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Topic: Checkerboard Fanny - Squadron No.? |
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 18, 2012 - 3:45pm
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Jerry had sent me a few shots of some Higgins PT BOATS. I am posting one, that I have never seen before. She is in dry-dock, with a checked fanny. Can anyone confirm as to a Squadron, which Jerry thinks was Ron 15.
Frank
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TED WALTHER
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 19, 2012 - 9:16am
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Frank;
I agree with Jerry, she has all the earmarks of a RON 15 boat, possible at Bizerte or somtime around Salerno invasion. This boat has SO-A Radar, Torpedo tubes, Depth Charges Port and Stbd and a 20mm on stern. RON 15 did not get 40mm's until early in 1944.
Take care,
TED
Note: PT 202 recieved a punctured fuel tank and several holes in the hull as a rusult of RON 15's boats first tangle with F-lighters NW of Stromboli 25 July 1943. She is not mentioned in ACQ again on patrol, until 18/19 Feb 1944.
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Nuge210
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Posted on: Aug 19, 2012 - 3:45pm
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Frank and Ted,
Jerry had another photo of a boat in drydock, but it was taken bow on. Do you think the photos could have been taken at the same time ? I think the boat was the 204, Aggie Maru.
I agree she is a Ron 15 boat, but I've never seen a photo of a checkerboard transom. We need a 204 veteran !
Steve |
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 20, 2012 - 6:03am
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Steve;
Maybe 204, my 202 was just based on whats written and an educated guess. More important, what does it mean? We now know for aeriel recongnition purposes the bow tips were painted yellow and the stern deck last 2 feet were painted red. But, was this for ASR purposes, or Squadron/Boat I.D. purposes???
As you said, we need a 204 Vet.
Take care,
TED
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Frank J Andruss Sr
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 20, 2012 - 10:37am
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It is possible that it was easier for a Crew member to spot their own boats in a nest. Just a thought, as I know they did this by numbering the radar dome's on some boats, plus different shades. I could be way off base here.
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 4:08pm
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Hi Frank,
I decided I could post these pics to let everybody else in on the discussion. I got these from Doug Prentice, his Dad was a TM1/c on PT204 in RON15. Jerry
Unknown checkerboard boat. Does anybody know what boat this is?
PT204 "Aggie Maru" in drydock, possibly (per Steve's guess) the same boat as the checkerboard? The name had something to do with the saying " The f----'d up crew of the Aggie Maru!"
PT204 in port shows aft end, but I cant see any checkerboard
PT203 "Shark Mouth"
PT206 moored
PT207 "Zebra" (Notice the numeral 7 on the bow)
PT215 "Zombie" moored just astern of Dave Prentice posing on PT204's new 40mm Bofors gun.
I dont know what RON15 boat this is! It looks like it is named "Thunder Byrd" or something like that. I wonder if anybody knows what number boat this is?
PT204 with extra 30caliber (I think?) MG mounted to torpedo tube. Note the Rockets stored in a box amidships. Interesting photo!
PT204 pulls into Bastia
From RON15 Unit History by LCDR Fred Rosen
29th November ’43: PTs 211 and 204 patrolling out of Bastia ran into gale force winds and were forced to return to harbor. Outside of the break water, suddenly an E Boat looms up in Clifford’s face. The 204 greeted the E Boat with a long burst of the 50s – received a few achtungs in return – then rammed each other – 204’s bow needed extensive repairs – we are sure the E Boat limped all the way home. This action interrupted the E Boats laying mines off the entrance to Bastia Harbor. Due to the weather the PTs could not pursue the heavier E Boats, and retired into Bastia Harbor.
PT204 damaged by collision with German S-Boat
PT204 being repaired after collision with S-Boat
PT204 fwd crews quarters, note mosquito netting over rack opening. The stenciled writing says "The difficult we will do immediately, the impossible may take a little longer"
PT204 crews quarters looking fwd and port
PT204 crew berthing looking fwd.
PT204 crew berthing looking aft towards Wardroom WTD
PT204 Crews Berthing looking aft to galley
PT204 crew on bow, Dave Prentice is the one on the bottom row 2nd from right
PT204 crewman paints Nazi flag kill marker on windscreen
PT204 crew on bow
PT204 crew checks out Scotti 20mm gun
PT204 crew checking out the Scotti 20mm gun on tripod mount
Jerry Gilmartin |
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PeterTareBuilder
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Posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 5:02pm
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I enlarged the image of the checkerboard transom posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 7:08pm. To me it almost looks like that checkerboard is painted on fabric which was then stretched over the transom. There apears to be some sort of loop at the top port corner and below the waterline are what look a lot like wrinkles. I wonder if this was indeed a painted fabric sheet used as a recognition panel of some sort?
Cheers
"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!" |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 6:16pm
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Yeah, it crossed my mind that the checkerboard could be some kind of fabric cover, although the bottom contour seems pretty much exact to the lines of the hull. Even so, never seen anything like it before,
Also - Could the print of the "Mystery Boat" be flopped? Maybe we are looking at it backwards.
Will |
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Jerry Gilmartin |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 6:47pm
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Hi Will,
I flopped the picture just now and noticed something that makes me think the original view is correct. The hatch to the Bosun's Locker on the bow deck is only on the Starboard side and not the port, if you "flop" the picture, then the hatch would be on the wrong side. Good idea though....Jerry
Jerry Gilmartin |
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Will Day
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Aug 21, 2012 - 7:46pm
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Oh, well.
Will |
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