly confirms your initial guess that it is indeed a captured German E boat. The terminology of "E Boat" came from its use by the British Royal Navy, short for "Enemy Motor Boat" and the Germans called them "S-boote" short for "Schnell Boot" which means "fast (or swift) boat" These babies had highly advanced 20 cylinder Maybach Diesel engines (same as used in Tiger Tanks) and could reportedly go faster than our gasoline powered PT Boats, say around 50 knots at sea. I read somewhere that JFK was able to go aboard one of these boats near the end of the war and in his opinion they were much better boats than ours were. I dont know if I would agree wiith the god-like JFK on that particular issue, but there you have it. It is easy to get confused with two equivalent names out there for the same boats. By the way, the British have one surviing S boat, S-130 that can be seen on the internet at the website http://www.s130.co.uk/
Here is an excerpt concerning the latest status of the boat last updated in November 2009,
In Jan 2003 S130 was purchased privately, for restoration in the UK. On arrival in the uk from Germany, she was taken to the British Military Powerboat Trust at the Husbands Shipyard in Marchwood, Southampton.The restoration process started there, but ceased when financial problems intervened. BMPT purchased the boat, and prevented her decline, until a new home could be found for her.After many years of negotiation, she was taken to the slipway at Hythe, where, under the direction of BMPT member Richard Hellyer, she was prepared for a towage trip to Plymouth.Her new owners, arranged for her to be slipped at their yard in Plymouth.The plans for her restoration at this yard came to nothing, and S130 was finally sold to Kevin Wheatcroft, who is in the process of restoring S130 back to her former glory.
Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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Allan
MASTER
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Posted on: Oct 16, 2011 - 6:21pm
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Okay:
I'm still confused. If the photo is of the second officers' training class at Melville, why is the photo stamped as being taken by Elco Boat Naval Divison at Bayonne? I was expecting that it was a part of a commissioning ceremony but it does appear just a bit "informal", and I'm curious as to the meaning of the "flags", including the flag that appears of a very light color and is hanging down from the mast and laying flat against the mast. What is this all about?
Allan
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 16, 2011 - 6:48pm
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I get it now! Ted: The flags mean: Danger stay back! Ensigns at the wheel! May require assistance! Har har har. Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 17, 2011 - 5:59am
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Jerry;
I will totally agree with that "spot on" definition, especially when you read Dick Kersey's account of taking PT 103 away from the dock after the commissioning ceromony.
Allan;
It is my opinion this is a "Familiarization" visit to the Elco plant, sort of like a elementary school field trip. I know they did this with some of the early classes, because of my coorespondance with ENS(later LTjg) Robert R. Green, PTC RON 1, RON 2, ELCO SHIPSUP, MTBSC gunnery/weapons instructor dept head.
Take care,
TED
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Will Day
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Posted on: Oct 17, 2011 - 10:04am
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Ted - I agree about the shot being taken during a "visit" to the Elco plant. That would tend to explain the unusual pennant hoist, the guys in civies/coveralls the I.D. tags(?) on the uniforms and the casual attitudes being shown by some of the officers.
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Oct 17, 2011 - 2:11pm
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That was taken at the Elco Naval Division as the boat is sitting near the concrete roadway from BLD. 21. Also in the photograph is IRWIN CHASE and several Elco Engineers. This was one of many visits from Navy Officers, who stopped at the plant to view the inner workings of the building process.
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